Besses O’Th’ Barn Brass Band: Sunday Night at the Boarshurst Band Club, 04 June 2023

Uplifting concert rounds off Whit Week in great style

Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night were Music Nights in our City Region/corner of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Apart from The Greatest Free Show on Earth, there was the small matter of Elton John, Coldplay and the Arctic Monkeys having concerts in Manchester. By Sunday, Glastonbury was probably nothing on Greenfield; instead of Monsters of Rock, the greatest agglomeration of heavy metal musicians were based in Saddleworth and Tameside.

Relief as Over Sixty Important Bus Routes are Spared Service Cuts

Funding found for socially necessary Greater Manchester bus routes

With the perfect storm of skyrocketing energy prices and swingeing bus service cuts, Greater Manchester’s bus users could have been in for a much bleaker winter. The loss of Department of Transport funding on the 4th October from COVID Recovery grants would have seen cuts to 33 bus routes and the loss of 31 bus routes.

Dogs on Trams: Yappy Days Indeed

Why dogs on Metrolink trams is a long time coming

For some people, the 1st August is Yorkshire Day, a celebration of all things to all Yorkshire folk. For example, its cultural tapestry, scenery and fine food. In Greater Manchester, it is observed by Saddleworth folk with festivals and white roses. It kicks off Saddleworth’s summertime events like the Rushcart Festival and (unofficially this year) the Yanks Weekend.

Besses Boys Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (17 July 2022)

Joyous finale to concert season at Boarshurst for James Holt and Co.

Besses Boys Band rounded off the 2021 – 22 season of Boarshurst concerts in style with a most likeable programme. Without being too demanding nor light hearted without being too light hearted, the programme included two great solos and an original piece. One that only had its second ever public performance.

The Clippercard Makes a Comeback!

Clipper ticket resurrects spirit of the Clippercard on Metrolink trams

The Clippercard is dead… long live the Clippercard! Well, that’s how we may have reported on the self-cancelling ticket’s demise if East of the M60 was around in 2004. Years after the original ticket’s demise, Greater Manchester Transport’s ten-trips-for-the-price-of-nine tickets still carry fond memories. You might have travelled with a Clippercard by fair means (with a black plastic wallet) or foul (by boarding and passing the card on to your friend).

Important Changes to Senior Citizens’ Passes on 01 February

£10.00 per annum charge for unlimited off-peak tram and train travel in Greater Manchester

If you are a passenger of pensionable age in Greater Manchester, there’s every chance you will be using your concessionary pass to access the City Region’s buses, trains and trams. In the weekends, you may be able to take a train, tram or bus before 9.30 am and travel by bus anywhere in England. This month, train and tram concessions are covered by your existing pass.

North Manchester Bus Fare Changes: Why Three is a Tragic Number

First/Diamond/Go North West ticketing agreement ends in New Year

For Greater Mancunian bus, train, and tram passengers, there is nothing peculiar about the 02 January 2020. As it is the first working day of 2020, it is at that point of the year when our bus, train and tram fares go up.

Bury and Rochdale Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019

Special Report: Transdev’s radical renumbering of local buses in Bury and Rochdale

• Bury and Rochdale local services renumbered;
• Plus tweaks to other bus routes in Rochdale and Bury.

For the first time in East of the M60‘s existence, we shall be looking at the service changes affecting Bury and Rochdale passengers. As many of our blog’s regular readers are based in Oldham and Tameside, we mainly focus on bus services in those two areas. Owing to the scale of the service changes in Bury and Rochdale, they are worthy of acknowledgement due to the ramifications this may have on Greater Manchester’s bus network.

Have Your Say on Bus Franchising in Greater Manchester

Bus franchising consultation to begin in October

Next month, the people of Greater Manchester will be involved in a far-reaching consultation to transform the city region’s bus routes.

FirstGroup Restructuring Update: New Bolton Depot Location

Residual Bolton operations to move to Blue Bus garage

Though there are eleven days to go till Diamond Bus North West takes over First Greater Manchester’s Bolton depot, some of Bolton’s First routes will be operated by First after the 11 August 2019. These concern evening journeys on the 2 and 68 routes and the Vantage family of bus routes.