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

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Noting the title of this thread also includes discussions on bus stations, has there been any discussion in official TfGM meetings and other associated transport factotums with regards to the bus station at Leigh, which is still laid out in the traditional style?

 

[telstarbox]

In Salford, the VH1 and VH2 have now been merged into route 29 which runs to Media City.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Noting the title of this thread also includes discussions on bus stations, has there been any discussion in official TfGM meetings and other associated transport factotums with regards to the bus station at Leigh, which is still laid out in the traditional style?

In the redevelopment plan https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/...SRF FINAL DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION FEB 2021.pdf it says that they will enhance the bus station so sounds like it's staying largely as it is rather than a wholesale replacement

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In Salford, the VH1 and VH2 have now been merged into route 29 which runs to Media City.

What date did this occur or is this a formal forward proposal?

In the redevelopment plan https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leightowncentre/Leigh SRF FINAL DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION FEB 2021.pdf it says that they will enhance the bus station so sounds like it's staying largely as it is rather than a wholesale replacement

Thanks for that information. Leigh bus station is well placed outside the large Spinning Gate shopping precinct and services to a wide range of destinations run from there, including the terminus of the V1 guided busway service.

 

[northwichcat]

From April the 288 will be operated by Arriva and will run between Altrincham and will serve the World Freight terminal. The last service will be an hour earlier than at present and the Sunday service will no longer serve the viewing park. The 44 between Manchester and Wythenshawe Hospital, will be extended to Altrincham as part replacement for the withdrawn East Didsbury to Altrincham section.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The 88 service can be mentioned on this thread as it starts from Altrincham Interchange. Having some spare time to spend recently when visiting Macclesfield, I took up the advice of a friend and used my ENCTS pass on the long bus journey to Altrincham via Knutsford. Between Mobberley and Knutsford, it left the main road and passed through some rural villages where I had never been through. Do only certain buses serve these rural villages and can someone name them for me?

 

[northwichcat]

The 88 service can be mentioned on this thread as it starts from Altrincham Interchange. Having some spare time to spend recently when visiting Macclesfield, I took up the advice of a friend and used my ENCTS pass on the long bus journey to Altrincham via Knutsford. Between Mobberley and Knutsford, it left the main road and passed through some rural villages where I had never been through. Do only certain buses serve these rural villages and can someone name them for me?

Under normal circumstances it should run on the B5086 and then B5085 between the outskirts of Wilmslow and the outskirts of Knutsford, meaning it passes through Chorley, Great Warford and Mobberley. There were some roadworks towards the end of last year on the B5085 meaning the off-peak services went via Morley Green between Wilmslow and Mobberley.

If there was an accident causing an emergency road closure then it could have gone out to the Marthall and Ollerton parishes. Which way did the bus enter Knutsford? Did it go past the Bentley showroom and through the Longridge housing estate?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Under normal circumstances it should run on the B5086 and then B5085 between the outskirts of Wilmslow and the outskirts of Knutsford, meaning it passes through Chorley, Great Warford and Mobberley. There were some roadworks towards the end of last year on the B5085 meaning the off-peak services went via Morley Green between Wilmslow and Mobberley.

If there was an accident causing an emergency road closure then it could have gone out to the Marthall and Ollerton parishes. Which way did the bus enter Knutsford? Did it go past the Bentley showroom and through the Longridge housing estate?

The word Marthall rings a bell. Where I described was between Mobberley and Knutsford, not between Wilmslow and Hale Barns where Morley Green is situated.

 

[Rod Harrison]

According to another forum service 402 is the be operated by Stagecoach but TFGM timetables have Stotts running it. Does anyone know which is correct?

 

[33117]

In the redevelopment plan https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leightowncentre/Leigh SRF FINAL DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION FEB 2021.pdf it says that they will enhance the bus station so sounds like it's staying largely as it is rather than a wholesale replacement

Think it's good that leigh bus station will remain as it is, there's nowt really wrong with it.

Yes it's a bit old but it's in decent nicker still, a freshen up will do it good. No point wasting cash on a new 1 when the current is fine.

 

[northwichcat]

According to another forum service 402 is the be operated by Stagecoach but TFGM timetables have Stotts running it. Does anyone know which is correct?

Current 402 contract is with Stotts. This ends in April when it will be replaced by a 411 and a re-routed 403. I don't see any official announcement regarding the new contract anywhere.

 

[Leedsbusman]

Current 402 contract is with Stotts. This ends in April when it will be replaced by a 411 and a re-routed 403. I don't see any official announcement regarding the new contract anywhere.

Mon to Sat 402 and 403 will be Rosso from April. Sunday 402 is on a separate contract linked to another service - I don’t know who has won that.

 

[telstarbox]

What date did this occur or is this a formal forward proposal?

Sorry I don't know the exact date. Both were developer-funded so I imagine that funding has now run out, which led to the merger.

 

[markymark2000]

According to the registration, it was 31st Jan 2021 when the 29 got extended.

7

15 Jan 21

31 Jan 21

Variation

Vary route and timetable. Route extended to Boothstown.

 

[telstarbox]

Thanks markmarky

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does anyone know the reason why the 199 service was moved away from the temporary bus station on Heaton Lane?

 

[northwichcat]

Update from TfGM confirms funding is set to go for Saturday evening and Sunday 88 services between Altrincham and Wilmslow, while there are some other changes to the Altrincham local services:

280 Altrincham – Dunham Massey – Partington - Sale (Operator TBC)
Mon-Sat hourly
Sun 2 hourly between 0915 and 1715

281 Altrincham – Timperley – Brooklands - Sale (Operator TBC)
Additional journeys: Mon-Fri 0645, Sat 0752,1752 Altrincham – Sale Mon-Fri 1852, Sat 0739, 1739 Sale – Altrincham

282 Altrincham – Oldfield Brow (Operator TBC)
Additional journeys: Mon-Fri 0620, Sat 0733, Sun 0838, 0938 Altrincham – Altrincham Additionally, the evening service is proposed to be amended to operate hourly all days of the week with the last journeys changing from 2031 to 2238 on Mon-Thu, in line with Friday/Saturday, and 2031 to 2138 Sun

283/284 Altrincham – Hale – Hale Barns – Well Green circulars (Operator TBC)
Additional journey: Sat 0757, 1823 Altrincham – Altrincham
Due to lower usage, the Sunday service is proposed to be amended to operate every 2 hours on each service, timed to run a co-ordinated hourly service from Altrincham. The first journey on Sunday morning will now run at 0900 instead of 1025. Additionally, the evening service is proposed to be amended to operate a consistent pattern across the weekday, with the last journeys changing from 2051 to 2200 on Mon-Thu in line with Friday/Saturday.

285/286 Altrincham – Timperley circulars (Operator TBC)
Additional journeys: Mon-Fri 0601, 0635, Sat 0718, 0743 Altrincham – Altrincham
Due to lower usage, the Sunday service is proposed to be amended to operate every 2 hours on each service, timed to run a co-ordinated hourly service from Altrincham. The first journey on Sunday morning will now run at 0843 instead of 0940.
Additionally, the evening service is proposed to be amended to operate a consistent pattern across the weekday, with the last journeys changing from 2143 to 2243 on Mon-Thu in line with Friday/Saturday.

287 Altrincham - Bowdon (Operator TBC)
Due to lower usage, the Sunday service is proposed to be amended to operate every 2 hours, however they will be timed to run a co-ordinated hourly service with service 280 between Altrincham and Bowdon. The first journey on Sunday morning will now run at 1012 instead of 1100. Additionally, the evening service is proposed to be amended to operate a consistent pattern across the weekday, with the last journeys changing from 1926 to 2212 on Mon-Thu, 2126 to 2212 Friday/Saturday and 1926 to 2012 on Sunday.

Source: https://democracy.greatermanchester...hcoming Changes to the Bus Network Part A.pdf

 

[Ant158]

Looking at the upcoming changes in the link above, it seems Go North West are really struggling for drivers or passengers with lots of service frequency reductions, with even reductions to the 17/18

 

[markymark2000]

Looking at the upcoming changes in the link above, it seems Go North West are really struggling for drivers or passengers with lots of service frequency reductions, with even reductions to the 17/18

Probably lack of passengers returning to the network and the funding cuts. Let's be honest, the frequencies are only as high as they are because of the competition with the 163. Every 10 each down means a bus every 3 minutes. Down to every 12 mins each makes a bus every 4 minutes. It's a minimal change for passengers but a huge cost saving.

 

[northwichcat]

While TfGM are saying "Operator TBC" for the 280, Little Gem have listed it on their website as one of their new services, with timetable and fare information awaiting confirmation from TfGM. The same also applies for the 44, 84, 217, 280, 336, 337 and 389. But no mention of the 391 and 392 returning to their pre-driver shortages timetable.

Little Gem Bus Services | Little Gem

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

But no mention of the 391 and 392 returning to their pre-driver shortages timetable.

How many 391 services currently run through Kerridge these days?

 

[northwichcat]

How many 391 services currently run through Kerridge these days?

The 391 is every 3 hours currently, interworked with a 392 every 3 hours to provide a service every 90 minutes between Stockport and Macclesfield via Poynton.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The 130 service from Macclesfield run by D & G, according what I have just been told at the NHS clinic this morning is shortly changing route and not using the A555 fast road from Handforth to Manchester Airport and also will cease calling at Wythenshawe Hospital. From the Handforth Roundabout, it will proceed to Outwood Road in Heald Green to the village centre (same route as now taken in Heald Green by the 378 and 379 circulars) then via Finney Lane and Simonsway. Not been told where it then goes or its service frequency.

Anyone with any further information?

 

[jfollows]

The 130 service from Macclesfield run by D & G, according what I have just been told at the NHS clinic this morning is shortly changing route and not using the A555 fast road from Handforth to Manchester Airport and also will cease calling at Wythenshawe Hospital. From the Handforth Roundabout, it will proceed to Outwood Road in Heald Green to the village centre (same route as now taken in Heald Green by the 378 and 379 circulars) then via Finney Lane and Simonsway. Not been told where it then goes or its service frequency.

Anyone with any further information?

See posts starting #2,273 in the Cheshire Bus News thread, including links to new timetable at http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/130_2022-04-03.pdf

"Shortly" in your post means "from next Monday, April 3rd."

Also https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/public_transport/bus_service_changes.aspx: (finally, it took CEC a while to get round to it)

3 April 2022 - 130 Service change

Following a retendering exercise a new contract has been awarded to D &G Bus. The timetable and route within Manchester has been revised. D&G are producing a new leaflet which will be available shortly from local libraries. The new timetable is available on the D&G website for printing off.

EDIT I should add that I made some attempt to disseminate this information wider; it was reported at https://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/art...idy-to-200000-to-keep-130-bus-service-running on March 17th. for example, because I informed the editor of the Web site who was happy to go and get some background comment and publish. It took D&G a few days to update their timetable; CEC took many days if not weeks before they updated their "bus service changes" pages mentioned above. It's as if they don't want people to use bus services, isn't it? As always, the information on this forum was excellent, it's just that in this case it's in a different thread, but I think that discussions about the 130 bus service should be in the Cheshire Bus thread because it's a Cheshire bus that also happens (sometimes) to venture into a bit of Greater Manchester.

GMPTE/TfGM at https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/service-changes have updated their information now but it's a total mess. Try and work this out! It seems that the "From: 24 April" entries actually both link to the correct "From 3 April 2022" timetable at https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93...aa1e5a5c3ecb592b2980e08711/130_22-SC-0173.pdf



All that said, however, at the end of the day the bus operator, the funding council and the adjacent council have all updated their Web pages with information about the new timetable and route prior to its introduction. What more could they do, other than updating the information sooner rather than later? How else could they communicate this information in this day and age?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

See posts starting #2,273 in the Cheshire Bus News thread, including links to new timetable at http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/130_2022-04-03.pdf

"Shortly" in your post means "from next Monday, April 3rd."

Also https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/public_transport/bus_service_changes.aspx: (finally, it took CEC a while to get round to it)


EDIT I should add that I made some attempt to disseminate this information wider; it was reported at https://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/art...idy-to-200000-to-keep-130-bus-service-running on March 17th. for example, because I informed the editor of the Web site who was happy to go and get some background comment and publish. It took D&G a few days to update their timetable; CEC took many days if not weeks before they updated their "bus service changes" pages mentioned above. It's as if they don't want people to use bus services, isn't it? As always, the information on this forum was excellent, it's just that in this case it's in a different thread, but I think that discussions about the 130 bus service should be in the Cheshire Bus thread because it's a Cheshire bus that also happens (sometimes) to venture into a bit of Greater Manchester.

GMPTE/TfGM at https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/service-changes have updated their information now but it's a total mess. Try and work this out! It seems that the "From: 24 April" entries actually both link to the correct "From 3 April 2022" timetable at https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93...aa1e5a5c3ecb592b2980e08711/130_22-SC-0173.pdf
View attachment 112374
View attachment 112375

All that said, however, at the end of the day the bus operator, the funding council and the adjacent council have all updated their Web pages with information about the new timetable and route prior to its introduction. What more could they do, other than updating the information sooner rather than later? How else could they communicate this information in this day and age?

Thanks for the above. I feel that losing a link to Wythenshawe Hospital is a pity, as that hospital has far more major surgical and medical specialities than can be found found at Macclesfield Hospital, which is still served by the 130.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks for the above. I feel that losing a link to Wythenshawe Hospital is a pity, as that hospital has far more major surgical and medical specialities than can be found found at Macclesfield Hospital, which is still served by the 130.

Easy connection on the tram, though ("Roundthorn" appears to be the nearest stop, very surprised it doesn't have a "for Wythenshawe Hospital" suffix). We do need to be thinking about the transport system much more than we do.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Easy connection on the tram, though ("Roundthorn" appears to be the nearest stop, very surprised it doesn't have a "for Wythenshawe Hospital" suffix). We do need to be thinking about the transport system much more than we do.

How on earth do you get from Macclesfield to the "Roundthorn" tram stop?

 

[Bletchleyite]

How on earth do you get from Macclesfield to the "Roundthorn" tram stop?

You have a number of options, such as:
1. Train to Piccadilly, tram to Roundthorn, or train to Piccadilly then the Airport and tram from there
2. 130 to an interchange with Metrolink (several are shown on the route map you linked above), then tram
3. Train to Stockport and then bus 11 to the hospital (I didn't think of this one but Google did)

Most of them seem to take somewhere around 90 minutes.

The fastest (even faster than the 130 is now) is actually a bizarre one - 1 hour and 9 minutes - train to Cheadle Hulme, bus to Wythenshawe bus station, thence another bus to the hospital, though that one sounds like a lot of faff.

 

[py_megapixel]

The fastest (even faster than the 130 is now) is actually a bizarre one - 1 hour and 9 minutes - train to Cheadle Hulme, bus to Wythenshawe bus station, thence another bus to the hospital, though that one sounds like a lot of faff.

It's a lot of faff, because the Wythenshawe bus (368) doesn't actually go past Cheadle Hulme station. It serves another road about 5-10 mins walk away, isn't signposted at all, and no form of through ticketing is available whatsoever. Same with changing at Stockport for bus 11. And also, whether you change at Cheadle Hulme or Stockport, there's a walk down a steep hill, so good luck if you have limited mobility.

You could almost certainly save some time on that routing by changing at Peel Hall for the tram to Roundthorn, rather than going to the Interchange and getting another bus. But again no through ticketing is available from Stagecoach buses to TfGM trams, so nobody will actually do that.

Don't you just love the wonderful unified, integrated public transport network in this country?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's a lot of faff, because the Wythenshawe bus (368) doesn't actually go past Cheadle Hulme station. It serves another road about 5-10 mins walk away, isn't signposted at all, and no form of through ticketing is available whatsoever. Same with changing at Stockport for bus 11.

You could almost certainly save some time on that routing by changing at Peel Hall for the tram to Roundthorn, rather than going to the Interchange and getting another bus. But again no through ticketing is available from Stagecoach buses to TfGM trams.

Don't you just love the wonderful unified, integrated public transport network in this country?

Quite. It does seem that this journey would work fairly well if a German Verbund style structure was applied to it, though admittedly there's a fair chance Macclesfield would be out of the area, but then potentially you could buy a Macclesfield to GM Zone 4 ticket (or whatever) just as you can into London.

At least I believe Burnham does plan bus<->tram through ticketing.