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

[HSTEd]

If the 147 ran to Fallowfield it would be far more popular

 

[Dentonian]

If the 147 ran to Fallowfield it would be far more popular

Trouble is it defeats the object which was originally to give hospital staff and visitors direct access to the MRI complex from Fairfield Street end of Manchester.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Trouble is it defeats the object which was originally to give hospital staff and visitors direct access to the MRI complex from Fairfield Street end of Manchester.

Indeed so, the Fairfield Street stop is ideal for those travelling by rail to Manchester Piccadilly railway station wishing to visit relatives in the MRI without incurring parking costs at the hospital.

 

[HSTEd]

Trouble is it defeats the object which was originally to give hospital staff and visitors direct access to the MRI complex from Fairfield Street end of Manchester.

The bus could run through the hospital and return to Oxford Road to continue to Fallowfield

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The bus could run through the hospital and return to Oxford Road to continue to Fallowfield

Is Fallowfield in need of extra buses services?

 

[Dentonian]

The bus could run through the hospital and return to Oxford Road to continue to Fallowfield

I've heard it's registered to stay on the main road which is why I suspect it might be a MagicBus service

 

[HSTEd]

Is Fallowfield in need of extra buses services?

Not really, however a flow that is still relatively popular but is not particularly well served is Fallowfield to the University North Campus.
A 147 extension to Fallowfield would provide a direct bus and could substitute for a reduced frequency of 142/143 buses.

 

[Dentonian]

Not really, however a flow that is still relatively popular but is not particularly well served is Fallowfield to the University North Campus.
A 147 extension to Fallowfield would provide a direct bus and could substitute for a reduced frequency of 142/143 buses.

The main problem with Student market is it only generates demand for a restricted number of weeks a year. I had to visit MRI yesterday (late morning) and noticed Oxford Road was wall to wall Magic Buses, whether on 142/143 (and the odd 141) or 42 group of services. A couple of months ago, loadings would have been much healthier even at that time of day.

 

[HSTEd]

Is there a route to get buses from Piccadily Gardens to the area in front of the station?

I feel that a bus that routed further south, past the station and through North Campus would get better utilisation than the route that is currently utilised.

 

[Dentonian]

Is there a route to get buses from Piccadily Gardens to the area in front of the station?

I feel that a bus that routed further south, past the station and through North Campus would get better utilisation than the route that is currently utilised.

There are numerous routes from Piccadilly Gardens (well, Portland Street/Newton Street junction) with the first stop at Undercroft. However, none turn right at Fairfield Street, which has only been (legally) possible for a few months anyway. They could not stop at Undercroft and get into the right hand lane, though. The other problem is that the sheer number of buses (mainly 192s and now 219s that turn left on to Fairfield Steet), combined with the sheer number of trams, means traffic is often queueing all the way back to Portland Street in the evening peak.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not really, however a flow that is still relatively popular but is not particularly well served is Fallowfield to the University North Campus. A 147 extension to Fallowfield would provide a direct bus and could substitute for a reduced frequency of 142/143 buses.

Has there been any official announcement made regarding a planned reduction in frequency of the 142/143 bus services that has made you think of the introduction of the extension to the 147 service?

 

[Dentonian]

Has there been any official announcement made regarding a planned reduction in frequency of the 142/143 bus services that has made you think of the introduction of the extension to the 147 service?

There won't be any official announcement of September service changes until 22 July.

 

[splashoutradio]

There's a few bits and bobs in the latest GMCA documentation (attached) relating to upcoming changes on the Greater Manchester bus network, if it's of any use to anyone.

 

[spargazer]

It'll be a very quick service and those wishing to alight at the Viewing Park will need parachutes.

How is the 737 being financed? or is it already on an earlier post.

 

[northwichcat]

The Bullocks hybrids are currently being transferred to Lothian as part of a deal which sees 57 reg Scania buses moving in the opposite direction.

 

[northwichcat]

How is the 737 being financed? or is it already on an earlier post.

TfGM funded according to the D&G printed timetable booklet. More services run in school holidays due to the same vehicle being used for a Loreto/Altrincham Grammar School For Girls school service in school term time.

 

[northwichcat]

New D&G tickets in Greater Manchester:
Greater Manchester Return £4
Greater Manchester Return for 2 people £5
Greater Manchester Weekly Ticket £10
Airport to Runway Park Day ticket £2.50 (the single fare is £2)
Airport to Runway Park Group ticket (up to 5 people) £5

 

[Blackpudding]

First Manchester, the last of the First Opcos to so do, start the rollout of new ticketer machines this weekend. Further details here:
https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-manchester/tickets/where-buy/new-ticket-machines

 

[Darklord8899]

The Bullocks hybrids are currently being transferred to Lothian as part of a deal which sees 57 reg Scania buses moving in the opposite direction.

Oh enjoy the Scanias I'm glad to see the back of them. They were horrible to travel in and I never met a driver who liked driving them!

 

[Edgeley]

Is Fallowfield in need of extra buses services?

Did Imelda Marcos need more shoes?

 

[WatcherZero]

From October First has reached the 8 year maximum contract extension date for Metroshuttle and so the operation must be retendered. The budget has been cut by £200k reflecting the decline in patronage as more people are switching to Metrolink (patronage declined a 1/3rd overnight when phase 3 opened). They are proposing a quite radical overhaul.

The service will be rebranded "Free bus: around the city" with each bus featuring a unique quote or fact about Manchester. This is to make it clearer to tourists that its free and distinct from Tram services.

The routes will be altered to remove overlap with Metrolink services.
Route 3 will be rebranded Route 1 and will be pretty much unchanged with some variation to the route of the return journey between Spinningfields and Piccadilly Station.
Route 1 and 2 will be rebranded Route 2 and will be rerouted into an orbital service of the city centre linking the city centre rail stations and not overlapping with Metrolink routes, in peak it will be extended to Salford Central rail station.

The TfGM owned Metroshuttle fleet will be reduced from 17+3 spares (3 pure electric and 17 diesel-electric hybrids) to 10+3 spares with the other buses cascaded onto other tendered services. The buses will get a new livery with common branding (no more route number branding) to make fleet management easier. The rear of the buses will be available for advertising wraps, particularly in the run up to Christmas.

 

[Blackpudding]

From October First has reached the 8 year maximum contract extension date for Metroshuttle and so the operation must be retendered. The budget has been cut by £200k reflecting the decline in patronage as more people are switching to Metrolink (patronage declined a 1/3rd overnight when phase 3 opened). They are proposing a quite radical overhaul.

The service will be rebranded "Free bus: around the city" with each bus featuring a unique quote or fact about Manchester. This is to make it clearer to tourists that its free and distinct from Tram services.

The routes will be altered to remove overlap with Metrolink services.
Route 3 will be rebranded Route 1 and will be pretty much unchanged with some variation to the route of the return journey between Spinningfields and Piccadilly Station.
Route 1 and 2 will be rebranded Route 2 and will be rerouted into an orbital service of the city centre linking the city centre rail stations and not overlapping with Metrolink routes, in peak it will be extended to Salford Central rail station.

The TfGM owned Metroshuttle fleet will be reduced from 17+3 spares (3 pure electric and 17 diesel-electric hybrids) to 10+3 spares with the other buses cascaded onto other tendered services. The buses will get a new livery with common branding (no more route number branding) to make fleet management easier. The rear of the buses will be available for advertising wraps, particularly in the run up to Christmas.

I appreciate that this is a statement by TfGM but does anybody have the figures to support the statement 'patronage declined a 1/3 overnight when phase 3 opened'. I would have thought it declined well before then with all the disruption in Manchester city centre caused by building/road works and the seemingly frequent change in routes to support these works. In addition if you were using the Metroshuttle how and why would phase 3 affect your travel plans to the extent suggested and why when the last phase 3 extension opened in 2014 has it taken so long to react particularly in view of the breakpoints in the contract (on both sides as I recall)?

 

[323235]

I suppose thinking logically about phase 3 - people would not be using the metroshuttle to connect with buses instead walking to the nearest tram stop. The route diversions mentioned may have helped this switch / decline.

Although from my observations of using phase 3 the trams were very empty at the start, as you would expect, so I can't believe a 1/3 of metroshuttle passengers were lost by people switching to Metrolink straight away - it would have been more gradual especially as the buses are more affordable.

 

[Ianno87]

By Phase 3, do you actually mean second city crossing? Phase 3 opened in stages from 2011 to 2014!

 

[WatcherZero]

Patronage on Metroshuttle peaked in 2013 at around 2.75m having been slowly increasing from 2.5m in 2008. In 2014 it was 2.6m, 1.95m in 2015, 1.45m in 2016 and has held steady there for the following two years (2017 and 2018YTD).

The routes were changed in Nov 2016 with route 3 rerouted to serve tourist destinations.

 

[pdsalford]

It sounds as though the routes are being returned to the way they were before the last reorganisation!

 

[Scotrail88]

The committee paper says they have a recommended operator but not mention of who.
Is it still First or has someone else stepped in?

 

[WatcherZero]

The meeting will make the decision on the contract award, hasn't been publicly announced though there may be some rumours. Would be slightly surprised if its First the way they are in full retreat in the region though a revenue contract with no capital investment required may be just what they need.

 

[goldisgood]

The meeting will make the decision on the contract award, hasn't been publicly announced though there may be some rumours. Would be slightly surprised if its First the way they are in full retreat in the region though a revenue contract with no capital investment required may be just what they need.

Rumours suggest that First have lost the contract - could be wrong of course.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A 147 extension to Fallowfield would provide a direct bus and could substitute for a reduced frequency of 142/143 buses.

Stagecoach have just printed a 4pp A5 size leaflet which covers the changes to their timetables from Sunday 2nd September in which on pp3 it states:-

SERVICE 147....West Didsbury to Piccadilly rail station.
New route via Oxford Road serving Central Manchester Hospitals and Universities. Buses will run up to every 10 minutes Monday to Friday.