An EXCLUSIVE from East of the M60
From the 15th April 2007, First Manchester’s 343 service from Oldham to Hyde will see the withdrawal of its commercially operated journeys. This will not be the complete end of the service, as subsidised journeys in evenings, Sundays and Bank Holiday will continue.
I can reveal that GMPTE will be discussing the alternatives during a planning meeting, which will take place on Friday 23rd March 2007 in Manchester town hall. This meeting will discuss alternatives to fill the gap, which would leave Dukinfield bus users without a direct link to Mossley for the first time since 1904 for most part of the day. The 343 is one of six services in Greater Manchester under threat from the company’s April service revisions (the others include the 387 Ashton - Stalybridge - Newton - Hyde route).
Should the gap be left unfilled, this would mean greatly extended journey times. For example, a journey from Mossley to Grotton (five to ten minutes on the 343) would be three times longer, allowing for a change at Grasscroft, Greenfield or Uppermill. Rail passengers in the Dukinfield area, who use Flowery Field station would be expected to walk, or board the 346 for Newton instead of Flowery Field.
More will be revealed within this blog nearer the time of its proposed withdrawal.
