Bring back the X1, demand bus users
HUNDREDS of bus passengers have signed a petition calling for Arriva to reinstate the Sunday X1 service as residents fear they face being even more cut off from city travel when the Mersey Gateway bus opens.
Toni-Marie Kirby, 26, said the lack of a direct express on Sundays mean voyagers have to instead endure a three-hour round trip on a 79 bus.
In addition, upcoming cuts to bus routes resulting from the closure of the Silver Jubilee Bridge mean her younger sister’s visits to see her father in Liverpool over the weekend will be put in jeopardy because of difficulties with the long-haul Sunday number 79 services, meaning she could end up faced with the choice of coming home early on a Saturday having spent just one night at her dad’s or on a Monday when she would miss school.
Travelling back to Brookvale on a Sunday now means a trip on the ‘dreaded 79c’ and changing at Shopping City, she said.
Toni-Marie herself said she has missed out on seeing her brother’s newborn baby because of the lack of an X1 express service.
She branded the situation ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and said Sundays are not the quiet days they once were, adding that demand will start to ramp up as Christmas approaches.
Arriva has been slated by passengers over the upcoming changes when the Mersey Gateway bridge opens and the Silver Jubilee closes at the same time for up to 12 months.
Her petition, on the change.org website, had amassed 635 signatures at time of writing towards its target of 1,000 but despite that a reply from Arriva is yet to arrive.
Comments in the public section said a Sunday X1 service is needed for residents looking to work, socialise shop or visit relatives in Liverpool.
Among them was Clare Jenkins, who said she lives in Windmill Hill and Sunday is her only day off and her only day as a family together and likes to spend the day together in Liverpool.
She said: “My little sister has to go to Liverpool to see her dad, Friday to Sunday, she wouldn’t get a 79c which is a struggle.”
On public reaction to the petition, she said: “It’s been dead good. If you go on the petition, they’re saying they need it for work or they’re only off on that day and need it for Christmas shopping. When the bridge opens there’s no buses to the Old Town or (train) station, I think rail use will go down and taxis are dead expensive.”
An Arriva spokeswoman said: “Arriva is currently reviewing the services in Runcorn in light of customer feedback and the opening of the Mersey Gateway bridge.
“Depending on when the bridge opens and the impact this will have on services, we will make the necessary changes to ensure a high level of service to our customers.
“The X1 Sunday service has not been operating for a number of years and other routes are available that serve Runcorn and Liverpool.”