Greater Manchester’s Most Shocking Bus Service Changes Since 1986: The Not So Perfect Ten

A look at the service changes that have shaken our city region’s bus network forever

We are now 35 years into what Andy Burnham called The Free Market Experiment.  As with any free market experiment, there is a smaller number of winners than losers.  Before the first lockdown, having a bus company and a rail franchise was a licence to print money for some operators.  

Greater Manchester’s Yellow Buses Through The Ages

From Bee Line Buzz Company to the Rochdale Runners

As we know that Greater Manchester’s franchised buses will be in yellow and black, it is worth noting that yellow buses are far from novel in our City Region. Historically, they have orange and white, white, orange and brown, and several other colours before then. None of them being in yellow till The Bee Line Buzz Company came on to the scene.

The Future’s Yellow: 2024 Start for Greater Manchester’s Publicly Controlled Buses

Bus Franchising Scheme to begin a year earlier than expected

Greater Manchester’s Bus Franchising Scheme is set to start a year earlier than anticipated. With the pandemic, it was envisaged that franchised operations would begin in Sub-Area A in 2023, with Sub-Areas B and C following suit in 2024 and 2025. This morning [10 May 2021], it was announced that a fully franchised bus network will be in operation by 2024.

Transdev Takes Over Yorkshire Tiger

Arriva UK bus sells West Yorkshire operator to Transdev Blazefield

This Summer, there will be a change of ownership for Yorkshire Tiger. It was announced today [Thursday 15 April 2021] that Arriva UK Bus have decided to sell their Yorkshire Tiger operation to Transdev Blazefield. The sale includes its two depots in Elland and Waterloo and 61 buses.

All but two routes, the 231 and 232, will be transferred to Alex Hornby’s company. These routes between Huddersfield and Wakefield (via Emley Moor) will be part of Arriva Yorkshire. The move will also affect 163 drivers, engineers, cleaners and support staff.

What Colour for Greater Manchester’s Buses

Is the future orange and white or pink with yellow spots?

Unless we know different by the end of May, we shall be bracing ourselves for a new era of franchised bus operations by 2025. There will be endless chat on social media and blogs as to what bus routes will change, the fares, the cost of running the whole thing, and fun things like the livery.

Franchised Buses Get The Green Light

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham goes for Bus Franchising Scheme

Nearly four years after he was elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham stuck to his pledge to reform Greater Manchester’s buses. Following a second consultation, he made his announcement at 1440 beside Stand E of Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange. The Free Trade Experiment with Greater Manchester’s buses will be consigned to history in four years time.

Tameside’s Christmas and New Year Bus Service Updates (2020)

Details of Christmas and New Year’s Day bus services in Tameside and surrounding area for 2020 – 2021

Due to that COVID-19 thingy, we have left this year’s digest a bit later than usual on East of the M60. This was to allow for any recent changes to the Tier system and to discourage non-essential travel. (If you need to go shopping or take exercise in the yuletide season, please use your buses, trams and trains responsibly).

For the yuletide period, here’s what we are about to receive.

Greater Manchester Bus Franchising: The Infographic

East of the M60‘s exclusive infographic on how bus franchising could take shape in Greater Manchester

At this time of writing, we only have four days left of 2019. For the people of Greater Manchester, there is less than a fortnight to go till we hit the deadline for GMCA’s Bus Franchising Consultation.

Outside London, the United Kingdom is pretty much alone in having a deregulated bus network. Bus franchising or publicly owned buses is the norm around the world. In the USA as well as the former Soviet Union republics, EU Member States and Asia.

Tameside’s Christmas and New Year Bus Service Updates (2019)

Details of Christmas and New Year’s Day bus services in Tameside and surrounding area for 2019 – 2020

With only days to go till Christmas Day, it is that time again on East of the M60. It is our look at what we are about to receive bus-wise over the yuletide period.

D&G Bus Sold to Centrebus

David Reeves sells Staffordshire and Cheshire based operator to Julian Peddle’s company

In the space of 21 years, D&G has grown from being a small independent company to a significant player in the Cheshire and Staffordshire bus scene. Yesterday, its Managing Director and major shareholder agreed to sell his shares to Julian Peddle’s Centrebus Group, with the deal completed this month.