Stagecoach Manchester

[iMarkeh]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(30/10/2018 13:33)Barney Wrote:  The transport authorities have very little control over when Stagecoach and commercial operators run their services. I agree that that transport needs are constantly evolving and I do find it ironic that the bus services around the UK were infinitely better evenings and Sundays prior to deregulation when all shops closed at 5pm and city centres were like ghost towns on Sundays when shops, pubs, restaurants closed all day.

Transport authorities can very easily fund services to make them run earlier/later so in some ways they do have control. A little bit of money goes a long way.

(30/10/2018 15:27)djb Wrote:  Carless passengers are in the unfortunate situation that in the short term they cannot alter their travel habits, and are fixed to public transport. However loyalty to these passengers alone will just allow the current spiral of passengers to continue (passengers reduce; service is reduced; passengers reduce; service is tendered; non-preferred operator arrives; passengers who can go elsewhere; carless passengers are stranded). The number of people without cars is reducing as I'm sure you know, so the risk is bus services will shrink too.

The Authorities, and seemingly operators too, are stuck in the past, thinking that everyone works 9-5 in town. There is also a gross misconception from a large number of people that people who have cars are incapable or unwilling to travel by bus.

The passengers that have been lost to car use, or have never really used the bus need to be persuaded that it is a viable option in order to arrest the decline in numbers. This in itself will commercially stabilise services allowing perpetual carless passengers to continue travelling by bus without the worry that its going to cease.

Airport City is a good example. There are no regular buses to there despite having a massive Amazon distribution. Trafford Park (The biggest industrial estate in Europe employing approx 35,000 people) has no regular buses. It has the 291 and 293 which run at very specific times and the 291 is only to Trafford Park AM and from Trafford Park PM. This is why people chose to use their car as buses simply aren't available. I fully agree with you that companies are stuck in the stone ages.

Then there's the lack of buses going to out of town shopping areas. Diamond have hit this one spot on with their 126 and 300 but others seem to miss the point a bit. Quick links to big out of town shopping areas. Not everyone wants to travel for an hour going round the world and back just to get to the shopping centre. They will just drive.
Where I live, to my closest retail park, it was 2 buses which took around 30 minutes. Since I campaigned to get a bus set up, it now carried 3k pax per month and takes only 10-15 minutes. Small links make a big difference.

Route branding is something which I keep seeing dropping lately as well which is a shame. That is a great way to advertise services. Even if you just do a few buses (like a route has a PVR of 10, brand up 3 buses) so there is unbranded spares which can go on any route and not confuse people. It advertises the service. I think companies need to start advertising on bus shelters as well. IF they are the only operator, show off and advertise how cheap it is, how services run etc etc.

Combine all the above and what do you get..... Vastly declining passenger numbers....