Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, Winter 2018

Retiming and subtle tweaks party to Tameside’s service changes

Subtle changes will be made to First Greater Manchester’s Tameside routes to improve reliability. The 389 isn’t one of the routes.

Once more, this coming Sunday’s set of service changes are prompted by our dear old friend. Yes, folks, Connie Gestion. Most of Stagecoach Manchester’s changes will see the tweaking of timetables due to congestion.

In Tameside, First Greater Manchester will be making subtle and some not-so-subtle changes to their timetables. These affect FirstGroup’s Trio of Tameside Trunk Routes: the 346, 348, and 350.

On the 346 route, two early morning journeys will be cut from the weekday timetable. These are the 0615 and 0635 journeys from Hyde bus station to Ashton-under-Lyne bus station. Twelve hours later in the day, the 1816 and 1836 journeys from Ashton-under-Lyne to Hyde will be replaced by a journey at 1830. Stagecoach Manchester’s journeys remain unchanged.

The 348 will see the loss of two early morning journeys from Ashton-under-Lyne bus station to Carrbrook. These are the 0603 and 0633 departures. There will be changes to early evening journeys: weekday departures will depart from Carrbrook at 1753, 1817, 1841, and 1928. On Saturdays, some slight variations: 1750, 1814, 1847, and 1928. There will be a new early morning journey on Sundays and Bank Holidays in the same direction, departing at 0822.

Weekday tweaks will also be made to the 350 route’s early morning journeys. From Hey Farm Estate, these will depart at 0526, 0551, and 0621. From Greenfield [Clarence Hotel], 0640 and 0657.

For the Tameside and Saddleworth routes, most of First Greater Manchester’s service changes have been due to Dukinfield garage’s April closure. They have been made to reduce dead time between Oldham depot and each service’s first journey of the day.

Stagecoach Manchester retimings

Whereas First have thinned out some journeys, Stagecoach have opted for retiming their routes. In the Tameside area these affect the following services:

• 7: Ashton-under-Lyne – Droylsden – Gorton – Reddish – Stockport;
• 201: Hattersley – Hyde – Denton – Gorton – Manchester [Piccadilly Gardens];
• 205: Denton – Dane Bank – Debdale Park – Gorton – Manchester [Piccadilly Gardens];
• 231: Tameside Hospital – Ashton-under-Lyne – Littlemoss – Droylsden – Manchester [Piccadilly Gardens].

The 346’s evening service – operated by Stagecoach Manchester – will be revised to run every 70 minutes instead of its hourly frequency. This will allow extra running time and – as a useful fringe benefit – later departures from Ashton-under-Lyne and Hyde (at 2255 and 2338 respectively). Therefore, its new timetable will be as follows:

346: Ashton – Dukinfield – Newton – Hyde – Gee Cross

• Ashton-under-Lyne, Bus Station: 1925, 2035, 2145, and 2255;
• Dukinfield, Albion Hotel: 1935, 2045, 2155, and 2305;
• Newton, Cheshire Cheese: 1943, 2053, 2203, and 2313;
• Hyde, Bus Station: 1952, 2102, 2212, and 2322;
• Gee Cross, Apethorn Lane: 2000, 2110, 2220, and 2330.

346: Gee Cross – Hyde – Newton – Dukinfield – Ashton

• Gee Cross, Apethorn Lane: 2000, 2110, 2220, and 2330;
• Hyde, Bus Station: 2008, 2118, 2228, and 2338;
• Newton, Cheshire Cheese: 2017, 2127, 2237, and 2347;
• Dukinfield, Albion Hotel: 2023, 2133, 2243, and 2353;
• Ashton-under-Lyne, Bus Station: 2032, 2142, 2252, and 0002.

Glossop service changes

There will be a very slight timetable change to High Peak’s 61 service. The 1500 journey from Buxton [Market Place] – Schooldays Only – will call at New Mills School at 1534 instead of 1530. This change will take effect from the 19 February 2018.

Whatever next?

As always the Eastertide service changes are the ones to watch out for – especially as some of the most severest cuts are made. Many of the TfGM tendered services change hands, timetables, or both.

All will be revealed nearer the time. Brace yourselves…

S.V., 23 January 2018.