East of the M60 looks at Tameside’s latest bus operator The Tameside bus scene is in the midst of far-reaching change. With the exception of three routes, FirstGroup are pulling out of the borough. Stagecoach and HCT Group’s MCT Travel will be the borough’s biggest players, followed by Stott’s Tours. The smallest operator of stage…
Category: Public Transport
Great Unrealised Mancunian Transport Plans: The Not So Perfect Ten
In 1984, we were promised jetpacks; we got Pacer units instead We haven’t had a Not So Perfect Ten on here for a while. With urban public transport forever in the news agenda, our latest NSP10 reflects this. Given how Northern Powerhouse Rail and Manchester Piccadilly’s 15th and 16th platforms hang in the balance, we…
Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 01 September 2019
Just the usual back to school changes and other tweaks 24 route falls victim to FirstGroup rationalisation policies; Changes to 181 and 182 routes. Could the remnants of FirstGroup’s Greater Manchester operation be in Oldham a little bit longer? September’s forthcoming service changes suggest so, unless you board the 24 from Rochdale.
Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 01 September 2019
Spoils of FirstGroup’s Tamexit sees sweeping changes Ashton local services rationalised; No more post-7pm buses from Stalybridge to Hyde; Sunday and Bank Holiday 236s axed. Most of this September’s changes are affected by FirstGroup’s retreat from the Tameside area. Within the next month, Tameside’s biggest two bus operators will be Stagecoach Manchester and MCT Travel….
Bored This Summer? How About Some Geocaching Fun by Bus?
Stagecoach Manchester launches a city wide treasure hunt Treasure hunting has gone a long way from paper clues and finding given objects on a sketch map. Even the technology used in the Treasure Hunt game show (1983 – 89) looks joyously archaic: clunky radios have given way to cellular communications. Had Chatsworth Television’s series been…
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…
Bournemouth’s Bus Routes: Now You Know What I Did This Summer, 2019
This year’s instalment looks at the Dorset seaside town’s bus routes I have stayed in some seaside towns where most of the buses finish for 6pm, despite being as big as Ashton-under-Lyne. I have stayed in some places where a regular bus service is a daily return journey. This year, thanks to a fine Lancastrian…
First Greater Manchester Continues Retreat from Tameside
Only three First routes left in Tameside by September 2019 In the last 24 hours, we have heard that First Greater Manchester will continue their retreat from the Tameside area. On the 01 September 2019, there will only be three routes in the borough operated by the successors to GM Buses North.
Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 21 July 2019
Just the usual summertime changes Unless you travel south of Moston on the 81 service, Oldham’s service changes are just your typical summertime changes.
Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 21 July 2019
First pulls out of 346 route but, other than that, usual summertime changes Besides the usual raft of summer timetable changes, the only significant change affects one route that has been shared by two or more operators for nearly three decades.
Beating Heart of Ashton Depot Retires After 49 Years Continuous Service
Peter Riley clocks out for the last time after nearly half a century in the bus industry Cast your mind back to 1970. 49 years ago, another English international side reached a World Cup Semi Final (as defending champions). SELNEC launched a new bus route from Bolton to Stockport known as the Trans-Lancs Express. On…
Armed Forces Day: Free Bus Travel for Armed Forces Personnel
Greater Manchester bus operators join forces in offering free travel for armed forces personnel Today, Armed Forces Day is a chance for the public to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. From currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. In Greater Manchester, three of the…
