Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 31 October 2021

A pithy set of changes for Halloween

If the latest set of service changes for Tameside and Glossop bus passengers were a horror film, it gives us great pleasure to say it is Andy Pandy Takes the Ghost Train instead of Night of the Living Dead or Threads. This autumn’s set of changes are minor one – mainly the retiming of existing routes.

The most significant changes affect two routes along the Hyde Road corridor. Most significantly, there will be changes to the 205 route. Weekday and Saturday daytime journeys will be cut from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.

The other route is the X57 Snake bus where changes were made last week. Since its introduction early last month, the route has become a limited stop service between Manchester [Chorlton Street Coach Station] to Sheffield [Interchange]. Now with six return journeys on weekdays and Saturdays, the Sunday and Bank Holiday service has four return journeys.

Despite the cuts, there has been some positive changes to Hulley’s of Baslow’s Snake route. Firstly, the Sunday and Bank Holiday link to Derwent Reservoir has been retained. Secondly, you can now get a Snake bus from Hyde bus station seven days a week. The new frequency is now every two hours on weekdays and Saturdays and every two and a half hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

X57 Journeys from Hyde to Glossop and Sheffield (Monday to Saturday)

• Hyde Bus Station: 0720, 0955, 1155, 1355, 1555, 1755.
• Glossop [Howard Arms]: 0735, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610, 1810.
• Sheffield Interchange: 0840, 1115, 1315, 1515, 1715, 1915.

X57 Journeys from Sheffield to Glossop and Hyde (Monday to Saturday)

• Sheffield Interchange: 0705, 0925, 1125, 1325, 1525, 1745.
• Glossop [Howard Arms]: 0805, 1025, 1225, 1425, 1625, 1845.
• Hyde Bus Station: 0825, 1040, 1240, 1440, 1640, 1900.

X57 Journeys from Hyde to Manchester city centre (Monday to Saturday)

• Hyde Bus Station: 0825, 1040, 1240, 1440, 1640, 1900.
• Manchester [Chorlton Street Coach Station]: 0910, 1110, 1310, 1510, 1710, 1930.

X57 Journeys from Manchester city centre to Hyde (Monday to Saturday)

• Manchester [Chorlton Street Coach Station]: 0655, 0930, 1130, 1330, 1530, 1730.
• Hyde Bus Station: 0720, 0955, 1155, 1355, 1555, 1755.

X57 Journeys from Hyde to Glossop and Sheffield (Sundays and Bank Holidays)

• Hyde Bus Station: 0955, 1225, 1455, 1725.
• Glossop [Howard Arms]: 1015, 1245, 1515, 1745.
• Sheffield Interchange: 1120, 1350, 1620, 1850.

X57 Journeys from Sheffield to Glossop and Hyde (Sundays and Bank Holidays)

• Sheffield Interchange: 0925, 1155, 1425, 1655.
• Glossop [Howard Arms]: 1028, 1258, 1528, 1758.
• Hyde Bus Station: 1043, 1313, 1543, 1813.

X57 Journeys from Hyde to Manchester city centre (Sundays and Bank Holidays)

• Hyde Bus Station: 1043, 1313, 1543, 1813.
• Manchester [Chorlton Street Coach Station]: 1110, 1340, 1610, 1840.

X57 Journeys from Manchester city centre to Hyde (Sundays and Bank Holidays)

• Manchester [Chorlton Street Coach Station]: 0930, 1200, 1430, 1700.
• Hyde Bus Station: 0955, 1225, 1455, 1725.

Other Tameside and Glossop Service Changes

Only four more Tameside routes will be seeing service changes – and all of these routes are operated by Little Gem. The 335, 339, 345 and 396 routes will see minor retiming changes. These will affect the operator’s two-hourly Sunday and Bank Holiday journeys. For example, the 335 from Ashton-under-Lyne will depart at 29 minutes past the odd hour from 0929 to 2129 – three minutes later than under the present timetable. The weekday 1926 and 2126 journeys will also leave three minutes later.

The 345 will also leave Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange three minutes later, whereas Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime journeys of the 396 will depart three minutes earlier. Sunday and Bank Holiday journeys of the 339 will depart at half past the even hour – three minutes later than the present timetable. Another change sees the withdrawal of the 2227 journey. Unless Crowhill residents are willing to take a taxi or walk to the 409 stop, the last 339 on Sundays and Bank Holidays will leave Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange at 2030.

Where next?

If you get the 205 bus, it is not a good set of service changes for your journey. The addition of Hyde bus station to the X57’s Sunday and Bank Holiday service is a welcome one, giving Hydonians a modest yet welcome Sunday link with Glossop. An alternative to getting a 201 to Hattersley and a train to Glossop.

January 2022’s changes will rest on two factors. One is the possibility of a near-lockdown situation with the return of social distancing and being obliged to wear face coverings on public transport. Another is the vitality of existing routes and continued funding of tendered routes. Would The Most Glorious Time of the Year be a catalyst to bums on seats? Not quite as much as cheaper bus fares, something Andy Burnham is wishing to find money for, further to recent funding for The Bee Network.

In the Chancellor’s Budget Statement, there is some good news for Greater Manchester’s transport network. One is funding for a study towards revitalising the Stockport to Stalybridge line for passenger use – albeit to Ashton-under-Lyne instead of Guide Bridge and Stalybridge. Another one is funding towards two bus corridors in Bury and Ashton-under-Lyne. Whether the Ashton plan involves any of the Manchester routes, the 330 route or the 409 route is a mystery.

S.V., 27 October 2021.