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Chaserider
Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora (639), seen here in Lichfield Bus Station on 16 March 2024, whilst preparing to operate a 60 to Cannock. This is one of 4 Evora’s that was purchased by Chaserider in 2023 to upgrade route 60 from Cannock to Lichfield.
ParentCentrebus Group
Founded1977 (Original)
January 2021 (Revived)
HeadquartersWenlock Way, Leicester
Service area
DepotsDelta Way, Cannock
Fleet58 (August 2024)
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorCentrebus Group
Chief executiveJulian Peddle
Websitewww.chaserider.co.uk

Chaserider[1] is the brand name for bus services operated around Cannock and Staffordshire by D&G Bus, a local bus operator owned by Centrebus who are based in Adderley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

History

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The Chaserider brand name, which refers to Cannock Chase, was first used by Midland Red from 1977[2] until 1992.

During November 2020, Centrebus Group subsidiary D&G Bus announced they would be taking over the Cannock depot of Arriva Midlands from the end of January 2021 with operations in Cannock and Stafford running under the revived Chaserider brand.[3]

Services

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Chaserider services operate mainly around Cannock and Stafford with some further afield into Wolverhampton.[4][5]

Since taking over from Arriva Midlands in January 2021, Chaserider have undertaken a number of service reviews including a trial of running buses on Sundays in partnership with Designer Outlet West Midlands from the Pye Green estates, services to Baswich and Lichfield have also been revised or passed to other operators.[6][7][8]

Some of the Stafford town centre network inherited from Arriva has been taken over by Select Bus Services.[9]

From June 2021, Chaserider introduced a new service X14 between Cannock, Shifnal, Telford and Oakengates. This had 6 journeys in each direction, but was withdrawn in January 2022 owing to low passenger numbers. [10][11]

Chaserider (541) an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC in Travel Telford branding.

From February 2023, Chaserider began operating subsidised services 102 and 103 along with school services 104 and 105 in the Telford area. Also operated under contract to Telford and Wrekin Council, Chaserider also began to operate service 100 in late 2022. These services utilise a fleet of 6 suitably branded Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMCs.

Service 1 which ran between Cannock and Walsall and operated every 20 minutes at its peak was curtailed to operate only between Cheslyn Hay and Cannock from the summer 2022. This was controversial as at the same time National Express cut its competing X51 between Cannock and Walsall (and which continues to Birmingham) to every 30 minutes from 20 minutes between the two towns.

In July 2023, Chaserider commenced operations on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council, running services 35A and 36 between Walsall, Aldridge and Lichfield, with an additional service 19 under contract in October 2023 commencing, between Walsall and Bloxwich[12] Due to antisocial behaviour on part of the route of service 19, from 22nd November 2023 Chaserider and TfWM agreed to reroute the service after 4.30pm until further notice. Further antisocial behaviour caused Chaserider to temporarily cancel all journeys on service 19 after 3pm. TfWM arranged for services 23 and 25, operated by Walsall Community Transport, to divert one journey each way to partly cover the cancelled journeys. Service 19 is now operated by Carolean Coaches who have recently opened a depot in Bescot.

Further expansion saw Chaserider replace National Express West Midlands on service 5 (Wolverhampton to Codsall, evenings and Sundays) from 5 November 2023. Day time journeys are operated by Banga Buses.

In June 2024, saw the extension of the 63 Cannock to Rugeley via Brereton linking onto Uttoxeter in partnership with Bus Link.

In July 2024, saw the 35A Walsall to Leighswood via Aldridge service be withdrawn and replaced with a new 36A Walsall to Lichfield via Aldridge & Leighswood service. This is on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council.[13]

Chaserider however will see further changes to their network this will see the Service 10 in Stafford withdrawn and replaced by a diversion on selected journeys on service 841, The service 74 will operate via the normal route on all journeys from Cannock towards Stafford. From Stafford towards Cannock buses will operate non-stop from The Sun (Lichfield Road) to Pottal Pool roundabout. We regret that there will be no southbound stops on service 74 through Queensville, Weeping Cross, Wildwood, Brocton and Bednal Head. Service 826 will provide an alternative service from Stafford to Weeping Cross, Wildwood and Brocton. There will be no southbound buses serving stops between Brocton and Pottal Pool. The service 826 will be curtailed to run between Stafford and Rugeley only. A revised timetable on service 828 will continue to run between Stafford, Rugeley and Lichfield every 30 minutes. Buses on service 826 from Stafford towards Rugeley will divert via Tixall Road and Holdiford Road between Stafford and Milford, then will operate in a loop via Baswich, Wildwood and Brocton back to Milford before continuing to Rugeley. Buses from Rugeley towards Stafford will continue to operate via Baswich and Queensville between Milford and Stafford. Buses on service 826 will no longer operate via the Springfields estate in Rugeley. The service 828 will be increased to run every 30 minutes between Stafford, County Hospital, The Haywoods, Springfields, Rugeley, Brereton, Handsacre and Lichfield. Buses will run to a revised timetable.

Fleet

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As part of the sale to D&G bus, Arriva included 46 vehicles with sale of Cannock depot, since the takeover most of the vehicles have been refurbished into D&G two tone red livery with Chaserider branding alongside some newer additions from within D&G parent company Centrebus Group.

As of June 2022, Centrebus are upgrading the Chaserider fleet with newer vehicles from elsewhere within their operations.[14][15]

As of August 2024, the fleet consists of 58 vehicles.

References

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  1. ^ Companies House extract company no 6918592 D&G Bus Limited
  2. ^ Harvey, Ian (1 September 2017). "Phil Gillam: All steamed up - but only in parallel universe". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ^ Dougall, Emily (1 December 2020). "Arriva to sell Cannock bus depot as the Chaserider brand returns". CBW. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ^ North Staffs Route List Archived 4 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Jan 2017
  5. ^ Cheshire Route List Archived 6 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Jan 2017
  6. ^ Hardiman, Deborah. "Bus routes axed over low passenger rates". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. ^ Hodgkiss, Samuel (31 January 2022). "Bus routes changes in Rugeley, Cannock, Stafford". burtonmail. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ Bunn, George (9 February 2022). "Upset as bus service from Cannock to Lichfield is scrapped". burtonmail. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Cannock to Telford with Chaserider". BusAndTrainUser. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. ^ "June 2021 - Staffordshire County Council". www.staffordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ^ "January 2022 - Staffordshire County Council". www.staffordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Chaserider". Chaserider. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ https://www.chaserider.co.uk/news/walsall-to-lichfield-service-enhancements/
  14. ^ "Chaserider 748".
  15. ^ "Centrebus 670". wmbusphotos.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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