Howards/Springfield

[knutstransport]

RE: Howards/Springfield

(22/01/2017 15:53)Nwales Bus Wrote:  Regular drivers on duties is often used by smaller sized operators as it builds up rappor with the local residents. I also believe that it's particularly useful on Rural routes and on service serving housing estates as the drivers over time will know where their regular passengers board and alight. It's the small things which in the end builds up a strong reputation within the loca community

D&G Bus have regular drivers on the 88 route as well despite it being a route with a PVR of 5. Although they don't always do the same shifts from one day to the next e.g. the driver that takes out the 14:05 bus one day might take the 13:35 the next.

When GHA ran the 27 and 289 they used a few unmarked stops, which passengers still wanted when Howards took over the routes but initially the drivers dropped off passengers further down the road because they didn't realise where passengers had been dropped off under the previous operators. Things have settled down now but if they had a pool of 50 drivers and they all took the 27 and 289 routes they'd probably forget where the unmarked stops are. Of course the proper solution would be for Cheshire East to relocate some of their bus stops on roads which are no longer served by buses so there aren't any unmarked bus stops. The pre-2011 289 route (not via High Legh) still has some bus stops on it, as does Queensway, Knutsford and Brook Lane, Alderley Edge.