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

[Y961 XBU]

worth noting is Wigan Coachways are going to operate a trip or 2 on the 715 service Wigan - Bolton.

 

[thealexweb]

worth noting is Wigan Coachways are going to operate a trip or 2 on the 715 service Wigan - Bolton.

Is Arriva abandoning the 715 completely now then? I note it doesn't mention Arriva North West at all. Only South Lancs Travel and Wigan Coachways.

 

[Y961 XBU]

Arriva still operate an Hourly 7 Day service on the 715 mate

http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/715.pdf

 

[thealexweb]

Arriva still operate an Hourly 7 Day service on the 715 mate

http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/715.pdf

Sorry I meant from the 1st of September, see 715 listed here http://www.tfgm.com/buses/pages/service_changes.aspx

 

[Y961 XBU]

its only SLT and Wigan Coachways trips changing on that date so it will not mention Arriva's Service

 

[thealexweb]

its only SLT and Wigan Coachways trips changing on that date so it will not mention Arriva's Service

Oh right okay. I thought it was listing the future providers.

 

[Shrimper]

Looks like the tendered 16 journeys are going the same way as the commercial ones; not particularly surprising.

The 99 moves to Goodwins from First.

 

[northwichcat]

The M Travel routes around Altrincham are to transfer to Belle Vue. Is that due to a takeover or are Belle Vue just picking up the routes which M Travel have cancelled?

 

[BurtonM]

JPT are no more - their routes are going over to Stagecoach's licence. Don't know when though.

 

[northwichcat]

JPT are no more - their routes are going over to Stagecoach's licence. Don't know when though.

JPT were purchased by Stagecoach in April: http://mancunian1001.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/jpt-rip-middleton-bus-company-ceases-operations/

 

[Amberley54]

The M Travel routes around Altrincham are to transfer to Belle Vue. Is that due to a takeover or are Belle Vue just picking up the routes which M Travel have cancelled?

Tender wins for Belle View?

 

[Jeni]

The 191 extensions to Hazel Grove started this week bringing a useful few extra buses down here at peak times. I feel like this is only putting a plaster on the problem though.

What is really needed is a limited stop service to bring down the journey time, especially with the new park and ride opening soon. The current 192 at peak times can sometimes take up to 90 mins to get into Manchester, mostly being caused by having to stop at practically every stop!

I do think that extending the 42s to Hazel Grove from Stockport would be more useful though, if you stand in Mersey Square when a 42 comes in, it's interesting how many people walk straight over to the 192 stop!

Yes, there is a rail service paralleling the 192 for it's entire route, but it's not suitable for everyone and a fairly large amount of people travel longer distances on the 192.

 

[radamfi]

There used to be a fairly comprehensive network of limited stop services across GM, although not on the 192 route. They tend not to be commercially viable in dense urban areas where the buses have to travel on local roads as they carry fewer passengers than stopping buses and they don't save many vehicles. Where buses can use motorways or dual carriageways they tend to be more successful as they save a lot of buses due to the higher speeds.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

hock:hock:

The 191 extensions to Hazel Grove started this week bringing a useful few extra buses down here at peak times. I feel like this is only putting a plaster on the problem though.

What is really needed is a limited stop service to bring down the journey time, especially with the new park and ride opening soon. The current 192 at peak times can sometimes take up to 90 mins to get into Manchester, mostly being caused by having to stop at practically every stop!

I do think that extending the 42s to Hazel Grove from Stockport would be more useful though, if you stand in Mersey Square when a 42 comes in, it's interesting how many people walk straight over to the 192 stop!

Yes, there is a rail service paralleling the 192 for it's entire route, but it's not suitable for everyone and a fairly large amount of people travel longer distances on the 192.

Jeni, even MORE buses to Hazel Grove...hock:

Has that settlement not already got a service frequency that other areas would wish to have ?

 

[Deerfold]

hock:hock:

Jeni, even MORE buses to Hazel Grove...hock:

Has that settlement not already got a service frequency that other areas would wish to have ?

It's not got as many as it used to. It now only has lots of buses rather than ridiculous numbers of buses. It is now one of three destinations for the 192 rather than the end point for most of them.

 

[Jeni]

hock:hock:

Jeni, even MORE buses to Hazel Grove...hock:

Has that settlement not already got a service frequency that other areas would wish to have ?

There is only a 192 every 10 mins down this way, and they are very susceptible to delays, it's not *that* uncommon to wait up to 30 mins for a Hazel Grove one to turn up at peak times. Stagecoach have inspectors all over the route, but it seems like they are only interested in ensuring a frequent service over the core, ignoring the extremities!

The big problem is not that everyone needs to go to Hazel Grove, but the buses very quickly fill up with people *not* going to Hazel Grove that could get the short workings just as easily. If the 192's that travel the full route were to be limited stop, it would help those of us on the extremities by pushing those that don't *need* to be on that particular bus onto more suitable services.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that Rosso who introduced a single one-way journey at 0725 on service 274 from Bolton to Rawtenstall, via Haslingden on 31st August have decided not to keep that new service running and will withdraw it on 26th October.

 

[Y961 XBU]

I see that Rosso who introduced a single one-way journey at 0725 on service 274 from Bolton to Rawtenstall, via Haslingden on 31st August have decided not to keep that new service running and will withdraw it on 26th October.

Almost all the 273 service is also getting withdrawn aswell, theres been a kick of over it aswell with an MP leading a Campaign to try and save the service (dont think he will get anywhere tho)

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news..._over_plans_to_axe_Bolton_to_Rawtenstall_bus/

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Almost all the 273 service is also getting withdrawn as well. There's been a kick of over it as well with an MP leading a Campaign to try and save the service (dont think he will get anywhere tho)

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news..._over_plans_to_axe_Bolton_to_Rawtenstall_bus/

Whilst not exactly covering the whole of the 273 route but more of its eastern portion, on the 26th October, Boomerang Travel (now that's a name to make you sit up) will be introducing their new service 6 on Monday to Saturday daytimes that will run Ramsbottom - Edenfield - Rawtenstall

 

[Deerfold]

Whilst not exactly covering the whole of the 273 route but more of its eastern portion, on the 26th October, Boomerang Travel (now that's a name to make you sit up) will be introducing their new service 6 on Monday to Saturday daytimes that will run Ramsbottom - Edenfield - Rawtenstall

Presumably there's few worries about getting home again with them.

 

[northwichcat]

The GHA Coaches 88 service between Knutsford and Altrincham via Wilmslow will go half-hourly (Mon-Sat) from 27th October. While this has been mentioned in the Cheshire East thread the 88 bus serves Greater Manchester as well.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The GHA Coaches 88 service between Knutsford and Altrincham via Wilmslow will go half-hourly (Mon-Sat) from 27th October. While this has been mentioned in the Cheshire East thread the 88 bus serves Greater Manchester as well.

Excellent news....this should be received well by the users of this service, coupled with the news of the new call into Wilmslow railway station.

 

[radamfi]

The GHA Coaches 88 service between Knutsford and Altrincham via Wilmslow will go half-hourly (Mon-Sat) from 27th October. While this has been mentioned in the Cheshire East thread the 88 bus serves Greater Manchester as well.

Is the 88 a commercial route?

 

[northwichcat]

Is the 88 a commercial route?

No. A new 5 year contract was awarded earlier in the year which reduced the subsidy significantly by £364,000 over 5 years compared to the value of the previous contract held by Vale Travel (a GHA Coaches subsidiary.)

When the contract was awarded a council spokesperson told the Knutsford Guardian

"The council has recently retendered the Knutsford to Altrincham service, recognising that this valuable and relatively well-used service is vital to Knutsford connectivity.

This contract has been awarded to GHA Coaches, who are the parent company of Vale Travel, the current operators of the service. The tender process has resulted in a significant saving to the taxpayer and results from the work undertaken by the current operator to build passenger numbers and reduce the level of subsidy required.

The council is optimistic that this positive trend will continue. Passengers can be reassured that there are no current changes to the timetable or route, although there may be positive changes to the timetable if the current rate of growth of passengers continues."

I'm not sure if the subsidy is just from Cheshire East council or whether it's from both Cheshire East and TfGM with the contract being awarded by Cheshire East.

 

[radamfi]

I'm not sure if the subsidy is just from Cheshire East council or whether it's from both Cheshire East and TfGM with the contract being awarded by Cheshire East.

TfGM don't seem to subsidise cross-boundary services if most of the route within GM is covered by other routes, which would appear to be the case with the 88, as it duplicates the 18 between Altrincham and the M56.

It is possible for the operator to operate additional journeys commercially, but given what you've written it would appear that the council were already considering a possible increase in frequency.

 

[northwichcat]

TfGM don't seem to subsidise cross-boundary services if most of the route within GM is covered by other routes, which would appear to be the case with the 88, as it duplicates the 18 between Altrincham and the M56.

There are exceptions to that. They do subside the 5 and 35 services between Altrincham and the Greater Manchester border now that the commercial Warrington Coachways services between Altrincham and Warrington have gone. The limited 289 service between Altrincham and Northwich duplicates the 35 service within Greater Manchester.

It is possible for the operator to operate additional journeys commercially, but given what you've written it would appear that the council were already considering a possible increase in frequency.

It could have been the winning bid by GHA Coaches included an option for a service frequency enhancement if passengers exceeded a certain level. The ITT did allow some different options - while the winning bid kept the Knutsford-Wilmslow-Altrincham through service (as it has been for years) operators were allowed to propose splitting the service at Wilmslow.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

TfGM don't seem to subsidise cross-boundary services if most of the route within GM is covered by other routes, which would appear to be the case with the 88, as it duplicates the 18 between Altrincham and the M56.

One might also draw attention to the cross-boundary actions that were taken by Derbyshire County Council in the Glossop area not all those many months ago.

 

[northwichcat]

GHA Coaches are going to introduce 4 new route branded Enviro 200 buses used on the 88 service which will have leather seats and wi-fi.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

GHA Coaches are going to introduce 4 new route branded Enviro 200 buses used on the 88 service which will have leather seats and wi-fi.

Wouldn't it be nice if they gave them "names" like they do with railway locomotives. Can I suggest:-
Bollington
Prestbury
Wilmslow
Alderley Edge

 

[Greybeard33]

There are exceptions to that. They do subside the 5 and 35 services between Altrincham and the Greater Manchester border now that the commercial Warrington Coachways services between Altrincham and Warrington have gone. The limited 289 service between Altrincham and Northwich duplicates the 35 service within Greater Manchester.

In fact the 289 does not entirely duplicate the 35 within Greater Manchester. Since the demise of Warrington Coachways' 38, the 289 is the only service that is routed through Bowdon Village via The Downs and The Firs and stops at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. The 5, 35 and 246 all go via Ashley Road and Langham Road. The 35 and 289 share a route only along Park Road and Dunham Road to the county boundary.