Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

[DLG817]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot
I had a look at the X4 workings today. I set out below my observations:-
1. The X4 continues to interwork with the 4. Buses arriving at Mold on the 4 leave working an X4 to Ellesmere Port. It works X4 returning to Mold and then leaves Mold on the 4 to Chester. Returning again to Mold as a 4. The whole circuit takes six hours. My calculation indicates a total PVR of 12 vehicles.
2. The 4 / X4 is mainly worked by Sapphire Double deckers previously branded and working the 10 / 10a. These vehicles have been cleverly de-branded by the application of an advert on each side of the buses stating 'Ho-Ho-Hop on the X4 to get to Cheshire Oaks – Service X4 is now extended to get you to Cheshire Oaks and Ellesmere Port'.
3. My journey to Ellesmere Port resulted in very few passengers travelling after Chester Railway Station and similarly on the return journey to Chester.
4. The vehicles destinations have been re-programmed but I would suggest that there are some issues. One vehicle left Mold displaying Chester Railway Station via Cheshire Oaks. <Photo 3141 leaving Mold> Other vehicles showed the correct intended destination. From Mold this stated Ellesmere Port via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> and from Ellesmere Port this was Mold via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> which alternated with Yr Wyddgrug via Cheshire Oaks. At no time did the buses indicate Chester. This must be an issue for intending passengers both on the run into Chester from Mold but mainly on the journey from Ellesmere Port. Intending passengers not aware of the new service are bound to confuse the service with the former SP1/2 now 5 which operated direct from Ellesmere Port to Mold. I observed that at many bus stops on the run back to Chester from the Port were possible passengers who did not indicate for the bus to stop. They either were intent on travelling by Stagecoach or they were not aware that the bus was en route to Chester.
5. Available on the buses were new leaflets detailing the 4 and X4 service.