New guided buses to Leigh from April

[yorkie]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ews/take-look-new-greater-manchester-10767164

Take a look at the new Greater Manchester buses that have USB chargers, leather seats and free wi-fi

These pictures show the swish buses set to be unleashed on the 14-mile Leigh-Salford-Manchester busway.

And, revolutionising the daily commute, they are the first in Greater Manchester to boast TABLES.

As well as the ‘deluxe’ seating and table area upstairs - there are also leather seats, free Wi-Fi and USB charging points.

First has been contracted to run the distinctive purple buses on the ‘guideway’ section - a 4.5 mile concrete channel completely cut off from traffic which runs from Leigh to Ellenbrook.

Vehicles run down the channel with special guide wheels fitted to each side of the vehicle.

Dubbed ‘Vantage’, they are hybrids - with low carbon emissions.
There are on-board audio and visual announcements.

First is also on a recruitment drive...

Looks good. It's planned to start in April, and I think some members of this forum will be doing a trip in May, so we'll report back then.

However is it not a bit risky having such a high quality vehicle through Salford? Or is the route not going via (or calling at) the worst parts of Salford?

 

[fowler9]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ews/take-look-new-greater-manchester-10767164


Looks good. It's planned to start in April, and I think some members of this forum will be doing a trip in May, so we'll report back then.

However is it not a bit risky having such a high quality vehicle through Salford? Or is the route not going via (or calling at) the worst parts of Salford?

How would you get a bus in to any city without going through somewhere you consider a bit iffy?

 

[yorkie]

Some buses are 'express' on certain sections. I don't know what the worst parts of Salford are, all I know is some areas are very bad indeed, but maybe they're not on the route? If you're familiar with the area, I'm happy to be enlightened!

As stated in the comments on that article, the buses to Burnley/Nelson are similar, and the passengers do seem to respect them and they are still in good condition. But I do have concerns whether that would be the case on routes that call at some particularly bad areas.

(By the way if you are suggesting all inner city areas are "a bit iffy" then that is not what I said! )

 

[radamfi]

If this list of stops is correct, there are only two bus stops within the Pendleton area, and in any case it will stay on the main road and not veer into estates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh-Salford-Manchester_Bus_Rapid_Transit

 

[ivanhoe]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ews/take-look-new-greater-manchester-10767164


Looks good. It's planned to start in April, and I think some members of this forum will be doing a trip in May, so we'll report back then.

However is it not a bit risky having such a high quality vehicle through Salford? Or is the route not going via (or calling at) the worst parts of Salford?

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

 

[Bungle965]

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

I dont think so, going though any part of Manchester is a risk , but seriously i was wondering how long it would take for the local yobos from exotic place in salford, to come out and complety trash the new buses. I also grew up on the back of the council estate for many years of my childhood the last buses going anywhere near the council estate, where filled with the type of people who can not seem to stop themselves from swearing every 20 seconds, or deciding that they are going to light up illegal substances on the bus, or in the worst cases lobbing bricks at the windows.
Some parts of Salford are generally quite nice places, but others i would not want to be in after 4pm.
Sam

 

[mic]

they all ready have 39237/45 for route testing wonder what these will replace

 

[Bungle965]

they all ready have 39237/45 for route testing wonder what these will replace

The guided bus way has not get opened so, so there is nothing for them to replace. They are intended to be used only on the guided busway services.
Sam

 

[yorkie]

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

It was not me who originally had these concerns, and you've not actually answered the question, and no, the "iffy" comment is not mine! If you lived in an area similar to, as I put it, "the worst parts of Salford" ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-34507229 ) then I would be interested to hear how the buses were treated in those areas. I am not talking about areas that are "a bit iffy" someone else posted that.

Anyway someone has answered the question and it seems the bus won't be going through those areas so it sounds like it will be OK.

I am pro public transport but some unsavoury individuals can trash the vehicles if they get the chance. I've seen it elsewhere and you can't pretend the problem doesn't exist. I hope that doesn't happen here.

I take it there is no 'fast' bus at present and this will be completely new and have no noticeable impact on existing services?

Someone mentioned to me that the guided bit avoids quiet areas and the bits that get contested are those nearer Manchester where the bus shares the road with other vehicles , is that true?

Also I heard some locals are against double deckers because they don't want people to be able to see into their gardens, anyone know any more about that? I'm glad to see they have not succeeded.

 

[Bungle965]

[/QUOTE]Also I heard some locals are against double deckers because they don't want people to be able to see into their gardens, anyone know any more about that? I'm glad to see they have not succeeded.[/QUOTE]
Take no notice of that, just usual moaning by residents. Made big by the M.E.N.
Sam

 

[yorksrob]

The guided bus way has not get opened so, so there is nothing for them to replace.

Unless you count the DMU service in 1969.

 

[185]

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

I have. Right by that route near the precinct.

Keep going driver, plenty of local buses stop there. :P

Nothing to do with being working class. It's the non-working burgling mugging dope-smoking class that concern me

 

[radamfi]

I take it there is no 'fast' bus at present and this will be completely new and have no noticeable impact on existing services?

There is the 34/X34 which goes more or less the same way apart from the guided busway section, which I would assume will cancelled or heavily amended

http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/X34.pdf

Someone mentioned to me that the guided bit avoids quiet areas and the bits that get contested are those nearer Manchester where the bus shares the road with other vehicles , is that true?

The guided busway is at the Leigh end. Most of the rest of the route is a bus lane on a dual carriageway.

 

[mbonwick]

The guideway is intended to essentially replace the 34/X34.

Stagecoach have got their retaliation in first with the delivery of 10444-51 ADL E400MMCs in October, with high back seats (admittedly not leather), WiFi and USB sockets. Obviously the conventional 34/X34 will be slower than the guideway, so I'd guess Stagecoach were/are trying to win passengers over with quality, and hope they don't change service.

 

[fowler9]

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

It was me who use the word iffy but in the context of some people considering certain areas iffy. I wasn't having a go at Salford or anywhere else. Anyway. Back to the buses.

 

[freetoview33]

The guideway is intended to essentially replace the 34/X34.

Stagecoach have got their retaliation in first with the delivery of 10444-51 ADL E400MMCs in October, with high back seats (admittedly not leather), WiFi and USB sockets. Obviously the conventional 34/X34 will be slower than the guideway, so I'd guess Stagecoach were/are trying to win passengers over with quality, and hope they don't change service.

How much is different are the times (or supposed to be)

 

[nerd]

The guideway is intended to essentially replace the 34/X34.

Stagecoach have got their retaliation in first with the delivery of 10444-51 ADL E400MMCs in October, with high back seats (admittedly not leather), WiFi and USB sockets. Obviously the conventional 34/X34 will be slower than the guideway, so I'd guess Stagecoach were/are trying to win passengers over with quality, and hope they don't change service.

The busway doesn't replace the 34/X34 - which has been relaunched with an increased frequency, and improved timings. Effectively, the busway has three sections; a guided busway section from Leigh to the East Lancs road north of Boothstown, a section of effectively continuous buslanes along the East Lancs road, and a section of intermittent buslanes and bus priority along the A6 past Salford Unit and through Salford and Manchester town centres. Roughly a third, a third, a third. Hence the 34/X34 benefits from the East Lancs buslanes and the A6 route improvements - and in particular, should pick up substantial business from the new A580 park-and-ride site. The busway services will, obviously, be quicker from the East Lancs road into Leigh itself, but the 34/X34 will pick up business from Boothstown and Astley.

If anything, it is the 32 service- Wigan, Atherton, Tyldesley, Salford, Manchester - that might have been most likely threatened by the busway; but that too is being retained and retimed.

 

[mic]

some of the buses for the busway have reached Bolton now 39237/38/40/41/45/46/49 most stored

 

[nerd]

Some buses are 'express' on certain sections. I don't know what the worst parts of Salford are, all I know is some areas are very bad indeed, but maybe they're not on the route? If you're familiar with the area, I'm happy to be enlightened!

As stated in the comments on that article, the buses to Burnley/Nelson are similar, and the passengers do seem to respect them and they are still in good condition. But I do have concerns whether that would be the case on routes that call at some particularly bad areas.

(By the way if you are suggesting all inner city areas are "a bit iffy" then that is not what I said! )

The busway services will definitely have a dual personality, and this is expressed in the fitting out of the interiors. Effectively, the upper deck is for the longer-distance and commuter business - with substantial numbers envisaged to be using the big park-and-ride sites at Leigh, and underneath the M60. Hence the tabled areas, USB points, and flip-down tables on the seat backs. The lower deck is envisaged as serving the inner Salford and Manchester business, interchanging with the trams at Princess Street/St Peters Square and providing a shuttle service into and between Salford Uni and Manchester Uni/Central Manchester Hospitals. Hence, a lot of space for standing passengers, and fewer seats.

The won't be many stops serving inner suburbs (the original scheme envisaged a stop at Irlams o'th' Height, but it now seems the busway services will carry on through the A6 underpass). So there will be one stop at Pendleton Church (serving the shopping precinct) and then Frederick Street (effectively the northern end of Salford Uni).

http://www.trustinleigh.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/11.12.15-TFGM-Presentation.pdf


It will be interesting to see how this works out in practice. And too, whether (and how) it might be extended. TfGM seem to be floating the idea of continuing the busway services beyond Leigh bus station towards Leigh Sports Village and the Centurions rugby stadium - presumably along St Helens Road and the former rail alignment.

 

[mic]

buses 39237 and 39245 are been used for route proving what ever that means

 

[nerd]

buses 39237 and 39245 are been used for route proving what ever that means

I believe they are running buses to and fro along the two busway routes - from Atherton and Leigh to the A580 respectively - throughout the day; so as to establish realistic route timetables.

 

[KendalKing]

but some unsavoury individuals can trash the vehicles if they get the chance.

This has recently happen to some StreetLites, which were only two weeks old!

I've seen it elsewhere and you can't pretend the problem doesn't exist.

I too have seen it happen in other areas, and have experience it as a driver in Lancaster on the Ryelands Estate.

It will be interesting to see how this works out in practice. And too, whether (and how) it might be extended. TfGM seem to be floating the idea of continuing the busway services beyond Leigh bus station towards Leigh Sports Village and the Centurions rugby stadium - presumably along St Helens Road and the former rail alignment.

That sounds like a very good idea, I can see that working well, especially on march days.

 

[miami]

I'm no apologist for Salford as basically I don't or have never lived there but I find your comments ' re iffy' a tad offensive. Buses are for everybody and enhanced services will only improve the lives of people in that area. For the record, I was born and brought up in an iffy area and only a very small minority of people are what you would class as ' not wanting to be your next door neighbour'. Think on next time, eh?

Could be worse, could have gone through Oldham

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/fire-engine-attacked-oldham-blaze-10295115

A gang of around 20 people hurled the missiles at the vehicle while firefighters tried to put out a blaze in Oldham.

The engine was taken out of service for repairs following the attack, which broke the front window and nearside shutters.

The incident took place when a crew were called to a bonfire off Pitt Street, in Glodwick , at around 10.40pm on Saturday night, October 17.
...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I too have seen it happen in other areas, and have experience it as a driver in Lancaster on the Ryelands Estate.

Is that the same estate that appeared in a television documentary where an Asian newsagent kept going in business at all costs despite racially motivated attacks on his shop?

 

[yorksrob]

Is that the same estate that appeared in a television documentary where an Asian newsagent kept going in business at all costs despite racially motivated attacks on his shop?

No, I believe that was The Marsh.

 

[WatcherZero]

It will be interesting to see how this works out in practice. And too, whether (and how) it might be extended. TfGM seem to be floating the idea of continuing the busway services beyond Leigh bus station towards Leigh Sports Village and the Centurions rugby stadium - presumably along St Helens Road and the former rail alignment.

Extension through leigh has been floated but serious developmental work has been done on a branch through tyldsley to Atherton possibly terminating at the new development North Leigh Park. Also been floated extending that on through Hindley to Wigan.

 

[KendalKing]

Is that the same estate that appeared in a television documentary where an Asian newsagent kept going in business at all costs despite racially motivated attacks on his shop?

Yes it one of the same.

No, I believe that was The Marsh.

Not the Marsh, But Ryelands.

 

[yorksrob]

Extension through leigh has been floated but serious developmental work has been done on a branch through tyldsley to Atherton possibly terminating at the new development North Leigh Park. Also been floated extending that on through Hindley to Wigan.

Is that likely to attract many passengers given there's already a good train service to Atherton and Wigan?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is that likely to attract many passengers given there's already a good train service to Atherton and Wigan?

But that does not serve those who wish to travel between Atherton, Tyldesley and Leigh.

 

[yorksrob]

But that does not serve those who wish to travel between Atherton, Tyldesley and Leigh.

Ah, so it's going that way. I can see there might be a minor time improvement from Atherton to Leigh (although I'm not convinced there are that many travellers between the two) but isn't Leigh to Wigan via Tyldesley a bit indirect?