A huge number of timetable changes have been announced for the end of the month and the big changes are coming to south Manchester and Trafford.
Following on from their taking over R. Bullock's bus operation, Stagecoach Manchester are obviously trying to put the squeeze on their last main competitor on Wilmslow Road, Finglands. They're expanding their Magic Bus operation on the corridor to include the 46/47 Southern Cemetery circulars. They'll be renumbered 146 and 147 and will also be rerouted between Chorlton and Hulme to run via Upper Chorlton Road. This leaves Arriva's service 16 as the only service remaining on Withington Road and Yarburgh Street in Whalley Range. Stagecoach are als increasing the number of 142/143 Magic Bus services in the early morning. This will put a greater squeeze on Finglands. It'll be interesting to see how they react.
Meanwhile in Trafford, many Arriva services are getting reshuffled. Arriva are withdrawing the 281 (Altrincham - Timperley Grange circular). This has forced GMPTE to step in with money to fund a new service 21 which will serve Timperley Grange, Timperley, Altrincham, Hale and Hale Barns. Who's got the contract for this service? Er, Arriva. Yes once again an operator drops a commercial service and then takes public money to run a replacement.
Arriva are also cutting service 20 (Bowdon Vale - Well Green) to run Bowdon Vale to Broomwood only and cutting service 266 (Altrincham - Ashton-upon-Mersey) and 267 (Altrincham - Partington) to both run Altrincham - Sale only. Replacement routes from Sale to Ashton-upon-Mersey (new services 261 and 262) and Sale to Partington (new services 252 and 260) are being introduced.
Up in north Manchester Bluebird is withdrawing their 62/162 Middleton/North Manchester General Hospital circular services. Service 115 is being extended beyond Middleton to White Moss to partially replace them.
Staying in the north, First are cutting their 58 Trafford Centre - Rochdale service in two. The Trafford Centre - Oldham section will now be covered by new Saturday-only service 57, while the 58 will overlap with it, running Middleton - Rochdale via Oldham. First are rerouting service 59 (Manchester - Rushcroft) to run via Strangeways and Waterloo Road, instead of direct via Cheetham Hill Road. This could be a smart move, giving the Strangeways are a better service. Cheetham Hill Road is still generously served by frequent service 135.
[Image credit: GeneHunt on Flickr]
Bus 35 to cheetham hill it too expensive, it needs competitors
Posted by: Nadee | December 11, 2008 at 05:58 PM