Manchester Buses

We're back and we've moved!

First of all, my sincere apologies for having abandoned this blog. The past 8 months have been incredibly busy for me and writing this blog just slipped... and slipped... and slipped some more. I really should have at least replied to people in the comments who asked what was happening. Again, my humble apologies.

Now the good news - we're back and we've moved! Head over to Manchester Transport for a brand new blog with more than one writer which should mean we don't disappear again! Yes, long-time Manchester Buses reader James McCollom has joined me in running the new blog.

See you there!

Martin Bryant

Editor, Manchester Buses.

Heavy snow causes pre-Christmas bus chaos

When Bing Crosby dreamed of a white Christmas he didn't factor in the chaos it would cause to bus services.

Greater Manchester's bus services have been in a pretty shoddy state over recent days. Many services in the hills and ungritted estates saw diversions and cancellations. The Manchester Evening News listed the cancellations on Tuesday.

Since then, further heavy snow around the region has added to the misery with some areas like Langley near Middleton seeing a patchy service.

The Manchester Evening News really has been providing a sterling service in spreading news about delays. The paper's Dean Kirby has been offering frequent updates via his Twitter account.

Most services are now back to normal but disruption continues in some outlying areas.

Merry Christmas from Manchester Buses - thanks for your support this year. Posts have been infrequent at times and for that we can only apologise. This site still gets a decent amount of traffic and interest so we will continue to post bus news from around Greater Manchester.

If you would like to join our writing team to improve the frequency and variety of our posts get in touch for more information.

[Image credit: Smabs Sputzer on Flickr]

How to complain about bus services in Greater Manchester

We occasionally receive emails here at Manchester Buses from passengers at their wits' end. They have complained to their service's operator about a problem and yet it persists.

The latest email came from someone frustrated at the unreliability of First's daytime 33 service (Worsley - Manchester). Although the servcie supposedly runs at a frequency of every 15 minutes, she regularly has waits of up to an hour.

She has complained to the Network Manager at First's Queens Road depot who assured her the service would improve but she is yet to see that promise that come true. So, what can she do?

The Bus Appeals Body would be a good place to start. This body is set up to deal with complaints about bus services in England and Wales (except London). As long as you've given the operator you're complaining about a chance to respond to your complaint, this body will help resolve the problem if you're still dissatisfied.

Do you have any other tips for resolving complaints about bus services? Leave a comment to help our readers.

[Image credit: Ingy the Wingy]

The saga continues: Stockport - Sale service coming after all? Also, JPT expands again

 A quick recap: first there was a plan to divert service 370 to run between Stockport and Sale. Then the plan was off. Then there was a chance it was back on. Now it looks like a dead cert... kind of.

Looks like the Stockport to Sale route will be on after all. Regular Manchester Buses reader Shaun has spotted a listing on the VOSA website. Stagecoach is launching a new service X5 from Stockport to Sale in January.

The route isn't described so that's anyone's guess. As it's a limited stop service we'd guess that it's the most direct route: Edgeley, Cheadle, Gatley, Sharston, Baguely and Brooklands. That said, according to comments on previous posts here there's demand for a service connecting Heaton Mersey with Sale Grammar School, so we'll just have to wait and see what emerges.

In other news, JPT has recently announced yet more new journeys on a number of routes. These include Friday and Saturday late-night journeys on services 118 and 135 (with service 118 running via its daytime route as far as Moston before extending to Oldham. JPT also has Friday and Saturday evening journeys on service 77 (Manchester - Moston) and a single Saturday morning journey on service 86 (Chorlton - Manchester). There are extra journeys on service 17 and a revised route on the late-night Friday and Saturday journeys.

JPT has a scattergun approach to expansion but at least it stops larger rivals engaging in a UK North-style bus war with them.

[Image credit: Ingy the Wingy]

Metroshuttle getting busier - Use up 14% this year

If, like us, you frequently use the free Manchester Metroshuttle services you'll have noticed how much busier they seem to be these days. It's not just your imagination - use of the three city centre circulars has increased by 14% in the past year.

The 1 and 2 services saw reasonable growth at 12% but service 3 is the real star in new figures published by GMITA - it's up an astounding 22% on last year.

The increases come despite delays suffered due to water pipe renewal works and the Metrolink track replacement programme.

As the graph below shows, the recently launched Bolton and Stockport Metroshuttles are also growing nicely. Recent dips on the 1 and 3 are likely to be nothing more than a summer lull - the overall trend is up.

If you thought the recession might see these free buses being cut - that seems highly unlikely looking at these numbers. The Metroshuttles have become a key part of the city's infrastructure - long may they continue. The full GMITA report can be downloaded here.

 

The 370 to Sale - still a possibility?

So, first GMPTE planned to reroute the 370 (Stockport - Altrincham) to Sale as part of a programme to improve the region's orbital links. Then the move was cancelled. What's going on? We've just heard this from GMPTE:

"We have deferred the implementation of the 370 service subject to a review and will be reporting to members of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority on the matter shortly."

So, there's life in the idea yet. We'll keep you updated.

Rochdale's new Interchange revealed (Updated)

Here's a first look at plans for Rochdale's new transport Interchange. The new facility will be on Smith Street, next to the River Roch and is lightyears ahead of the current concrete monstrosity.

While originally intended to serve Metrolink trams as well as buses, the interchange became bus only when funds to extend the currently in-development Rochdale and Oldham line beyond Rochdale rail station could not be found.

No word on when the new Interchange will be built but the plans include a shop, a Travelshop, toilets, bus operator and supervisor facilities, as well as electronic passenger information displays.

Look wise, it's no major departure from recent GMPTE bus station designs, such as Shudehill Interchange, Middleton and Hyde. Still, we're sure the people of Rochdale will appreciate not having to enter a concrete hell-hole in order to catch a bus, as they do right now.

UPDATE: We've just heard this from GMPTE:

Subject to planning permission being granted early next year, work should start on site in autumn next year and construction should take around 15 months (so it should open early 2012).

 

The interchange will be next to the proposed town centre Metrolink stop (for which outline planning permission has been granted). Funding for the Metrolink line to Rochdale town centre has been earmarked via the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, a £1.5bn 10-year investment programme agreed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities in May this year. The fund covers 15 major transport schemes and a delivery programme, which will outline when work could start on each scheme, is being finalised.

 

Stagecoach unveils X50 route branding

Look what just dropped into our mailbox - a picture of what Stagecoach's new X50, due to start on Sunday, will look like.

The express service running between Piccadilly and the Trafford Centre should be a hit with passengers unhappy with the amount of time Stagecoach's 250 service takes to complete its journey. City centre links ot the Trafford Centre have improved significantly recently. With improvements to First's 100, the launch of the 110, extra journeys on the 250 and now the X50, there won't be much waiting around to start your gift shopping this Christmas.

Catching the 370 to Sale? Not so fast!

On Saturday we reported about a forthcoming change to service 370 (Stockport - Altrincham) that would see the service rerouted to Sale. It appears now that the change, due to be introduced at the end of the month, may not happen at all.

As some of our readers have noticed, Stagecoach Manchester's service changes site now states: "This service will continue to run along its existing route to a new timetable. Further details will be published when received from GMPTE."

The change in route to the 370 was intended to improve links with Sale as part of a GMPTE programme to improve orbital bus services in the region. So, why has GMPTE called off the change? It would certainly remove a direct link to Altrincham from Heaton Mersey and Didsbury and would mean a poorer link from Northenden.

We've asked GMPTE for an explanation and we'll let you know as soon as we get it.

What Stagecoach is telling its overweight employees

An article in the Manchester Evening News last week reported that Stagecoach Manchester drivers have been given a 23 stone weight limit for health and safety reasons.

From the article:

"(Stagecoach) says it would be extremely rare for any of the drivers in its fleet to exceed the limits.

But the ruling has been described as blatant discrimination by one driver, who claims he was ordered to 'go to Tesco' and get weighed.

The driver, who has asked not to be named, claims he was also told he could not get behind the wheel until he had shed some pounds. He said the letter advised drivers who are 20 stone to see their doctor and those over 23 stone not to drive the buses.

He said: "I've been a driver for years. It's so embarrassing to be called into the office and to be told to go to the local supermarket to get weighed. Then to be told I am too fat to drive a bus is ridiculous. They are just discriminating against people who are overweight."

We've managed to get hold of a scan of Stagecoach's letter which reveals that the driver seats on Optare Solos and Optare Versas is 20 stone, while Alexander Dennis vehicles have a 23 stone limit.

As you'll see, Stagecoach is actually dealing with the issue quite sensitively, offer drivers to be allocated vehicles they are safe to drive while the get in shape. That said, if drivers feel they are being treated badly there could be a problem with some of the company's line managers' approach to the issue.