Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, April 2017

FirstGroup reorganisation and tender changes behind latest updates 

Back on the Denshaw route: Stagecoach Manchester have regained the 407 service at the expense of Rosso – though with a reduced timetable. This image taken in 2015 shows one of their buses on a Bank Holiday Monday journey.

This month will see a few tender changes, albeit with some drastic cuts to their journeys. The already bricked-to-the-point-of-uselessness 408 service will take a battering for one. As for wanting a late night pint at The Fleece Inn in Mossley, you can forget that unless the 350 bus or County Cars forms part of your plans.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, April 2017

Subtle changes but Stalybridge and Dukinfield passengers at sharpest end of two major changes

• Minimal changes to First services, in spite of depot closure;
• Cuts to evening journeys of 340 service;
• 169 service curtailed on weekdays and Saturdays;
• First and Stagecoach retimings.

First Greater Manchester’s journeys of the 346 service, unaffected by the latest service changes.

For passengers within the Tameside and Glossop area, the biggest story behind this month’s service changes is the closure of Dukinfield garage. It has been stated that any changes to First Greater Manchester routes would be negligible.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, January 2017

FirstGroup retime journeys following consultation events 

The 409 to Rochdale: one of a few Oldham and Rochdale bound services covered by FirstGroup’s retiming exercise.

If you’ve ever tried catching the 409 in the evening peak, it can be quite a chore. At about half five, you would have had your fill of late buses, missing journeys, and packed vehicles. In this set month’s set of changes, could Oldham and Saddleworth passengers be benefiting from the results of FirstGroup’s consultation?

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, January 2017

Winter changes dominated by Stagecoach retimings

• Cuts to night buses on 201 and 216 routes;
• Reductions to some peak hour journeys;
• First and Stagecoach retimings.

The 330: one of a handful of Stagecoach routes being retimed.

True to form, the late January changes for 2017 are another lull before April’s storm. The bulk of this year’s first changes are retimings on Stagecoach Manchester’s part. Some of which entail the withdrawal of some journeys, mainly outside the peaks in the small hours or before the witching hour.

First Greater Manchester’s Digital Fare Freeze

Fares held for smartphone users but on-bus prices rise

First, the bad news. Bus fares are going up again on First Greater Manchester’s routes. To soften the blow, passengers from the 02 January 2017 can pay last year’s fares if they download a smartphone app. Which is good if you have a Windows Phone, iOS, or Android device.

2016, In the Company of Buses

East of the M60‘s review of the year from a public transport angle

The biggest bus related event of 2016 was the arrival of Leigh Guided Busway, as illustrated by the V1 service seen at Leigh bus station.

If 2016’s transport scene was to be represented by two pieces of popular music, we opened with The Beatles’ Fixing A Hole and finished with Joe Jackson’s Steppin’ Out. The former, indicative of the A57(M)’s cavity; the latter, First Greater Manchester’s closure of its Bury and Dukinfield garages.

Christmas 2016 and New Year’s Day 2017 Bus Services in Tameside

Christmas and New Year service information for bus users in Tameside and surrounding area

Image: ‘It’s Christmas Time’ by Anna & Michal. (Creative Commons License – Some Rights Reserved).

Ladies and gentlemen, as sure as eggs are eggs, and as unsure as Brexit is Brexit, it is that time of the year. With Christmas drawing near, here is the lowdown on our Yuletide buses within the Tameside area.

FirstGroup to Close Dukinfield and Bury Depots

Operations could be shared with Oldham and Queens Road depots

On this blog and in Passenger Transport magazine, it was announced in late June that FirstGroup were going to close one Greater Manchester depot. East of the M60 suggested that Dukinfield, Bury, and (to some extent) Oldham garages would have been in the firing line.

My Life in the Company of Buses: Dukinfield and Bus Deregulation: Part 31, 2016

It’s in the air 

So far, 2016 has been an impressive year for me on a personal level. I have settled in my present position and am enjoying the new, more central surroundings. With a move from its previous HQ near Piccadilly station, my employer is closer to Salford Central and Manchester Victoria stations. Not least some sublime eateries and (inevitably), branches of Starbucks Coffee, Subway, Greggs, and a McDonalds on St. Ann’s Square.