First Manchester

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester

(27/03/2013 20:28)Wright Eclipse Wrote:  

(27/03/2013 19:56)jimbo Wrote:  Nice to see fare reductions, the monthly from tfgm or online is a pain in the arse... But no doubt to stop fakes... As of the x82 that will seize to exist later this year then

i never even knew manchester could get monthly tickets on bus,West Yorkshires has been online or at Leeds Travel Shop for years now

Used to get monthly tickets when travelling to Huddersfield uni on the 184 a few years ago, so it has been around for a while. The switch to online/Travelshops now basically brings First Manchester in line with other areas, such as West Yorkshire, who don't sell monthly tickets on the bus.

As for the X82 (and 181/182), I could see the service still running between Royton and Manchester, so may be possible that the old 20 service is resurrected or the X82 is curtailed. Also wouldn't be surprised to see a drop in the 181/182 service later in the year. Perhaps down to every 20 mins with two 181s and one 182 or even perhaps reverting back to the old half-hourly frequency (one each hour) and then the 24 increased to every 30 mins to keep a 15 minute frequency between Royton, Chadderton and Manchester.

[jimbo]

RE: First Manchester
This is the problem though, if they do this, tfgm may provide more funding to run the service... May be a game for them, they dotn want to fund it okay... We shall reduce it a crap load until people complain and thry fund it again

[M60lad]

RE: First Manchester
Considering X82 passes my house I've always got chance to see the loadings on this service and not to sure where passengers get on in the morning or get off at night but most journeys in the morning by the time they pass my house have quite healthy loads sometimes full and the same in the evening peaks, I can actually see some of the later X82s being withdrawn as its really only 17:07, 17:21 & 17:45 that really carry the full loads out of Manchester, the 18:15 from Piccadilly can be a bit hit and miss passenger wise and not really sure about 18:45 as I've only really caught it the odd time and there's didn't seem to be that many people on it

[james solomon]

RE: First Manchester
62146 has transfered out of Manchester fleet http://www.flickr.com/photos/thespian/85.../contacts/

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester
I'm sure it was asked about the other day but I have just seen B201DTU in a yard somewhere near guide bridge :P

[Polo Mint]

RE: First Manchester
Very chuft about cheaper tickets, I have never seen First do this kind of thing. First seem to want to improve their reputation and their operational practices, perhaps they are letting local management have more freedom?

I did not know the X82 was subsidised, I wonder why with large amount of services in the particular areas it serves.

Can you remind me of route 20? Didn't that go all the way to Bacup? I am certain First had a service all the way up to Bacup through that area.

(23/03/2013 23:34)SF07 Wrote:  

(23/03/2013 22:55)Metroline1511 Wrote:  In a way it is right for First Manchester to reduce the prices of their day and longer-period tickets. These cover a narrower area since they sold the Wigan operation to Stagecoach late last year.

Did think that too. I wouldn't be surprised if that was one of the factors for the reductions. I'm sure the Metrolink extension to Oldham, Shaw and Rochdale plus Stagecoach's takeover of Bluebird and the success of the Oldham and M60 tickets could be other factors. Also, First would probably want some more positive publicity given some of the criticisms they've had in the past.

Indeed the Metrolink will have an impact on services, and now in the Moston area have competition with JPT and Stagecoach, who is far more formidable than Bluebird. I still reckon they need to increase frequency to win back that area but cheaper feares will help an awful lot.

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester

(01/04/2013 21:03)Polo Mint Wrote:  Can you remind me of route 20? Didn't that go all the way to Bacup? I am certain First had a service all the way up to Bacup through that area.

Service 20 ran via the X82 route between Manchester and Royton except for running via Oldham Road to Broadway junction before running all the way up Broadway instead of via Dean Lane and Nuthurst Lane. From Royton, the 20 followed the 24 route to Rochdale before continuing to Bacup via 464 route.

(01/04/2013 21:03)Polo Mint Wrote:  Indeed the Metrolink will have an impact on services, and now in the Moston area have competition with JPT and Stagecoach, who is far more formidable than Bluebird. I still reckon they need to increase frequency to win back that area but cheaper feares will help an awful lot.

First are quite frequent in the Moston area with the 81/81A running a combined 10 minute service and 88/89 running every 10 minutes between White Moss, Moston and Manchester. JPT have 9 buses per hour (every 10 mins on 118, every 20 mins on 112), while Stagecoach run every 20 mins on the 112 (interesting to see what they do later in the year with the ex-Bluebird services).

First do offer a Moston return ticket, allowing passengers to travel between Moston and Manchester for £2.50 return. The weekly ticket was scrapped following the introduction of the FirstM60 tickets.

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester
The X82 was subsidised as a replacement for obviously the Oldham Loop Line's closure. I don't see the bus service lasting at any point soon however when the novelty of the tram wears off a demand may be reintroduced, as to be quite honest I find that the bus is twice as flexible and doesn't take that much longer to get into Manchester.

If I was in charge it would still be trains, and if that was not financially viable anymore the whole route would have been tarmac'd and run as a dedicated bus way (not guided, I find that is a waste of money too and can cause stack ups if one vehicle breaks down (as with rail), not only that but the pathetic 'training' required for drivers using the guided busway).

You can trust my opinion as a regular commuter to Salford Quays on the metrolink - it's a novelty that will die quickly. It is absolutely cr*p.

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester
Not sure if Tameside drivers are unfamiliar with what route to take through Oldham town centre or if it was a time-saving move but the 343 took a slightly different route into Oldham bus station this evening.

Instead of going from Lees Road to Oldham bus station through Mumps, Union Street and Clegg Street, the driver decided to turn off onto Cross Street then up Shaw Road to Egerton Street before re-joining the normal route on St Mary's Way. Was even more unusual when a passenger actually got on the bus on Egerton Street, even though the last bus was officially an hour earlier on the 410. Would have had a long wait otherwise.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(03/04/2013 20:23)SF07 Wrote:  Not sure if Tameside drivers are unfamiliar with what route to take through Oldham town centre or if it was a time-saving move but the 343 took a slightly different route into Oldham bus station this evening.

Instead of going from Lees Road to Oldham bus station through Mumps, Union Street and Clegg Street, the driver decided to turn off onto Cross Street then up Shaw Road to Egerton Street before re-joining the normal route on St Mary's Way. Was even more unusual when a passenger actually got on the bus on Egerton Street, even though the last bus was officially an hour earlier on the 410. Would have had a long wait otherwise.

It dosen't surprise me. Tameside drivers tend to do what they want including using thier mobile phones while driving and alighting outside Ashton Bus Station when they are ofically told not too!