Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[Valandil]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
They really could do with doing an overhaul of service numbers.
I know this could follow later, but it seems there have been a few changes proposed here and there so far.

Would Widnes/Runcorn services (including 61/X4) really need permits?
I'd be surprised if that's the case.

[Y458 KNF]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(19/01/2026 13:58)Valandil Wrote:  They really could do with doing an overhaul of service numbers.
I know this could follow later, but it seems there have been a few changes proposed here and there so far.

Would Widnes/Runcorn services (including 61/X4) really need permits?
I'd be surprised if that's the case.

Still some doubt if Halton will be included but may need permits temporary until that issues been sorted, also if the 375 & 385 aren’t included then who’s going to take them unless Lancashire run it as their own tenders and what about the 329 is that still not included within St Helens.

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(19/01/2026 13:58)Valandil Wrote:  Would Widnes/Runcorn services (including 61/X4) really need permits?
I'd be surprised if that's the case.

Yes. The only exception would be if they were Metro franchised routes operated from a depot such as Speke.

[Route102]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Also seems to show the 201 running from Speke to Sandhills too!

[Valandil]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(19/01/2026 14:58)Y458 KNF Wrote:  what about the 329 is that still not included within St Helens.

Never understood that about the 329 in particular, especially as the 322 (current 22) is included in franchising.
I guess because the 329 interworks with the 360 currently, but surely they should decouple those routes.
Maybe they just want Warrington to take those routes off their hands haha

I can't see Halton being left out of franchising long-term.
It'd be ironic if the Metro-branded vehicles, frequently allocated to X4 among other routes, actually disappeared from Halton in the future!

[Bevan Price]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(19/01/2026 22:49)Valandil Wrote:  Never understood that about the 329 in particular, especially as the 322 (current 22) is included in franchising.
I guess because the 329 interworks with the 360 currently, but surely they should decouple those routes.
Maybe they just want Warrington to take those routes off their hands haha

Many years ago, Warrington did operate the 329 for a while. They withdrew when the Warrington "bus war" with Arriva** ceased.

(**Or was it still Version 2 North Western then - I can't remember.)

[iMarkeh]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(19/01/2026 12:05)moreton407 Wrote:  Why does it take franchising to make these improvements, shouldn't Merseytravel have made these changes already and saved the region millions of pounds?

Stop asking sensible questions. We can't be expecting Merseytravels performing chimps to use logic. That's half of the reason we are in this mess, because the numpties in Mann Island are so far detached from real life, and waste endless sums of money on what is politically convenient, rather than into changes that people actually want/need.

(19/01/2026 22:49)Valandil Wrote:  Never understood that about the 329 in particular, especially as the 322 (current 22) is included in franchising.

Isn't this more because the Warrington 22 between Earlestown and Ashton is actually a Merseytravel tender and other bits are still funded by Merseytravel?

Speaking speculatively here but could Warrington be willing to give up the 22 (kind of having the attitude that it Mtrav are taking the tendered part, the rest of the 22 isn't viable on it's own so MTrav might as well take the lot) on the basis that they know they will get the 329/360 from Arriva?

[Valandil]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(Today 06:03)iMarkeh Wrote:  Isn't this more because the Warrington 22 between Earlestown and Ashton is actually a Merseytravel tender and other bits are still funded by Merseytravel?

Speaking speculatively here but could Warrington be willing to give up the 22 (kind of having the attitude that it Mtrav are taking the tendered part, the rest of the 22 isn't viable on it's own so MTrav might as well take the lot) on the basis that they know they will get the 329/360 from Arriva?

I thought some trips on the 329 were funded too, though far from all of them.

I guess there must be some perceived value in keeping the 322 (current 22) as one long route, which definitely can have advantages for passengers and keeps things more stable, though long routes like this can also possibly be confusing.