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

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Interesting new registration:

PC0001977/101 - WARRINGTON BOROUGH TRANSPORT LTD T/A NETWORK WARRINGTON, WILDERSPOOL CAUSEWAY, WARRINGTON, WA4 6PT
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Partington
Finish Point: Little Bollington
Via: Lymm
Service Number: 43
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 05-SEP-2016
Other Details: Monday to Friday

I wonder what the reasoning is for a Little Bollington to Partington service? Will any part of that route offer a connection link to the area of the National Trust at Dunham Massey?

From the site of the old mill at Little Bollington, you go down Park Lane, then join the A56 Lymm Road to the junction with the B5179 Burford Lane in Broomedge that crosses over the Bridgewater Canal, where then it is known as Mill Lane, which then meets the A6144 and carries on through Mossbrow directly into Partington.

 

[Bungle965]

More cuts from First

PC0003680/255 - FIRST MANCHESTER LTD T/A FIRST, WALLSHAW STREET, OLDHAM, OL1 3TR
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Manchester Shudehill Bus Station and Manchester Trafford Centre given service number 110 effective from 04-Sep-2016.

PC0003680/604 - FIRST MANCHESTER LTD T/A FIRST, WALLSHAW STREET, OLDHAM, OL1 3TR
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Edenfield and Manchester given service number X35 effective from 04-Sep-2016.

Very shocked about the X35, always seemed to be well patronized, it is also a bus I use on a regular basis, so it will be a shame to see it go!
Sam

 

[Ianno87]

More cuts from First


Very shocked about the X35, always seemed to be well patronized, it is also a bus I use on a regular basis, so it will be a shame to see it go!
Sam

It's lasted pretty well (given competition from the tram) - I recall it was introduced opportunistically in summer 2007 during the Metrolink Bury line track renewals, half hourly all day between Bury & Manchester. It was even branded "The Flying Shuttle".

The all-day service didn't last long after this, but the peak workings were soon extended back to Edenfield to cover the withdrawal of the remnants of the 90 between Ramsbottom and Manchester.

 

[Bungle965]

It's lasted pretty well (given competition from the tram) - I recall it was introduced opportunistically in summer 2007 during the Metrolink Bury line track renewals, half hourly all day between Bury & Manchester. It was even branded "The Flying Shuttle".

The all-day service didn't last long after this, but the peak workings were soon extended back to Edenfield to cover the withdrawal of the remnants of the 90 between Ramsbottom and Manchester.

Yes I remember it was operated by Mercedes engined Opate Prisma`s if I am right in thinking?
It is a shame that it will be cut because., as I said before even thought it was a peak only operating service it had a lot of fare paying passengers.
Sam

 

[Y961 XBU]

As mot users will probs know Arriva was going to cut their 18 back to only run between Manchester Airport and The Trafford Centre from 24th July however TFGM have stepped in with funding so the Service is now not getting cut back

 

[northwichcat]

Bullocks are to cancel the 147 Oxford Road Link from 16th September.

 

[Bungle965]

Bullocks are to cancel the 147 Oxford Road Link from 16th September.

It never seemed that popular when I saw it, obviously the demand had gone for that service.
Sam

 

[northwichcat]

Looks like the 147 cancellation was an error made by VOSA, it's reappeared on the system as a timetable change effective from 19th September.

 

[Bungle965]

Looks like the 147 cancellation was an error made by VOSA, it's reappeared on the system as a timetable change effective from 19th September.

I still stand by what I said about the service not looking to be that popular, perhpas it is me not seeing it at the right times of the day.
Sam

 

[WatcherZero]

TfGM have continued to spend on lawyers, transport planners and economists for reintroducing bus franchising, £2.9m this year. There will be a completed plan sitting on the new mayors desk day of the election next year (4th May) merely requiring the legal formality of a public consultation.

 

[Josie]

I still stand by what I said about the service not looking to be that popular, perhpas it is me not seeing it at the right times of the day.
Sam

Think it might just be you Sam! It definitely has its quiet moments but it can get very busy at rush hour for the hospitals and lecture changeover times. There are finally bus stops on Sackville Street for it now as well.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Bungle965]

Think it might just be you Sam! It definitely has its quiet moments but it can get very busy at rush hour for the hospitals and lecture changeover times. There are finally bus stops on Sackville Street for it now as well.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Interesting, thanks for that. I am always happy to be proved wrong when it comes to things like this.
Sam

 

[johnluke]

TFGM want gm buses back the franchising will go through eventually

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

TFGM want gm buses back the franchising will go through eventually

Can you clarify that as I am not sure what you mean. Are referring to a similar overall livery that once was the case?

 

[northwichcat]

I noticed a couple of weeks ago someone asked Arriva on Twitter about why the 88 route doesn't serve the Airport and I thought they aren't going to be interested in running it to the Airport as it would need a 5th bus. However, I've since heard Arriva have said running the 18 services to Altrincham is no longer viable to do commercially so will be getting a TfGM subsidy to run them. So could some joined up thinking be applied here with the 88 routed via the Airport and the 18 services no longer running the Altrincham to Airport portion? That would give longer layover times for the 88 service (making it easier to recover delays) and improve the frequency of services between Altrincham and the Airport, even if it's one less service per hour between Altrincham and Hale Barnes.

 

[WatcherZero]

Around five Bus services in the area are going to be totally reworked after the Amazon fulfilment centre opens so bus companies not really interested in investing and subsidised services required to fill the gap temporarily.

 

[northwichcat]

Around five Bus services in the area are going to be totally reworked after the Amazon fulfilment centre opens so bus companies not really interested in investing and subsidised services required to fill the gap temporarily.

With the site being a couple of minutes by road from the Cheshire East boundary I hope Cheshire East's Transport Body are to work with TfGM on that. There could be some very busy buses between Hale Barnes and Wilmslow at peak times, given the Waters Corporation development has already boosted peak time loadings on the 88 service.

Given a new long term 200 contract had been awarded to GHA earlier in the year it doesn't look like there was a plan to change that route.

 

[WatcherZero]

18, 19, 44, 105, 268, 369 currently the bus services that will be changed.

 

[gnolife]

18, 19, 44, 105, 268, 369 currently the bus services that will be changed.

That list surprises me quite a lot. Route 19 interworks with 18A, resulting in some quite short turnarounds at the Airport. Route 369 also only has a short turnaround. Route 268 only runs as far as Wythenshawe, and was only re-tendered in April, as was the 44.

 

[Jessietodd]

It's lasted pretty well (given competition from the tram) - I recall it was introduced opportunistically in summer 2007 during the Metrolink Bury line track renewals, half hourly all day between Bury & Manchester. It was even branded "The Flying Shuttle".

The all-day service didn't last long after this, but the peak workings were soon extended back to Edenfield to cover the withdrawal of the remnants of the 90 between Ramsbottom and Manchester.

I contacted First Manchester and they said that they cannot confirm at this time if the X35 is due to be cancelled, which seems strange considering that it's due to stop from 4.9.16. I use this service every morning and evening to go to work and I am shocked that they are even considering it as the bus is always mainly full. I just wondered where the information has come from that suggested the service was being cancelled and if it was a done deal? I asked one of the drivers who informed me he was one of the union reps and that he didn't know about it and he would have to by rules... I just want to know so I can look into alternative travel arrangements so any help would be appreciated

 

[Bungle965]

I contacted First Manchester and they said that they cannot confirm at this time if the X35 is due to be cancelled, which seems strange considering that it's due to stop from 4.9.16. I use this service every morning and evening to go to work and I am shocked that they are even considering it as the bus is always mainly full. I just wondered where the information has come from that suggested the service was being cancelled and if it was a done deal? I asked one of the drivers who informed me he was one of the union reps and that he didn't know about it and he would have to by rules... I just want to know so I can look into alternative travel arrangements so any help would be appreciated

I am also In the same position as you, I am also a frequent user of the bus service and I am as shocked as you as to why First would pull such a popular route. Even if it is only a peak time only bus it certainly seems to pull in the revenue.
Sam

 

[Blackpudding]

I am also In the same position as you, I am also a frequent user of the bus service and I am as shocked as you as to why First would pull such a popular route. Even if it is only a peak time only bus it certainly seems to pull in the revenue.
Sam

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Scroll to the very bottom right of the page for confirmation. The only glimmer of hope is the general note that says sometimes things change but I doubt it in this case.

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/media/899027/bus-service-changes-september-2016.pdf

 

[Jessietodd]

Oh dear..... Not good :-/ thanks for the confirmation, makes no sense to cancel it though.

 

[Ianno87]

I am also In the same position as you, I am also a frequent user of the bus service and I am as shocked as you as to why First would pull such a popular route. Even if it is only a peak time only bus it certainly seems to pull in the revenue.
Sam

I would hazard a guess that a very high proportion of users are on weekly/monthly tickets? Unfortunately, these yield much less revenue per passenger journey than a route where people pay lots of cash single/day fares. Plus the running costs of a route as long as the X35 will be quite high, for buses that only manage one trip per peak, plus a hefty amount of dead mileage

 

[WatcherZero]

RATP are the first to throw their lot in for bus franchising saying they would like to win 25% of contracts.

 

[northwichcat]

RATP are the first to throw their lot in for bus franchising saying they would like to win 25% of contracts.

They don't operate any bus services in GM currently do they? (Not including Selwyns/Haytons NX and school services.)

 

[WatcherZero]

Some coach and one small local bus operation I believe. They've said they would be on the lookout for local acquisitions of operators and depots. They've also said that they may purchase an electric fleet to operate contracts depending on how much TfGM are willing to pay for services.

They do have a significant amount of London contracts, and of course everything in Paris.

 

[northwichcat]

Some coach and one small local bus operation I believe. They've said they would be on the lookout for local acquisitions of operators and depots. They've also said that they may purchase an electric fleet to operate contracts depending on how much TfGM are willing to pay for services.

They do have a significant amount of London contracts, and of course everything in Paris.

Still 25% of routes in Greater Manchester will be a lot considering it's likely Stagecoach, First and Arriva will want sizeable shares and it's possible other companies like Transdev, Abellio and Go-Ahead could be interested even before you consider the smaller operators who are likely to focus on routes in one specific area.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Arriva have registered a new service between Altrincham and Manchester Airport with the route number 288 - the old number for Altrincham to Knutsford via Wilmslow!

 

[Greybeard33]

Arriva have registered a new service between Altrincham and Manchester Airport with the route number 288 - the old number for Altrincham to Knutsford via Wilmslow!

Maybe Arriva's intention is to split the hourly 18 service, Trafford Centre - Manchester Airport - Altrincham, at the Airport? Then the 18A, Trafford Centre - Airport, would become half-hourly, while the 288 would take over the Airport - Altrincham sector. Perhaps also somehow integrate the timetable with the 88 (poorly patronised between Altrincham and Wilmslow), now Arriva operates both these services along Hale Road, Hale Barns?

 

[Y961 XBU]

Looks like the 288 is a Sunday thing as it mentions Sunday changes to a TFGM Contract in the registration