We have logos for M erseytravel, a bus (just in casy you had forgotten what you might be travelling on) and a logo for Q uality Partnership, which, as we have already seen, it isn't!
fbb does not know whether Merseytravel still prints copies of its leaflets. But he well remembers this style, current when the less old and less f man was editing the Great Britain Bus Timetable.
The present style has a line diagram version of the routes displayed on the front "cover". For the 10, 10A and 10B is is a little crude and perhaps ought to have Huyton to its correct geographical side of the main road.
Likewise the 10A also diverts to the RIGHT s you travel from Liverpool to St Helens, i.e. to the left of the above diagram
We have a useful "What's Changed" paragraph ...
Arriva Route 10A: No change.
Stagecoach Route 10A: Service returns to normal running and is re-combined with the Arriva service on the timetable.
Route 10B: The timing point on journeys into Liverpool at Greek Street is changed to Guelph Lane. The Monday to Friday daytime service frequency is increased from about every 12 to every 10 minutes. Times are changed throughout. Other than the timing point
... always a helpful feature. And there is a full description of each route.
Then come the timetables and here is the PTE map to help us all remember!
The 10, operated by Arriva ONLY runs direct via Eccleston Park ...
... every 20 minutes.
The 10A runs via Rainhill and is "joint" Stagecoach and Arriva ...
... with both services running every 15 minutes combining to offer a bus every 7/8 minutes/ Because the inter-availability of tickets, a feature of the original partnership "proposal", is far from clear, the PTE is at pains to show which operator runs each service, except where are generalised repeat pattern is shown.
You would suppose that if you has an operator specific ticket, waiting about 8 mins would not be too great a burden, unless it was raining|!
The 7/8 minute frequency is only a rough guide anyway. But if you were desperate, you could go on-line and check out the company specific timetable for the 10A because these are not shown in partnership format.
The 10B to Huyton probably deserves a separate route number, but it is also Arriva ONLY ...
Until the !0B turns off to Huyton ...
... the route 10 "package" offers 17 buses an hour via Knotty Ash.
But Knotty Ash gets no mention on any timetable or even on the PTE leaflet map. Dicky Mint will be heartbroken.
As we saw in yesterday's blog, the "leaflet" has a good route map for the 10s and it includes a detailed enlargement for Liverpool city centre.
It shows us that the 10 and 10B have a terminus at Queen Square bus station ...
... which is actually a line of kerbside shelters on both sides of Hood Street.
This is quite near the waterfront and the popular Albert Dock shopping ad eating area!
It always seems a rather spartan to effort for a proud and historic city.
The 10s leave from stop 2 but none of the timetables tells you this.
Hood Street is down the hill from Lime Street Station. The 10A (both Arriva and Stagecoach) penetrate further into the city and end/start their journeys at "Liverpool One" bus station.
Of course, back in the days when "Ferries Cross the Mersey" were really ferries that crossed the Mersey, not, as they are today, tourist boats, the key terminus in this area was "Pier Head|".
And just along the road was Mann Island bus terminal.
And Queen Square used to be called Hood Street because it was Hood Street and still is.
But back to the Partnership?
But back to the Partnership?
However the chumminess is portrayed, you will still be dealing with tqo very separate bus companies in Liverpool showing only their own timetables and charging their own (largely different) fares.
That is not fbb's definition of a partnership and certainly NOT a ...
... Quality partnership!
Which is why Steve Rotheram (Metro Mayor) wants to take over ALL the buses and paint them ALL yellow.
We will see what the impact of his first 20 will be - and when the rest are due! And who will be paying for them.
Which is why Steve Rotheram (Metro Mayor) wants to take over ALL the buses and paint them ALL yellow.
Next Bertha blog : Friday 11th November
The partnership didn't get off to a great start as Liverpool City Council withdrew nearly all bus lanes in the city.
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