Parking the Bus: Bus Routes That Share Numbers with Football Formations: The Not So Perfect Ten

Ever wondered which Greater Manchester bus routes share or shared their number with a football formation?

For many people, New Year’s Day isn’t only about giving up smoking, going on a diet, or alcohol abstinence. January sees the start of a 31-part soap opera known as The Transfer Window. Yes, it is that time of the year which leads to Transfer Deadline Day. The climax which sees Barclays Premier League and English Football League players change hands for silly money.

Christmas Day On The Buses, Greater Manchester, 1986

Was 1986 the last year when Greater Manchester had an extensive bus network on Christmas Day?

For many carless households, leaving the house on Christmas Day is nigh-on impossible. As a rule of thumb, it is assumed that many people spend Christmas Day at home. They are more likely to open presents, get entangled with the turkey, or fall asleep in front of the television.

Tameside’s Christmas and New Year Day’s Bus Service Updates

Details of Christmas and New Year’s Day bus services in Tameside and surrounding area for 2018/19

With only days to go till Christmas Day, it is that time again on East of the M60. It’s our look at what we are about to receive bus-wise over the yuletide period. In a nutshell, that means no buses on Christmas Day, but Saturday and Sunday services on other days, and very few buses on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

JP Executive Travel Driver Records Wanted

Did you, or do you know someone who worked for JP Executive Travel in 1992?

We have received an appeal for the drivers’ records for JP Executive Travel.

During 1992, the North Manchester-based bus company operated a number of routes in and around Middleton. Some services continued to parts of North Manchester, Oldham, and Tameside.

If you have any details of drivers’ records (i.e.: staff documentation, running boards), original copies are preferable to photocopies. High quality photocopies may be accepted in the absence of original hard copies.

If you can help, please telephone 0191 563 5076.

First Greater Manchester Set to Close Rusholme Depot

Cost-cutting measures will see South Manchester operations moved to Queens Road depot

Cross Connect: one of First Greater Manchester’s early attempts at trying to break into the lucrative South Manchester corridor.

Five years after purchasing the bus operations of Finglands Coachways, First Greater Manchester is set to rationalise its operations in South Manchester. As well as pulling out of the 42 route to East Didsbury, their Rusholme depot will be closed.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, Winter 2018

Hallowe’en horrors await Oldham bus passengers

• Sweeping changes made to 74 and 76 routes’ evening journeys;
• 415 slashed from half hourly to once hourly;
• Cuts made to 24 route.

Whereas Tameside bus passengers got off lightly with this month’s service changes, the same couldn’t have been said with our friends in Oldham and Saddleworth.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, Autumn 2018

School day times are back up town

Back to school: school days times will be reinstated on the 409 and other key routes in Oldham and Saddleworth.

For many Oldham and Saddleworth passengers, this autumn’s timetable changes affect seasonal timetables. Yes, as the nights get longer, the school day times are back on the agenda.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, Autumn 2018

Timetables revert to schoolday times

System Restore: timetables revert to pre-School Holiday times.

Throughout the borough, most of this autumn’s service changes entail the reversion of summer timetables to schooldays timetables. For once, a fairly quiet autumn.

First Greater Manchester Goes Contactless

New Ticketer machines ushers in start of contactless travel on First Greater Manchester routes

In line with other FirstGroup subsidiaries across the UK, contactless payments will be available on First Greater Manchester bus routes. From the first weekend in September, all First buses will be able to accept contactless credit and debit cards as a payment option.