First Manchester Strike Starts Tomorrow

‘Reasonable offer’ not good enough for drivers set to strike

This coming Monday, First Manchester’s drivers are set to go on strike over pay and conditions. Over the last two years, Britain’s bus drivers have been at the sharp end of the pandemic through staff absences, sickness and deteriorating pay and conditions. This has been exacerbated by more favourable pay and conditions in the haulage industry.

Run to the Hills 2021: A Go Cheapway Update

Hillside views a bus, train or tram ride, or quick walk away

Since our original 2014 article, we have decided to create an updated version. In the last seven years, bus routes and operators have come and gone, and your author’s knowledge of the hills has improved since then.

Was it really seven years since we first wrote this piece? Back then, we had some great weather. Seven years on, the last month has seen some fantastic weather for picnicking or admiring rural views. Since the first COVID-19 lockdown, many people have taken to the hills instead of the shopping centres.

Revolution 96.2 to Become Greatest Hits Radio

Bauer purchase sees loss of Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside local station

If you like listening to local radio stations on a bog-standard analogue radio receiver, Bauer’s latest acquisition should fill you with dread. After 21 years of serving Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside, Revolution 96.2 will be consigned to radio heaven. Alongside Piccadilly Radio’s immediate successors, and ultra local radio stations like Yorkshire Coast Radio and Wish FM, it will be one of many local stations snapped up by Bauer.

Lockdown Tram Changes: Improved Frequencies But Early Finish Remains

Metrolink trams with social distancing measures in place to run every 12 minutes

From the 26 May (a date that many Manchester United fans will have fond memories of), Metrolink trams will see improved frequencies. Since the imposition of lockdown measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, frequencies were cut to every 20 minutes due to lack of funding. For evening journeys, this also meant an early finish.

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.

Rochdale Borough Youth Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (03 November 2019)

A truly spectacular concert that put many open age bands to shame

Less than a month after the Dobcross Youth Band wowed audiences, another great youth band took to the stage at Boarshurst Band Club. Last night, it was the turn of Rochdale Borough Youth Band, one of four brass ensembles within Rochdale MBC’s Music Service.

With Elland Silver and Tewit Youth Bands setting the gold standard for youth banding, Dobcross Youth and Rochdale Borough Youth bands face stiff competition. Almost a month ago, we thought Dobcross Youth Band gave us a stunning concert.

Then came Rochdale Borough Youth Band.

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.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019

Welcome return for Hyde – Tintwistle – Glossop bus route

• 397 service revived after eight year gap;
• 396 rerouting in Smallshaw and Hurst?
• Tweaks to 409’s daytime service.

If you have read about FirstGroup’s changes for the Oldham and Saddleworth area, you will be happy to find that the latest service changes in Tameside and Glossop makes for calmer reading.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019

Saddleworth at sharp end of First service cuts

• Triple whammy of cuts for 180 route;
• 184 becomes Oldham – Huddersfield route with Sunday extension to Manchester;
• 425 route split and cut back.

Have First Greater Manchester saved its most severe service cuts for Halloween? If you live in Greenfield, get County Cars’ number added to your mobile phone quickly.