TfGM-website, timetable updates and general news concerning TfGM bus stations.

[Greybeard33]

Does anyone think the 50 should be extended to Woodford instead of the 42? Would be interested to know what Cheadle and Woodford residents think? Yes you would miss a direct link to the Withington/Rusholme areas, but could get quicker journey into Manchester

From Woodford it is quicker to change to the train at Cheadle Hulme than to stay on the bus all the way to central Manchester. That would remain so whichever route the bus took.

From Cheadle Village to central Manchester it is generally quicker to take an 11 to either Stockport or Gatley and change to the train, rather than use the 42B. And the 130 already takes the same route as the 50, so the 42B offers a choice of intermediate destinations.

 

[BurtonM]

The other day I spotted a hybrid bus running on the 27, and the front panel was hanging off at one end hock:

 

[northwichcat]

The other day I spotted a hybrid bus running on the 27, and the front panel was hanging off at one end hock:

With the number of bus routes and operators in GM and with some routes numbers being used more than once, it might be useful to also say the operator name and the starting and ending point of the service.

 

[gnolife]

With the number of bus routes and operators in GM and with some routes numbers being used more than once, it might be useful to also say the operator name and the starting and ending point of the service.

The 27 is a Diamond route going from Deansgate to Swinton

 

[Rail Bus]

From Woodford it is quicker to change to the train at Cheadle Hulme than to stay on the bus all the way to central Manchester. That would remain so whichever route the bus took.

From Cheadle Village to central Manchester it is generally quicker to take an 11 to either Stockport or Gatley and change to the train, rather than use the 42B. And the 130 already takes the same route as the 50, so the 42B offers a choice of intermediate destinations.

I see what your saying, although there were quite a fee people upset in Woodford/Cheadle when they axed the X57. And I guess not everyone wants to change particularly the elderly or students, also it is far more expensive to do so

Where I live (Altrincham) the 263 basically replicates the metrolink serving the same communities with the exception of Hulme, the bus takes an hour metrolink takes 20 minutes. I very much doubt there are many through journeys, not many Altrincham journeys will go beyond Sale where the journey times can be competitive (its a 5 min walk from Washway Road and the metrolink which runs parellel)

But the 263 does ok, always seems quite busy, I guess it picks up a number of local flows Alt to Sale, Sale to Stretford, Stretford to Hulme etc every 15 min, I work in town Oxford Road and the single deck 263 often seems busier than many of the double decks that pass by

I guess what I'm saying if we had an intergrated system, buses would only need to run on corridors between hubs and where poor alternatives were provided. Nobody in Alty needs a bus to Stretford, but one to Withington would be much more useful

 

[PermitToTravel]

Like the one Stagecoach axed a couple of months ago

 

[gnolife]

I see what your saying, although there were quite a fee people upset in Woodford/Cheadle when they axed the X57. And I guess not everyone wants to change particularly the elderly or students, also it is far more expensive to do so
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You mean the X57 that was wholesale replaced by the 42B, barring the Sunday evening journeys, just with more stops put in?

 

[gnolife]

Like the one Stagecoach axed a couple of months ago

And except at peak times, had strong resemblances to the dodo, at least between Sale and Northenden?

 

[northwichcat]

Where I live (Altrincham) the 263 basically replicates the metrolink serving the same communities with the exception of Hulme, the bus takes an hour metrolink takes 20 minutes. I very much doubt there are many through journeys, not many Altrincham journeys will go beyond Sale where the journey times can be competitive (its a 5 min walk from Washway Road and the metrolink which runs parellel)

You also have an 88 bus to Knutsford via Wilmslow - obviously the most suitable way to get to Wilmslow but if you want to go to Knutsford the train is four times as fast, even if it's less frequent. There's also an occasional 289 bus to Northwich - much slower and much less frequent than the train, even if it does stop in a more convenient place in Northwich than the station.

Nobody in Alty needs a bus to Stretford, but one to Withington would be much more useful

I find it surprising no operator has tried to run an express service to MediaCity from Altrincham or a direct service to the Trafford Centre, those are both journeys where there is currently no direct option and express bus services could beat the option involving Metrolink.

But the 263 does ok, always seems quite busy, I guess it picks up a number of local flows Alt to Sale, Sale to Stretford, Stretford to Hulme etc every 15 min, I work in town Oxford Road and the single deck 263 often seems busier than many of the double decks that pass by

I get the impression Arriva try to avoid using deckers unless it's absolutely necessary while Stagecoach use deckers on routes where a single decker could cope.

 

[gnolife]

I quite like the look of the changes coming to Stagecoach's Manchester - Wythenshawe via Princess Road and Benchill routes, with routes 104 (Manchester - Wythenshawe Int/Wyth Hospital via Sharston PO, Brownley Road and Peel Hall) and 105 (Manchester - Airport via Northenden, Broadoak Road, Wythenshawe Int & Woodhouse Park) with two new routes

102 running Manchester to Wythenshawe Hospital via the current 105 route to Wythenshawe Interchange, then via the 268 route (roughly) to Wythenshawe Hospital
103 running Manchester to Manchester Airport via the current 105 route to Wythenshawe Interchange, then via Poundwick Lane, Peel Hall Road, Shadow Moss Road, Cornishway, (left onto) Portway, Selstead Road, Bailey Lane to Airport

The big postive of the 103 is that it re-establishes the link between Cornishway and Manchester Airport, which got pulled when the 369 and 19 got curtailed to Wythenshawe. This shows that they do take feedback on board, because there was always a reasonable flow of people on this section. It does cut the link from parts of Portway to the Airport, but these were mostly not used in my experience. It also connects Broadoak Road with Cornishway, that I cannot ever recall having in the past, not that I can see it being too substantial a flow (although it does serve both of my parent's houses). It does have the minor drawback for passengers travelling from Cornishway to Manchester in that it now serves Wythenshawe on this section, rather than before Cornishway

The 102 is going to be interesting because I can see some TfGM funding being pulled with the introduction of it - I'm expecting the 268 to be amended to run between Wythenshawe Hospital and Albert Square only (the only lost link will be between Royal Oak and Wythenshawe Centre, which can't be more than 500m from the nearest bus/metrolink stop with a direct service to Wythenshawe at the furthest point)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I find it surprising no operator has tried to run an express service to MediaCity from Altrincham or a direct service to the Trafford Centre, those are both journeys where there is currently no direct option and express bus services could beat the option involving Metrolink.

Do you remember the limited stop 500 service that once ran from Altrincham to Bolton about 20 years ago via Sale, Stretford and Eccles? I am not sure if that called at the Trafford Centre in those days.

 

[Ianno87]

Do you remember the limited stop 500 service that once ran from Altrincham to Bolton about 20 years ago via Sale, Stretford and Eccles? I am not sure if that called at the Trafford Centre in those days.

A much missed bus for me

 

[Shrimper]

I find it surprising no operator has tried to run an express service to MediaCity from Altrincham or a direct service to the Trafford Centre, those are both journeys where there is currently no direct option and express bus services could beat the option involving Metrolink.

They did run a 269 (IIRC) which ran to Exchange Quay; I think this ran along Trafford Wharf road so wasn't too far from MediaCity. Though I do think it took a rather roundabout route from Altrincham.

 

[northwichcat]

They did run a 269 (IIRC) which ran to Exchange Quay; I think this ran along Trafford Wharf road so wasn't too far from MediaCity. Though I do think it took a rather roundabout route from Altrincham.

I thought it was the 247, which still exists but terminates at The Trafford Centre instead of running through to Exchange Quay and takes over an hour to get from Altrincham to The Trafford Centre.

 

[gnolife]

They did run a 269 (IIRC) which ran to Exchange Quay; I think this ran along Trafford Wharf road so wasn't too far from MediaCity. Though I do think it took a rather roundabout route from Altrincham.

You're thinking of the 245, which ran Altrincham - Stretford - Urmston - Trafford General Hospital - Woodsend Circle - Davyhulme - Trafford Centre - Trafford Park - IWM - Exchange Quay

 

[pdsalford]

Does the introduction of the 103 to Peel Hall Road mean the withdrawal of route 104?

 

[Shrimper]

You're thinking of the 245, which ran Altrincham - Stretford - Urmston - Trafford General Hospital - Woodsend Circle - Davyhulme - Trafford Centre - Trafford Park - IWM - Exchange Quay

I am indeed, thanks! Not far from MediaCity; just not a particularly direct route by any means!

 

[gnolife]

Does the introduction of the 103 to Peel Hall Road mean the withdrawal of route 104?

The 104 and 105 both go in this round of changes

 

[Rail Bus]

The 104 and 105 both go in this round of changes

and the 109 so this is a service cut for Princess Parkway

 

[northwichcat]

The 341/202 will continue to be operated by High Peak, but to a revised timetable from the 1st May 2017. It'll be on the website once the service changes on the 26th March have passed. Hope this helps.

Now been re-registered. Not sure why they cancelled the registration and registered a new service.

ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD t/a HIGH PEAK
From: Glossop (Market Hall)
To: Hyde (Bus Station)
Via: Gamesley, Mottram
Name or No.: 202 / 341
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 May 2017
Other details: Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays)

 

[Robertj21a]

Now been re-registered. Not sure why they cancelled the registration and registered a new service.

ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD t/a HIGH PEAK
From: Glossop (Market Hall)
To: Hyde (Bus Station)
Via: Gamesley, Mottram
Name or No.: 202 / 341
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 May 2017
Other details: Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays)

If that's a tendered service (?), they will have cancelled it to give the 56 days notice, in case they weren't successful when it was re-tendered.

 

[gnolife]

I wonder how many confused pensioners will see the 278 in Reddish with Manchester on the front, get on and be taken on a mystery tour of Levenshulme, Withington, Northenden, Wythenshawe, Timperley, Brooklands, Sale, Stretford, Old Trafford and Hulme, taking roughly 2 and a half hours before getting ditched at Albert Square, epecially given that on departure from Houldsworth Square, it goes the same way as the fastest route to Manchester, the 203 via Belle Vue

 

[PermitToTravel]

Depends what the drivers will say when asked "Do you go Piccadilly?". I know more than one who used to delight in answering "Yeah I go Piccadilly" at West Didsbury on an 84

 

[northwichcat]

An 09 reg Enviro 400 was in Manchester this afternoon was displaying "Megabus LONDON" on it's destination display. Hopefully they swapped vehicles before it got to London!

While a hybrid Metroshuttle bus was at Altrincham Interchange earlier. I don't know what (if anything) it was showing on it's destination display.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does the introduction of the 103 to Peel Hall Road mean the withdrawal of route 104?

The whole length of Peel Hall Road is served by all the increased frequency services of the 368 that now also runs all the former service patterns of the now withdrawn service 369 from Stockport to Wythenshawe Bus Station, to provide a 15 minute service for most of the day, until the evening pattern then ensues.

 

[PermitToTravel]

An 09 reg Enviro 400 was in Manchester this afternoon was displaying "Megabus LONDON" on it's destination display. Hopefully they swapped vehicles before it got to London!

None of those have worked to London in a while. Some drivers use that destination (or other silly ones) instead of Sorry Not In Service

 

[northwichcat]

None of those have worked to London in a while. Some drivers use that destination (or other silly ones) instead of Sorry Not In Service

If some drivers put that on the front of their buses all the time when they aren't in service, it might result in Megabus losing some passengers. I like a bargain but given how uncomfortable I find those seats I'd pass up the option of a cheap Megabus fare between Liverpool/Leeds and Manchester if I thought there was a risk of one of those buses running the service, nevermind between London and Manchester.

 

[Bungle965]

If some drivers put that on the front of their buses all the time when they aren't in service, it might result in Megabus losing some passengers. I like a bargain but given how uncomfortable I find those seats I'd pass up the option of a cheap Megabus fare between Liverpool/Leeds and Manchester if I thought there was a risk of one of those buses running the service, nevermind between London and Manchester.

I however think that there is an element of `you know what you are getting and anything else is an added bonus`
I have certainly experienced both sides of Megabus with having coaches which are new and have Wifi and Power Sockets right down to having a hired in coach with a driver who should be disqualified from driving based on that journey alone.
Sam

 

[PermitToTravel]

If some drivers put that on the front of their buses all the time when they aren't in service, it might result in Megabus losing some passengers.

Yep. As well as how it makes the company look, it's a challenge for a lot of people with poor eyesight to identify OOS buses. They should all be 000 Sorry Not In Service.

I'd pass up the option of a cheap Megabus fare between Liverpool/Leeds and Manchester if I thought there was a risk of one of those buses running the service

Don't worry, the only Megabus destinations available on the display are London or Manchester hock:

 

[northwichcat]

Rumour on another forum that the 130 route is to be cut back to Macclesfield to East Didsbury. Arriva's puctuality on the 130 route is very poor which is what's led to the suggestion. The subsided 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service (which can't be truncated at present) is set to be withdrawn from next April as mentioned in the "Cheshire East council propose 43% reduction in bus subsides" which will also affect the 35, 88, 200 and 289 services which enter Greater Manchester.