Why does Arriva in Wirral/Liverpool inter-work their 'Cross-River' services?

[WarrenT]

Why does Arriva in Wirral inter-work their 'Cross-River' services, what benefit do they get from this? Is it simply so when the buses arrive in Liverpool they don't have to wait for 5 or so minutes until the next service on the same route is due to start?

 

[SCH117X]

Most likely saves a vehicle.

 

[WarrenT]

well that's simple, just thought that's a bit tight as delays in Liverpool city centre are definitely common so i didn't think it would be worth the knock on delays on another route because one bus is late all for the sake of saving one bus. Hey-ho franchising is coming in soon anyway.

 

[Leedsbusman]

well that's simple, just thought that's a bit tight as delays in Liverpool city centre are definitely common so i didn't think it would be worth the knock on delays on another route because one bus is late all for the sake of saving one bus. Hey-ho franchising is coming in soon anyway.

Is it not more a product of the terminal capacity in Liverpool?

 

[markymark2000]

Done for driver changeovers most of the time. 407 and 437 go past Laird Street depot and the interworking means that drivers can get back to the depot and save on shunt vehicles. Less cost there helps keep costs down. Arriva Birkenhead drivers I am sure only have breaks at the depot now as the Woodside canteen has shut.

The 464 and 487 don't interwork with anything and these do rely on shunt vehicles.

It does also help keep buses moving as there is a lack of space on Cook Street for buses to layover (as Leedsbusman says)

 

[RELL6L]

Not sure, but is it not because some routes go closer to the depot in Birkenhead than others so it works better for crew changes?

 

[CBlue]

well that's simple, just thought that's a bit tight as delays in Liverpool city centre are definitely common so i didn't think it would be worth the knock on delays on another route because one bus is late all for the sake of saving one bus. Hey-ho franchising is coming in soon anyway.

Not sure franchising is going to be a magic bullet there unless it's backed up with large amounts of bus priority measures.

 

[Statto]

The Arriva Cross River routes that interwork which is 407 with the 471,472 & 437 with the 432, 433, the 407 & 437 pass the depot on Laird Street & the interworking allows driver changes to be made at the depot rather than using other vehicles to ferry drivers to another changeover point.


Incidentally, the Evening & Sunday 471, 472 doesn't interwork, think driver changes are done on Hamilton Street

 

[WarrenT]

Thank you, that's helpful.