Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[childwallblues]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(25/07/2023 00:16)Valandil Wrote:  While we're on the subject, X1 is to my mind exactly the kind of route where just a little funding can improve the lives of so many people.
Has anyone seen how long it takes to get from places in Runcorn like Murdishaw into Liverpool now by bus, especially compared with by car? It's obscene.

Arriva's depot for the X1 is at the Runcorn end of the route, which is great.
So there is no need to run almost empty in the opposite direction during the peaks.
Even if you have just 2 vehicles with arrivals into Liverpool at say 07:40 and 08:40 for workers, then those vehicles run dead back to Runcorn and provide fast runs to Liverpool One for shoppers, departing around 08:40 and 09:40 (that one especially for pass holders). Add a 10:40 departure using the first vehicle if deemed viable.
It can drop by the Liverpool airport stop on the way, and even brand it as a fast way to the airport, fast way to employment opportunities, fast way to shop at Liverpool One, etc. Journey times massively shorter than the 79C and 82A which go all through Widnes etc.
Split the shift and give the driver time off in Liverpool, keep working the X1 in the most viable direction only with a time off gap in the timetable for lunch, or even work other routes for a couple of hours, then repeat the same in the opposite direction in the afternoon, e.g. departures from Liverpool at around 14:20, 15:20, 16:20, 17:20. Add 18:20 if viable.

I can vouch for the Murdishaw to Liverpool route. I boarded a 79C last Thursday at 1443 at Runcorn High Street on Gas Bus 5017 and alighted at Childwall Fiveways 55 minutes later. In that time we gone around Widnes Town Centre and the Hough Green Estate. We left Runcorn with nine passengers and by the time we picked up in Widnes we were full and standing. However most passengers alighted in the Hough Green area and left seven of us through to Netherley were we started to pick up again. This route is more popular than the more frequent double deck 79 as it goes past the new Royal Hospital and to Queen Square Bus Station which the 79 does not. It should in my opinion be split and run as Murdishaw -Hough Green and Hough Green-Liverpool.