Arriva North West - Speke Depot

[CUL 73V]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(07/06/2023 07:07)DVG526 Wrote:  There have been a few instances lately of the small buses turning up on City routes, Solo on 82 for instance. Seems like someone there is having a little joke with the allocations, no need for it.

Arriva do not "have a joke" with allocations. If a small bus is what's available, it goes out.

As a driver, I can tell you passengers prefer a small bus which is on time than a missed service. I get more complaints if the bus in front of me hasn't turned up than if I'm on time in a smaller bus than is usual for the route.

[DVG526]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
The ‘better than no bus at all’ excuse doesn’t wash at Speke, plenty of deckers and Pulsars to cover the main city routes, no need for midi buses. Pointless anyway as a Solo would be full at one stop on the 82/86 etc.

[CUL 73V]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(07/06/2023 14:33)DVG526 Wrote:  The ‘better than no bus at all’ excuse doesn’t wash at Speke, plenty of deckers and Pulsars to cover the main city routes, no need for midi buses. Pointless anyway as a Solo would be full at one stop on the 82/86 etc.

I don't work at Speke, but I can tell you an Enviro200 and Solo weren't put on high volume city routes for a laugh. For whatever reason(s) on those particular days, Speke didn't have any larger spare buses available. The ratio of spares to peak vehicle requirement can only be so high, otherwise it isn't cost effective.

That said, apart from contract routes, Green Lane and Speke shouldn't have any single deckers. But, we are where we are.