Service changes for July officially confirms withdrawal of service 346 (V3 also mentioned but website seems to apply it's for the summer holidays only and not permanent).
Also mentioned is a reduction of journeys on the 81/81A between Moston and Manchester.
https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-manch...ce-changes
Could anyone tell me which routes are operated by Oldham depot please?
It also seems the training school will also transfer from Bolton to Rusholme or whats left of it.
So this will be the set up of Major Operators in North Manchester
Bolton Depot - Rotala - Town Services, Services between Wigan & Bolton, Leigh & Bolton and Bolton, Bury & Rochdale, Manchester and Bolton and Bury and Manchester via Middleton. Plus Bury town services to Ramsbottom.
Oldham Depot - FirstGroup - Oldham area town services, Rochdale to Ashton, Oldham to Manchester and Huddersfield. Oldham to Middleton.
Rusholme Depot - FirstGroup - Vantage services to Leigh and Atherton from Manchester and Manchester Royal Infirmary plus driver training unit for First Manchester staff only.
Cheetham Hill Depot - Go North West - North Manchester area services, plus services to Sale, Warrington the Trafford Centre,Eccles, Worsley, Caddishead, Rochdale and Bury.
Atherton Depot - Rotala - Services within Wigan and Leigh and services to the Trafford Centre and services between Little Hulton, Swinton and Manchester.
Eccles Depot - Rotala - Services around Sale and Altrincham and to Manchester plus services in Eccles and Worsley and Boothstown.
Wigan Depot - Stagecoach - Services between Wigan and Leigh and Wigan and Bolton and Leigh and Manchester not via the Busway and also town services within Wigan.
Hyde Road Depot and Sharston Depot - Stagecoach - (sub) - North Operations only - Services between Didsbury and Salford Quays via the City Centre
and The City Centre and Little Hulton (Business Park - Amazon Warehouse) via Salford, Swinton and Walkden.
Bolton Depot - Arriva - Town services within Bolton, services between Bolton and Bury, Wigan and Chorley, Bolton and Wigan and services between Glaze Estate - Eccles and Manchester.
St Helens Depot - Arriva - Services from St Helen's to Leigh and Wigan and between Wigan and Warrington, and Wigan and Skelmersdale.
Southport Depot - Arriva - Services from Southport and Skelmersdale to Wigan.
Preston depot and Chorley outstation - Stagecoach - Services between Preston, Chorley and Bolton and Preston and Wigan.
Blackburn Depot - Transdev - Services to Bolton from Blackburn and services to Rochdale and Bury from Blackburn, plus Lancashire Way Services.
Rochdale Depot - Transdev - Services within Rochdale, Middleton and Bury as well as services to Rawtenstall.
Burnley Depot - Transdev - Witchway Services plus services between Burnley and Bury.
Todmorden Outstation and Halifax Depot - FirstGroup - Services from Rochdale to Burnley, Todmorden and Halifax.
Less simple than 1985 when we had
Wigan - Greater Manchester Transport
Wigan - Ribble
Hindley - Greater Manchester Transport
Leigh - Greater Manchester Transport
Atherton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bolton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bury - Greater Manchester Transport
Rochdale - Greater Manchester Transport
Oldham - Greater Manchester Transport
Queens Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Frederick Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Weaste - Greater Manchester Transport
Swinton - Greater Manchester Transport
It seems Bolton Depot were having problems yesterday as a number of routes had services missing during the day yesterday and also allegedly a number of drivers from Oldham Depot were sent over to cover due to driver shortages.
Whether this is a sign of things to come with drivers at Bolton unhappy about the Rotala take over remains to be seen but its the first time for a while I've seen on Firsts twitter account them announcing that certain services won't be operating due to unforseen circumstances and there were quite a few yesterday morning.
(02/07/2019 20:36)gilesbus1 Wrote: [ -> ]It also seems the training school will also transfer from Bolton to Rusholme or whats left of it.
So this will be the set up of Major Operators in North Manchester
Bolton Depot - Rotala - Town Services, Services between Wigan & Bolton, Leigh & Bolton and Bolton, Bury & Rochdale, Manchester and Bolton and Bury and Manchester via Middleton. Plus Bury town services to Ramsbottom.
Oldham Depot - FirstGroup - Oldham area town services, Rochdale to Ashton, Oldham to Manchester and Huddersfield. Oldham to Middleton.
Rusholme Depot - FirstGroup - Vantage services to Leigh and Atherton from Manchester and Manchester Royal Infirmary plus driver training unit for First Manchester staff only.
Cheetham Hill Depot - Go North West - North Manchester area services, plus services to Sale, Warrington the Trafford Centre,Eccles, Worsley, Caddishead, Rochdale and Bury.
Atherton Depot - Rotala - Services within Wigan and Leigh and services to the Trafford Centre and services between Little Hulton, Swinton and Manchester.
Eccles Depot - Rotala - Services around Sale and Altrincham and to Manchester plus services in Eccles and Worsley and Boothstown.
Wigan Depot - Stagecoach - Services between Wigan and Leigh and Wigan and Bolton and Leigh and Manchester not via the Busway and also town services within Wigan.
Hyde Road Depot and Sharston Depot - Stagecoach - (sub) - North Operations only - Services between Didsbury and Salford Quays via the City Centre
and The City Centre and Little Hulton (Business Park - Amazon Warehouse) via Salford, Swinton and Walkden.
Bolton Depot - Arriva - Town services within Bolton, services between Bolton and Bury, Wigan and Chorley, Bolton and Wigan and services between Glaze Estate - Eccles and Manchester.
St Helens Depot - Arriva - Services from St Helen's to Leigh and Wigan and between Wigan and Warrington, and Wigan and Skelmersdale.
Southport Depot - Arriva - Services from Southport and Skelmersdale to Wigan.
Preston depot and Chorley outstation - Stagecoach - Services between Preston, Chorley and Bolton and Preston and Wigan.
Blackburn Depot - Transdev - Services to Bolton from Blackburn and services to Rochdale and Bury from Blackburn, plus Lancashire Way Services.
Rochdale Depot - Transdev - Services within Rochdale, Middleton and Bury as well as services to Rawtenstall.
Burnley Depot - Transdev - Witchway Services plus services between Burnley and Bury.
Todmorden Outstation and Halifax Depot - FirstGroup - Services from Rochdale to Burnley, Todmorden and Halifax.
Less simple than 1985 when we had
Wigan - Greater Manchester Transport
Wigan - Ribble
Hindley - Greater Manchester Transport
Leigh - Greater Manchester Transport
Atherton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bolton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bury - Greater Manchester Transport
Rochdale - Greater Manchester Transport
Oldham - Greater Manchester Transport
Queens Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Frederick Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Weaste - Greater Manchester Transport
Swinton - Greater Manchester Transport
From an enthusiasts point of view, I like the variety of liveries and rolling stock. Also quality of rolling stock (well most of it) is better than in GMB days. Of course, due to the metro and increased car ownership and more pollution, there is much less bus travel. Sadly, cross city services have virtually disappeared too. Hope the demise of First leads to an increase in quality on their previous operations.
Does anyone get the impression that Oldham is slowly being allowed to wind down (346, 415 stopping and now 81& 81a reductions)?
(29/06/2019 10:02)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]As Andy Burnham has now stated a desire to go to franchising, this could influence which operators are keenest to buy First Oldham. As well as Go-Ahead and Rotala, I wonder whether RATP, owners of Selwyns, could be interested? They have National Express contracts, isolated bus tenders in the North West, many bus tenders in west London and commercial buses in Bournemouth among other operations.
Reported in today's "Coach and Bus Weekly" that RATP have sold Bournemouth Yellow Bus to its management. Maybe there could be an intention to invest some of the proceeds in the north west operation....
(03/07/2019 08:18)EDB325 Wrote: [ -> ]Reported in today's "Coach and Bus Weekly" that RATP have sold Bournemouth Yellow Bus to its management. Maybe there could be an intention to invest some of the proceeds in the north west operation....
Seems unlikely as RATP’s statement mentions concentrating on London and coach and sightseeing operations elsewhere
(03/07/2019 08:43)Rodney259 Wrote: [ -> ]Seems unlikely as RATP’s statement mentions concentrating on London and coach and sightseeing operations elsewhere
Also would they want to compete with Metro link which they also operate.
(03/07/2019 10:12)St Helens Rider Wrote: [ -> ]Also would they want to compete with Metro link which they also operate.
Did now run by Keolis/Amey and Keolis is tempted to go for arriva. But when they had the trams they did say they wanted in on Manchester if we ended up with London System
(02/07/2019 20:36)gilesbus1 Wrote: [ -> ]It also seems the training school will also transfer from Bolton to Rusholme or whats left of it.
So this will be the set up of Major Operators in North Manchester
Bolton Depot - Rotala - Town Services, Services between Wigan & Bolton, Leigh & Bolton and Bolton, Bury & Rochdale, Manchester and Bolton and Bury and Manchester via Middleton. Plus Bury town services to Ramsbottom.
Oldham Depot - FirstGroup - Oldham area town services, Rochdale to Ashton, Oldham to Manchester and Huddersfield. Oldham to Middleton.
Rusholme Depot - FirstGroup - Vantage services to Leigh and Atherton from Manchester and Manchester Royal Infirmary plus driver training unit for First Manchester staff only.
Cheetham Hill Depot - Go North West - North Manchester area services, plus services to Sale, Warrington the Trafford Centre,Eccles, Worsley, Caddishead, Rochdale and Bury.
Atherton Depot - Rotala - Services within Wigan and Leigh and services to the Trafford Centre and services between Little Hulton, Swinton and Manchester.
Eccles Depot - Rotala - Services around Sale and Altrincham and to Manchester plus services in Eccles and Worsley and Boothstown.
Wigan Depot - Stagecoach - Services between Wigan and Leigh and Wigan and Bolton and Leigh and Manchester not via the Busway and also town services within Wigan.
Hyde Road Depot and Sharston Depot - Stagecoach - (sub) - North Operations only - Services between Didsbury and Salford Quays via the City Centre
and The City Centre and Little Hulton (Business Park - Amazon Warehouse) via Salford, Swinton and Walkden.
Bolton Depot - Arriva - Town services within Bolton, services between Bolton and Bury, Wigan and Chorley, Bolton and Wigan and services between Glaze Estate - Eccles and Manchester.
St Helens Depot - Arriva - Services from St Helen's to Leigh and Wigan and between Wigan and Warrington, and Wigan and Skelmersdale.
Southport Depot - Arriva - Services from Southport and Skelmersdale to Wigan.
Preston depot and Chorley outstation - Stagecoach - Services between Preston, Chorley and Bolton and Preston and Wigan.
Blackburn Depot - Transdev - Services to Bolton from Blackburn and services to Rochdale and Bury from Blackburn, plus Lancashire Way Services.
Rochdale Depot - Transdev - Services within Rochdale, Middleton and Bury as well as services to Rawtenstall.
Burnley Depot - Transdev - Witchway Services plus services between Burnley and Bury.
Todmorden Outstation and Halifax Depot - FirstGroup - Services from Rochdale to Burnley, Todmorden and Halifax.
Less simple than 1985 when we had
Wigan - Greater Manchester Transport
Wigan - Ribble
Hindley - Greater Manchester Transport
Leigh - Greater Manchester Transport
Atherton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bolton - Greater Manchester Transport
Bury - Greater Manchester Transport
Rochdale - Greater Manchester Transport
Oldham - Greater Manchester Transport
Queens Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Frederick Road - Greater Manchester Transport
Weaste - Greater Manchester Transport
Swinton - Greater Manchester Transport
Also around 1985 not forgetting Birchfields Road (95/96 East Didsbury - Whitefield), Princess Road (76 Fallowfield - Hollinwood, 77 Fallowfield - Moston, 81 Chorlton - Hollinwood, 82 Chorlton - Waterhead, 84 Chorlton - Middleton, 88 Chorlton - White Moss, 112/113 Sale - Moston) and Hyde Road (also 82 and probably some others joint with PS and QS) Garages of Greater Manchester Transport and Burnley depot of Ribble doing the X43/743 and possibly Blackburn depot of Ribble doing the Timesaver services which were later the X1/X2