Tameside Service Changes, Autumn 2011: This Time It’s Bus Wars
397 withdrawal leaves Hydonians with one route per hour to Glossop, but competition of the Wilmslow Road variety comes to Dukinfield
Who’d have thought on the 25th anniversary of bus deregulation that bus wars would return to the streets of Dukinfield, given the recent consolidation of FirstGroup and Stagecoach on the 346 route?
From Hallowe’en, Stagecoach Manchester’s 346 route will face greater competition with First Pioneer’s service. This time, the company formerly known as Pennine Blue 20 years ago will triple its daytime 346 service from every 30 minutes to every 10 minutes! The Albion Hotel will see eleven buses per hour to Ashton-under-Lyne including the 41 – the highest it has ever been since 1993. For the 346 route, its highest ever frequency – surpassing the 1990 timetable which saw a similar number of buses per hour – and the original tram timetable set by SHMD in 1905.
The question is, whether Dukinfield’s bus users would go for First Pioneer’s improved services, or wait for Stagecoach Manchester’s new buses. It wouldn’t surprise me if the former company offers a special day saver ticket for the 346, as of last year with the 348 and 350 routes (against SpeedwellBus’ S48 and S50 routes).
Creating more of a scare this Hallowe’en is the discontinuation of the 346′s Hyde to Gee Cross section on daytime journeys. Therefore, this is tame in comparison with the loss of the 397 route. For the most part of this year, SpeedwellBus ran a campaign to save this important cross-boundary route. Unfortunately, the 397′s demise has been rubber-stamped with the Hadfield to Glossop section replaced by a derisory hourly circular service. This is a rerouting of the existent 393 service. Tintwistle bound Hydonians have no alternative but to catch the train from Godley or Hattersley (after boarding a 201) to Hadfield. The journey to Tintwistle would involve a 237 from Hadfield or a 20 – 30 minute walk.
Both Stagecoach Manchester’s 204 and 206 services will see minimal changes to the timetable. Other than the changes to the 346 and the 397, it has been a quiet autumn for Tameside’s bus routes. By January, we shall see if Father Christmas has left some bus related goodies or a bag of coal. If I was living in Hyde and worked in Tintwistle, I shall be asking Santa for a mountain bike – essential for travelling from Hyde to Tintwistle now that the Tories in Matlock have withdrawn the 397 (bedsteads!).
S.V., 09 October 2011.
Update (23 October 2011): passengers anticipating Wilmslow Road Corridor style competition will be relieved to find that First Pioneer’s daytime 346 service will operate every 20 minutes. This is in line with Stagecoach Manchester’s service and not every 10 minutes as originally thought of. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused. Phew!
Background image courtesy of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center archive: Creative Commons Non-Commercial and Attribution License.
They should have rerouted the 346 around Waverley Road to Gee Cross! In my view, the 342/344 (whichever one it was that was rerouted to cover the dropped section of the 206 route) was never an adequate replacement due to limited hours of operation and crappy step-entrance Speedwell minibuses.
That would be a welcome development. Another idea which could First Pioneer could consider: extending its 389s to Gee Cross, compensating for the lost section served on the 346 till Hallowe’en. Or, TfGM could make sure that the 342/344 is a 100% low floor route, facilitating the use of Optare Solos.
I was never a fan of the Mercedes Vario bus, even when Stagecoach introduced theirs in 1998. Likewise with examples owned by independent companies. The appalling ride quality is my main gripe with these vehicles.
With the Hyde – Gee Cross section of the 346 now being served by the 206 on Mon – Sat daytime, I can understand why Stockport Road has lost the 346 at these times. The 206 runs a few minutes in front of it, and so the 346s behind them always run more-or-less empty. An opportunity missed there to properly serve Waverley Road once more, and restore its daytime direct link with Ashton once enjoyed with the 389 ’til earlier this year (the 346 would be quicker too!). The 342/344 could revert to the way it was. Everyone’s more-or-less happy.
Most definitely a missed opportunity or two, especially given the messing about of Gee Cross’ direct link with Ashton over the last half decade. I wonder if we’ll see more Optare Solos or Dennis Dart SLF’s as First’s weapon of choice aboard the 346?
Evening all,
Quick note on Speedwell, do they still have any Solo’s? I know the two white ones with LED displays went back to Dawson Rentals a few months ago but ive not seen any of there older ones [in Speedwell livery] for a while. Glossop is always full of Varios and Marshall Darts these days!
I read in BUSES magazine (yes I know they’re not always accurate but what the hell) that MX06 ABO & U had gone somewhere, can’t remember where now. Not heard or read anything about MX54 KYH, and can’t say I’ve seen it around lately.
Like the picture.
Does like there’s been another change regarding the 206. TfGM website says that the 206 will be re-routed into Denton town centre rather than via Town Lane and City Avenue. This means that the link between Haughton and Green and Denton is restored from when the 204 Monday-Saturday service was replaced by the 206. While the 335 covers part of the route, Ruby Street will be unserved.
Wonder if it is possible that the 345 will get re-routed. Perhaps have it terminate at Crown Point and then leave Denton via Pendle Road and City Avenue.Although, it may not happen, as the 206 only served the area at peak times until earlier this year.
As for the 346, the changes aren’t surprising. First took over the route from Hyde to Gee Cross commercially, but given Stagecoach run the same route with the 206 5 minutes earlier, it make sense to them to withdraw that section. Same applies to the increase in the Monday-Saturday daytime frequency. When Stagecoach increased their frequency, we had the situation where First and Stagecoach were running a journey at the same time from Ashton and within a couple of minutes from Hyde. Looking on Traveline Journey Planner, it looks like that the two companies have worked together with the timetable (almost like a Quality Partnership), as there is a even 10 minute frequency between the two operators. So, this will be good news for anyone on the route, particularly people with System One tickets.
With regards to the 397, it has been on the cards for months now, with Speedwellbus campaigning to give it running back in the spring. The suggestion from TfGM was to catch the 237 to Stalybridge and then catch a bus to Hyde, which will probably take about 50 minutes instead of 25 minutes (if you’re quick with the change in Stalybridge at Armentieres Square for the 389). The other option is catch the 237 towards Glossop and change just outside Glossop onto the 341, although that’ll take 70 minutes. As for journeys towards Tintwistle, the best option is catch the 387 to Mottram and change onto the 237. If you’re lucky, you can do it in 35 minutes.
The problem is that the waiting time between services when connecting is poor. The waiting time is either too long that you’re left hanging around or too short that you would be rushing and may miss your connection.
Hi Shaun,
Since 1992, the 346 has been ‘co-worked’ in a deregulation sense with the daytime frequency (till May this year) 50:50 between First and Stagecoach. This harks back to the closure of the Tameside Garage when Pennine Blue and GM Buses offered a 15 minute frequency service between them.
Whether the new times (this coming month) would solve the problems between Stagecoach and First timetables remains to be seen. There is at present one issue where Stagecoach and First 346s leave Ashton at the same times (the 28 minutes past the hour journeys).
Interesting change regarding the 206. One resident wrote to the Tameside Advertiser over double deckers passing her street [Ruby Street] saying they had no place on Ruby Street, being deemed too small a road for the buses. The problem in my opinion are the speed bumps which exacerbate the noise issues on the Enviro 400s. Chicanes would have been better, and less problematic to the vehicle’s suspension.
I wish SpeedwellBus the very best of luck in their campaign to restore the 397 in Spring 2012. A vital cross-boundary link has been severed by the Tories at County Hall, Matlock. All of which clearly disregarding Tameside’s status as a main ‘travel to work’ area for Glossopians, particularly Tintwistle and Hadfield residents. If Glossop’s buses were funded by TfGM instead of Derbyshire County Council, life would be more harmonious for its residents.
Elaborating on TfGM’s recommendations for passengers affected by the 397′s demise, the stop outside the war memorial (opposite the former town hall), or the railway station is a better changeover point than Armentieres Square. System One Buscard users should have no problems transferring between Stagecoach (236/237) and First (389), so long they buy their pass online or at a TfGM Travelshop.
The 343′s a good alternative to the 389 for Stalybridge – Hyde journeys, and it offers a good connection with the Glossop buses. Ditto the above regarding tickets and interchange points.
Bye for now,
Stuart.
personally, I really cannot see why there is so much competition on the 346. 11 buses an hour from the albion is madness! from my point of view, as an (ex) stagecoach driver, the 346 really isn’t that much of a money-maker. although busy throughout the day, other than at peak times, 90% of its users are concessionary card holders.
what’s next? Speedwell entering the scrum with a load of Vario’s on a 5-minute frequency s46?
Hi MH,
I thought it seemed a little odd being a regular user of the 346 myself. We’re in a similar situation to the 348 in 2010 with similar frequencies to that route and a rival service operating every 20 minutes.
In the autumn of 1999, the 346 and the 349 saw six buses per daytime hour between Ashton and Dukinfield [Albion Hotel]. Ten buses per hour if you counted the 1 and 40 services; twelve if you counted Dennis’s journeys on the 216 which extended to Dukinfield and Hyde. Back then, common fare on the 346 and 349 were nearly new Dennis Darts, secondhand ECW bodied Leyland Olympians and the odd minibus. On the 1, 40 and 216, Mercedes minibuses (19 – 26 seats) were common, though Dennis’s Coaches would sometimes have modern Dennis Dart SLFs on the 216s.
In October 2007, First increased its 348 frequency from every half hour to every 10 minutes, albeit at the expense of the 349. Passenger numbers were steady though hardly 216/219/409 levels. In 2010, SpeedwellBus’ 20 minute frequency S48 brought competition and an extra 75 – 85 seats per hour. On withdrawal of the S48 in March 2011, the 348 saw improved loadings, buoyed by a cheap day saver ticket (for use of the 348 and 350 services), and the convenience of First’s wider network in Tameside (by means of their single operator season tickets).
I for one cannot imagine SpeedwellBus ‘entering the scrum with a load of Varios on a 5-minute frequency S46′. Not least the fact I hate these vehicles with a passion. Nor would it be viable.
Bye for now,
Stuart.
One late change involving a Tameside service, although part of the change happens outside the Tameside area. The 419 is being retimed and will no longer serve Firwood Park (running direct along Middleton Road to Middleton) to help with reliability.
Though bad news for the residents, this is good news for the drivers forced to battle with speed bumps and chicanes on this section! I suppose this would mean Firwood Park would be covered by a LocalLink service? Or will another service be diverted to bridge that gap?
I know it’s a late on, but a peak time route will continue to link Ruby Street and Town Lane from Halloween. This will be numbered 207 and two journeys will be provided in each direction each day, as with the old 206. Apparently Tameside Council made it clear that they didn’t consider Ruby Street suitable for all day bus operation and Stagecoach were reluctant to make this forthcoming change.
The 207 will run into/from Manchester. I don’t know if it will go to Hyde/Gee Cross or not.
Muchos Gracias for the latest changes affecting Ruby Street passengers. I thought I was back in the late 1970s/early 1980s with the reuse of that number. If I remember rightly, 207 was allocated to a Manchester service terminating at Hattersley railway station.
That 10-minute frequency – is it 20 minute each by First and Stagecoach?
Hi James,
According to my source (the TfGM website), it seems to imply that only First Pioneer’s journeys would be every 10 minutes, in addition to Stagecoach’s 20 minute daytime frequency. I would be most surprised if that was the case and be happy with not needing a timetable for the daytime service!
If it turns out to be a 50:50 split between First and Stagecoach (20 minute frequencies each), that would be more sensible; the present timetable sees some First journeys departing from Ashton at the same time as Stagecoach’s, with one empty bus chasing a full one! It would make for a more stable frequency, albeit every 10 minutes rather than every 15 minutes this time last year.
Bye for now,
Stuart.
First website says 20 mins which would indeed be a more sensible option – no extra vehicles needed given the truncation?
Spot on, James. This was also true with Stagecoach when they ditched the Hyde – Gee Cross section of the 346. The full Ashton – Hyde route takes around 30 minutes; Gee Cross added 15 minutes to that – equal to 1.5 journeys on the 346 between Ashton and Hyde.