MCT To Cease Trading

Manchester Community Transport have announced they intend to Cease Trading in late April, Here is a statement released by Manchester Community Transport:

DK56 LWJ on route 308

"Manchester Community Transport (MCT) have announced today that it is proposing to close in late April, Citing mounting losses and Difficult Trading conditions.

The community Transport operator was rescued from Closure in 2017 by joining HCT Group and has been Reliant on them for Financial, Management and Technical support since that time. Operating conditions for MCT have not improved sufficiently for continued support to be viable. HCT Group can no longer sustain MCT's losses and has no alternative but withdraw support."

YJ13 HLF on route 44

It is now expected the routes operated by Manchester Community Transport will be put out by Tender by TFGM with them being awarded to other Bus Operators.

Thirteen Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMCs for The Blackburn Bus Company!

During January Transdev The Blackburn Bus Company Invested in Thirteen Brand New Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC's for the 1 Service between Blackburn and Darwen/Bolton. These Replaced 12 Plate Wright Eclipse's that where employed on the route.

YX69 NTD on route 1

Fleet number and Registrations for the new MMC's are as follows:

501 - YX69 NTA

502 - YX69 NTC

503 - YX69 NTD

504 - YX69 NTF

505 - YX69 NTG

506 - YX69 NTJ

507 - YX69 NTK

508 - YX69 NTL

509 - YX69 NTM

510 - YX69 NTN

511 - YX69 NTO

512 - YX69 NTT

513 - YX69 NTU

YX69 NTA on route 1

Some of the 12 Plate Wright Eclipses have already left the Transdev Fleet and are now with Warringtons Own Buses.

BD12 TEO on route 1

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Merseyside Independents Fleet Update January 2020

Welcome to my first update of Merseyside Independents Fleet Update of 2020, These Posts will continue to be monthly assuming there are changes each month, Onto January and there are a couple of changes to note:

Cumfybus
WithdrawnOptare Solo MX04 VME has been Withdrawn

Hattons Travel
ReinstatedScania Omnicity YN54 AHL has been Reinstated

Alexander Dennis Dart MX06 ULP has been Reinstated

MX06 ULP on route 140

HTL Buses

Additions
Into the Fleet are Two Optare Solo M9600SR's YJ12 PLZ and YJ12 PMU.

ReinstatedOptare Solo M7200SE-R YD63 VCG has been Reinstated

YD63 VCG on route 156

Withdrawn
Volkswagen SF05 GGJ is now Withdrawn

Merc-Benz Sprinter BF62 JZU is now Withdrawn

Halton Transport Cease Trading

On Friday 24th January Halton Transport Ceased Trading, Halton Transport Started in 1909 at Widnes Corporation and slowly expanded after Deregulation into a major Provider of Bus Services in the area.

AE57 FAM on route 14A

Here is the routes Halton Transport Operated:

3D Palace Fields - Runcorn

6 Huyton - Liverpool (AM Trip)

14 Liverpool - Widnes
14A Liverpool -  Windmill Hill
14C Hough Green - Widnes
17 St Helens - Widnes (QBP With Arriva)

20/20A Murdishaw Circular
26/26A Widnes - Cronton
27/27A Widnes - West Bank

61 Liverpool - Palace Fields
62/62A/62C Runcorn/Widnes to Warrington
200 Widnes - Runcorn
201 Liverpool Royal Hospital - Speke Morrisons

Halton Transport also operated a vast amount of School and College Bus Services in Halton and Merseyside.

Replacement Services:

3D Palace Fields - Runcorn (Warringtons Own Buses)
14A Murdishaw - Hough Green (Arriva)
20/20A Murdishaw Circulars (Warringtons Own Buses)
61 Halton Hospital - Broad Green (Arriva)

62 Murdishaw - Hale Bank (Arriva)
62 Runcorn - Warrington (Warringtons Own Buses)
200 Runcorn Railway Station - Business Park (Arriva)

201 Liverpool Royal Hospital - Speke Morrisons (Arriva)

We will update this post as further information is released, Updates will be in Red Font

Jim Stones Coaches of Leigh to Cease Trading

Jim Stones Coaches of Leigh have announced this morning they will cease Trading on 18th April 2020 unless a Buyer is found, The following Statement was posted on their Facebook Page this morning.

We regret to advise that due to their poor health Joan and Jim Stones wish to retire and the business is available for sale until the proposed date of closure, and final day of operation, on Saturday 18th April 2020.

In addition to this the future of public transport in Greater Manchester is uncertain.

Our buses have served Leigh for over 33 years and we must emphasize that we are not going under. If a sale is not achieved our drivers will receive their entitlement and we will help them find new jobs.

We have made TfGM aware of the situation and will continue to keep them informed of any potential sale or closure of the business so that we can, between us, minimise any impact on our customers.

Thank you to our brilliant team and wonderful passengers for all your support over the years.

Jim Stones

T1 KET on route 594

Jim Stones currently operate the following services:

• 583 Leigh - Hag Fold
• 584 Leigh - Common Lane
• 588 Leigh - Scott Road
• 589 Leigh Circular
• 590 Leigh - Lowton 
• 593 Leigh - Tamar 
• 595 Leigh - Abbey Lane 
• 596 Leigh - Landside
• 599 West Leigh High School - Leigh (School Service)
• 682 Leigh - Atherton
• 933 St Mary's High School - Leigh (School Service)

Least Used Railway Stations in Merseyside 2018 - 2019

The other Day we wrote a Blog Post about the Ten Most Used Railway Stations in Merseyside but which are the Ten Least Used Stations? In today's Blog Post we take a look.

1. Upton
2017/2018 Passengers: 33,634
2018/2019 Passengers: 25,254
Upton is a small unstaffed Station on the Wirral sitting on the Wales & Borderers Line, In order to catch a Train to Liverpool Passengers must change at Bidston for a Merseyrail Service, There is a Bus service into Liverpool passing the Station which makes the Bus appealing to people in the area. The station is ranked the 2,177th Most used station down from 2,105th.

2. Rainford
2017/2018 Passengers: 55,352

2018/2019 Passengers: 34,690
Rainford Station saw a Sharpe Decrease in Passenger numbers since the last period, The reason given is problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. The Station is ranked as the 2,105th most used Station on the Network, Down from 1,957th.

3. West Allerton
2017/2018 Passengers: 101,296
2018/2019 Passengers: 43,258
West Allerton Station has also seen a Sharpe Decline in Passengers numbers since the last Period, The reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 along with Problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. The Station is ranked the 2,028th Most Used down from 1,717th.

4. Halewood
2017/2018 Passengers: 135,832
2018/2019 Passengers: 53,594
Halewood has seen a Massive Decline in Passenger numbers since the last Period. Reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 and Problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. Halewood is ranked the 1,969th most use station, Down from 1,586th.

5. Eccleston Park

2017/2018 Passengers: 126,618

2018/2019 Passengers: 72,058
Eccleston Park is another station to see a Sharpe decline to the number of Passengers using the Station, Reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 along with problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. Eccleston Park is ranked the 1,865th most used station, Down from 1,611th

6. Meols Cop

2017/2018 Passengers: 79,630
2018/2019 Passengers: 83,306
Meols Cop is the first Station on this list to see its Passenger numbers increase. Meols Cop is ranked the 1,807th most used Station up from 1,824th.

7. Heswall
2017/2018 Passengers: 58,452
2018/2019 Passengers: 91,736
Heswall has seen a massive Passenger increase to its Passenger numbers, No reason was given however we think it has something to do with Avon Buses who ceased Trading. Heswall is Ranked the 1,776th Most used Station, Up from 1,936th.

8. Little Sutton
2017/2018 Passengers: 109,506
2018/2019 Passengers: 116,676
Little Sutton has seen a slight increase in the number of Passengers using the station, Little Sutton is Ranked the 1,657th Most used station, Up from 1,682nd.

9. Mossley Hill
2017/2018 Passengers: 262,736
2018/2019 Passengers: 125,558
Mossley Hill has seen a massive Decline in Passenger Numbers since the last Period, Reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 and problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. Mossley Hill is Ranked the 1,627th Most used Station, Down from 1,249th.

10. Thatto Heath
2017/2018 Passengers: 257,132
2018/2019 Passengers: 134,750
Thatto Heath Is another Station thats seen a massive increase in Passenger Numbers since the last period, Reasons given are Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 along with Problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. Thatto Heath is ranked as the 1,594th Most used station, Down from 1,262nd.

From this list most of the stations suffered with Liverpool Lime Street being closed and Problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change, This should hopefully lead to a recovery in Passengers numbers for the next Period.

Most Used Railway Stations in Merseyside 2018 - 2019

The Office of Rail and Road published its Passenger Figures for the 2018 to 2019 Period which leads to the question, What are the most used stations Merseyside? We thought we would take a look and this was the end result.

1.Liverpool Central

2017 - 2018 Passengers: 16,465,769

2018 - 2019 Passengers: 14,605,748

Overall Change: -1,860,021

Liverpool Central was the most used station but did see a Decline in Passenger numbers over this period, The reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 along with Problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. It was ranked as the 30th most used station in the UK down from 28th.

2. Liverpool Lime Street
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 16,032,459

2018 - 2019 Passengers: 14,221,388
Overall Change: -1,811,071
Liverpool Lime Street was the 2nd most used station and also saw a decline in Passengers numbers Due to the station being closed in 2018 and problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. It was ranked the 33rd Busiest Station in the UK Down from 30th.

3. Moorfields
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 7,366,265
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 6,534,152
Overall Change: -832,113

Moorfields Ranks as the 3rd Most used station but saw a decline in Passenger numbers Due to Liverpool Lime Street being closed and problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change, It was ranked the 79th Busiest Station in the UK down from 67th.

4. Southport
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 4,140,162
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 4,271,792
Overall Change: +131,630
Southport was the 4th Most used station and saw a Passenger increase (The first on this list to manage that!) It was ranked the 124th Busiest Station in the UK up from 125th.

5. James Street
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 3,466,478
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 3,074,894
Overall Change: -391,584

James Street was the 5th most used station but saw a Passenger decrease, Reasons given is Liverpool Lime Street being closed in 2018 and problems with the May 2018 Timetable Change. It was ranked the 191st most used station in the UK down from 154th.

6. Liverpool South Parkway
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 2,247,382
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 2,745,588
Overall Change: +498,206
Liverpool South Parkway was the 6th most used station and saw its Passenger numbers increase, Reason given is more people using the nearby Liverpool Airport.223rd Most used station in the UK up from 263nd.

7. Kirkby
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 2,427,784
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 2,488,916
Overall Change: +61,132
Kirkby was the 7th most used station in Merseyside with a Passenger increase. Kirkby was ranked the 240th most used station in the UK up from 242nd.

8. Waterloo
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 1,551,654
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 1,683,954
Overall Change: +132,300
Waterloo was the 8th most used station in Merseyside with Passenger number going up. Waterloo was ranked the 357th most used station in the UK up from 376th.

9. Blundellsands & Crosby
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 1,437,206
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 1,667,950
Overall Change: +230,744
Blundellsands & Crosby was the 9th most used station in Merseyside with Passenger numbers going up, Reason for the increase is industrial action taken place in the 2017 - 2018 Period. The station was ranked 361st most used station in the UK up from 397th.

10. Magull
2017 - 2018 Passengers: 1,870,086
2018 - 2019 Passengers: 1,639,668
Overall Change: -230,418
Maghull finishes this list of as the 10th most used Station in Merseyside with Passenger numbers going down, The reason behind this is a new station nearby being build (Maghull North). The station was ranked the 372nd most used station in the UK down from 314th

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the most used stations in Merseyside, Stay tuned as we will soon be writing a Blog Post about the 10 Least used stations in Merseyside.