Arriva is set to withdraw their link from Manchester to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on the 1st of May. Service 700, which runs from Piccadilly Station to the Merseyside airport via Eccles, Burtonwood Services and Widnes has run since Autumn 2005, and has had its route and stopping points changed a number of times in its short life.It's never seemed a particularly busy route, with very few passengers seen on board on most journeys we've seen.
There's good news though, with a new express service being launched to take its place. Service X2, introduced the very day the 700 waves goodbye, is to be operated by the forbodingly-named Flight Delay Services Ltd, based at Manchester Airport. The new service will run from Piccadilly Station all the way to Liverpool Lime Street Station via Manchester Airport, Warrington, Widnes and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. It will run hourly every day except Christmas Day.
In addition to maintaining a bus link to Liverpool's airport, the X2 is the first express bus service between Manchester city centre and Manchester Airport in many years. At present the only two routes providing this link are Stagecoach's 43 and 105. Since the introduction of regular rail services to the Airport an express bus has not been required, so it will be interesting to see how many people take up the option of a bus journey.
The X2 also introduces a fast bus link between Manchester and Warrington which may appeal to some people. First's 100 service is a regular stopping service via the Trafford Centre so an express may find some custom as an alternative although the train service to Warrington is still more frequent and faster than any bus could be.
[Image credit: SwansonFamily on Flickr]
Looks like Arriva are making a habit of dropping airport services, as they're dropping the Leicester Skylink service to East Midlands Airport at the start of April. Interesting to see what can of appeal and passenger loads this service gets. Maybe also make the A40 Terravision service more appealing since it's direct to Liverpool Airport.
Posted by: Shaun | March 17, 2009 at 09:49 PM
terravision gets good number from what i have seen of the queues. With a good value day return this could also do well with the shoppers. I feel this kind of service is all about marketing. Just hope they tell enough people about it lol .
Posted by: Simon, Riverside. | March 18, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Too bad if you live in Eccles or Salford though. We don't have any link to any airport from any part of the city. I live in Eccles and used this bus frequently and it could be busy at times.
Posted by: Joe | March 19, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Still technically run by Arriva through as Excel Logistics are a Stansted based company purchased by Arriva's TGM subsidiary in 2008. Merseytravel have already published the timetable http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/pdf/tt_Alpha/X2%20Liverpool%20-%20Manchester%20(from%2001%20May%202009).pdf
Posted by: Grahame | March 19, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Manchester to Manchester Airport in around 20 minutes is not bad, certainly does give the Transpennine Express train services a run for its money, which has similar journeys times, while a 1/3 of the journey time of the 43/105. Manchester to Warrington in around 45/50 minutes is around half the journey time to the 100.
Interesting to see what the fare structure will be for this service, if they are going to compete with existing services. £3.10 for a single on the train or £3.50 for a Stagecoach DayRider to the Airport, £4.00 for a FirstDay ticket to Warrington, and under £10 for a coach/train journey to Liverpool in half the journey time of the X2.
Posted by: Shaun | March 22, 2009 at 09:20 PM
I suppose I ought to put my tuppence worth in given how its routed via my hometown! :)
In one fell swoop, Warrington (and Widnes) gains a direct link to both LPL and MAN airports. Just what the doctor ordered. Possibly a little too limited in its selection of stopping points to benefit the greatest number of passengers though - why not a stop on Princess Parkway or in the Warrington suburbs?
As the operator is part of the Arriva Group, they will technically be competing with themselves between Warrington, Widnes and Liverpool!
Posted by: JimmyMac | March 30, 2009 at 08:17 PM
This was my Favorite Route aswell! Sounds funny them competing with themselves!
Posted by: 4403 | April 02, 2009 at 09:46 AM
what replaced the X2 which stopped runing in december 2009
need somthing late night manchester to warrington the train is a joke last train 11.30 pah
and not paying £50 - £70 for a taxi cheeky barstewards
Posted by: penketh explorer | November 30, 2010 at 04:25 PM