Doctor Strangeroute (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bus)

How the local bus (almost) saved me from commuting worries

In the last two weeks, most of us UK residents will have known about the flood affecting the North West and Yorkshire areas. This has obviously had a profound effect on the railways within Lancashire and Yorkshire (mainly services travelling between Huddersfield and Leeds), with a reduced timetable in operation on First Transpennine services.

With the floods affecting my ability to catch a train from Stalybridge to Manchester Oxford Road, I had in the last fortnight shunned the train in favour of my local bus service. Though the 0746 is down as running on National Rail’s interim timetable, I have refrained from this option due to possible overcrowding (the 0736 Manchester Airport service has been cancelled due to the weather).

Instead I found a slower (though sometimes a tad frustrating) option, which has six wheels, 42 seats and 25 standing. Borne about by my inability to wait a little longer for the eastbound journey (to connect with my train), I started boarding the westbound journey of the 220 towards Manchester.

The result has been me arriving in work at a similar time to the train, or a few minutes later due to traffic on Ashton Old Road or Audenshaw Road.

On the 22 January 2008, I was en route to seeing the mighty Stalybridge Celtic playing Burscough. As the 1755 service to Middlesbrough from Manchester Piccadilly was cancelled due to the flooding, the 1820 Glossop 237 came to the rescue - the same one I would catch from Stalybridge on most midweek home matchdays. I had tea elsewhere instead of my usual haunt (Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar), and paid for this by seeing the mighty ‘Bridge lose 4 - 2, thus ending an 8 match 100% record.

Actually, it’s a little unfair to blame the ‘Bridge’s first league defeat in 2008 on my decision to choose the bus. The journey on the 237 was most relaxing and (till Ashton Bus Station) quiet.

The same could have been said about today’s jolly on the 220. Instead of the usual low floor Alexander bodied Dennis Dart SLF, I was treated to an Enviro 300 double decker. Apart from the lower fuel economy rating, I now consider Stagecoach’s newer double deckers to be worthy successors to Greater Manchester Transport’s Leyland Atlanteans or Ralph Bennett’s Mancunian bodied Leyland Atlanteans and Daimler Fleetlines. For peak hour standards, the traffic on Ashton Old Road wasn’t too bad, with the bus arriving at Fairfield Street (Manchester Piccadilly railway station) by 0802.

The train is good for fast journeys, though the bus could be just as good. In Greater Manchester, bus travel is an inconsistent product depending on the state of the company’s buses and their fare structures. If only every company in Greater Manchester had a relatively modern fleet akin to Stagecoach Manchester’s or some of the local firms.

Bus travel can be relaxing, though this is dependent on the area, the clientele and the comfort level of the vehicle. I was fortunate to board one with amenable passengers and a ride quality akin to the most modern trains I have been on. However, the double decker gave me unrivalled views of Openshaw. Hardly the joys of seeing Port Erin from the front of Isle of Man Transport Department’s number 2 service though.

S.V, 24 January 2008