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I would imagine the metroshuttle budget to be quite high given it's using fair new optare versas & the electric variants too.

The traffic down by MOSI doesn't seem that bad now tbh, stopping directly outside oxford rd was impossible before the routes changed due to the number of cars/cabs etc always blocking the turning circle. However the oxford rd/university bit (round the back of oxford road) seemed quite well used which IMHO should be re-instated.

Also a few people said it'd be a good idea if a metroshuttle could run out to salford crescent station so people could connect with the salford quays link 9 bus. Then it's only £1 each way out to the quays from there. Fair sight cheaper than using normal buses or the trams.

(03/07/2017 11:48)33109 Wrote: [ -> ]I would imagine the metroshuttle budget to be quite high given it's using fair new optare versas & the electric variants too.

The traffic down by MOSI doesn't seem that bad now tbh, stopping directly outside oxford rd was impossible before the routes changed due to the number of cars/cabs etc always blocking the turning circle. However the oxford rd/university bit (round the back of oxford road) seemed quite well used which IMHO should be re-instated.

Also a few people said it'd be a good idea if a metroshuttle could run out to salford crescent station so people could connect with the salford quays link 9 bus. Then it's only £1 each way out to the quays from there. Fair sight cheaper than using normal buses or the trams.

The Salford Quays link hasn't ran for a few years now. If I remember rightly, when Stagecoach extended the 50 to MediaCityUK

67406 has had its first stint on the ipswich park and ride today, still in the olympia livery. It's still got its orange LED destination compared to the park and ride branded ones which have a white destination

(03/07/2017 12:13)Solo40336 Wrote: [ -> ]The Salford Quays link hasn't ran for a few years now. If I remember rightly, when Stagecoach extended the 50 to MediaCityUK

That's correct - and the 9 never went to Salford Central, only Salford Crescent in order to tie up with the two Salford University campuses. In effect, the 50 was a commercial response at the time of retendering, as Stagecoach saw the potential of running the cross-city service.

First changes for September have appeared on the Vehicle Operator Licensing website (formerly VOSA). It looks like that the 162/163 will be replaced by new services 19 and X63, while the 519/520 changes will see the 520 withdrawn and the 571/572 restored between Bolton and Great Lever. There are also cancellations for services 408, 451, 462 and 533.

From the website:

PC0003680/436 Registered
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Manchester Shudehill Bus Station to Rochdale Bus Station via Middleton
Service number: 17 (17A, 18, 19)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 03 Sep 2017
Vary route and Timetable

PC0003680/962 Registered
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Heywood Centre to Manchester, Shudehill Interchange via Heywood, Middleton, Blackley
Service number: X63
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 03 Sep 2017
Monday to Friday, morning journeys from Heywood to Manchester and evening journeys from Manchester to Heywood.

PC0003680/162 Registered
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Johnson Fold to Bolton, Moor Lane Bus Station
Service number: 519
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 03 Sep 2017
Vary route and timetable due to opening of Bolton Interchange and the remval of service 520.

PC0003680/963 Registered
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Bolton, Moor Lane Bus Station to Bolton, Moor Lane Bus Station via Lever Edge
Service number: 571 (572)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 03 Sep 2017
Monday to Sunday

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...es/browse/

(12/07/2017 19:31)SF07 Wrote: [ -> ]There are also cancellations for services 408, 451, 462 and 533.

The latter three are contract changes, I believe brought forward from October service change date. Vision will be running 533, would guess at Stotts for 451/462.

Seems unreported on here, but 66983 has now been painted into Olympia. Read on flickr that it could be out on Monday

(13/07/2017 19:20)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]I have not seen any summary of First's changes, and no reference to 162/163 at all. However, I have seen the 17/18/19 (which is effectively just a further cut to the 18) and am not sure why you would think the 163 in particular would be withdrawn. I know one of the arguments TFGM/C are using for franchising is the continuing erosion of services in low car ownership areas outside Manchester (and Salford), but even with that in mind, leaving an overspill estate the size of Darn Hill completely without buses (nearest would be 461), would be a major shock.

Most of my family live with-in the Bury & Middleton areas, and are frequent users of the 163, as none of them can drive.

A petition has been created for the saving of the 519, after both first and tfgm confirmed that there was a proposal to scrap the 519/20 and have service 501 serve Johnson fold estate. the only bus then running down chorley old road would be the stagecoach 125...
Link to the petition: https://www.change.org/p/phil-medicott-m...responsive

Also, thanks to 'In The Fold' on twitter, here is a screenshot of what First had got to say about this :

(14/07/2017 19:45)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]Surely, the fares quoted on the petition aren't correct! £1.30 for a £3+ mile journey. Stagecoach Manchester charge £2.90 for the same distance - and that's taken from an example route that as butchered in January 2015, runs close to capacity throughout the peak and punctuality is appalling. No wonder First need to cut the service.

It was only 2 years ago when the fare was £1 from Johnson Fold to Bolton, then it changed when single fares started to increase.