Manchester bus franchising

[M60lad]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Regarding 330 I'm sure that despite it being operated by Ashton Depot its still classed as a Stockport route and was originally operated out of Stockport Depot, the only reason why I think it moved Depots was either due to a shortage of drivers at the time or I think it was moved to Ashton so Daw Bank (Stockport) Depot could accommodate the additional work back when Charles Street Depot closed and everything from there was moved to Daw Bank, I'm pretty sure it was one of the 2 reasons.

[Mayneway]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(25/01/2024 06:32)M60lad Wrote:  Regarding 330 I'm sure that despite it being operated by Ashton Depot its still classed as a Stockport route and was originally operated out of Stockport Depot, the only reason why I think it moved Depots was either due to a shortage of drivers at the time or I think it was moved to Ashton so Daw Bank (Stockport) Depot could accommodate the additional work back when Charles Street Depot closed and everything from there was moved to Daw Bank, I'm pretty sure it was one of the 2 reasons.

330 has been an Ashton route since the depot opened. The 7 has actually flipped back and forth between Stockport and Ashton depot.

[SF07]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Confirmation of the list of services and numbers of Bee Network services from 24 March, with a lot of the Rochdale services being re-numbered into the 400s, including the 6 (Kirkholt) being re-numbered to 406, which was previously an Oldham-based service. Also confirms the 184 coming back to Oldham depot from First West Yorkshire.

1: Piccadilly - Deansgate Station - King Street Circular
2: Piccadilly - Victoria - Shudehill Circular
6 (will change to 406): Rochdale - Queensway - Kirkholt circular
17: Manchester - Blackley - Middleton - Rochdale
17A: Rochdale - Stakehill - Middleton - Manchester
18: Langley - Middleton - Manchester - MRI
33: Manchester - Eccles - Worsley
33B: Brookhouse - Eccles - Manchester
41: Middleton - Manchester - Northenden - Sale
52: Failsworth - NMGH - Salford - Trafford Centre
53: Cheetham Hill - Old Trafford - Salford
56: Manchester - NMGH - Manchester Circular
57: Oldham - Rushcroft Circular
59: Oldham - Middleton - Manchester
67: Manchester - Salford Royal - Eccles - Cadishead
67A: Manchester - Salford Royal - Eccles - Cadishead
81: Manchester - Moston - Oldham
82: Oldham - Sholver
83: Manchester - Hollinwood - Oldham - Sholver
84: Uppermill - Oldham - Manchester
90: Simister - Carr Clough Circular
93: Carr Clough - Agecroft - Manchester
94: NMGH - Cheetham Hill - Prestwich - Bury
95: Salford - Prestwich - Whitefield - Bury
97: Manchester - Prestwich - Unsworth - Bury
98: Manchester - Whitefield - Radcliffe - Bury
100: Warrington - Trafford Centre - Manchester
112: Middleton - Moston - Collyhurst - Manchester
113: Middleton - Moston - Collyhurst - Manchester
114: Manchester - Collyhurst - Moston - Alkrington
115: Middleton - Moston Circular
116: Middleton - Moston Circular
117: Manchester - Moston - Greengate
118: Manchester - Moston - NMGH
119: Higher Blackley - Moston - Manchester
125: Heywood - Middleton
129: Middleton - Hollin - Boarshaw circular
135: Manchester - Cheetham Hill - Whitefield - Bury
149: NMGH - Hollinwood - Oldham Circular
151: Ashton - Failsworth - NMGH
156: Manchester - NMGH - Higher Blackley - Middleton
159: Oldham - Woodhouses - Failsworth - Middleton
171: Newton Heath - Gorton - East Didsbury
172: Southern Cemetery - Gorton - Newton Heath
180: Oldham - Lees - Greenfield
181: Shaw - Chadderton - Moston - Manchester
182: Manchester - Chadderton - Shaw
183: Royal Oldham Hospital - Oldham - Limeside
184: Oldham - Diggle - Huddersfield
348: Ashton - Stalybridge - Copley - Carrbrook
350: Ashton - Tameside Hospital - Uppermill - Oldham
402: Buckstones - Oldham
403: Oldham - Shaw - Buckstones - High Crompton Circular
409: Rochdale - Royton - Oldham - Ashton
411: Oldham - Derker Circular
415: Oldham - Middleton
425: Oldham - Alt - Holts circular
426: Oldham - Fitton Hill Circular
455: Rochdale – Milnrow – Littleborough – Stansfield
457: Littleborough - Shore - Rochdale
458: Rochdale - Littleborough
467: Rochdale - Daniel Fold - Bamford - Bury
468: Rochdale - Cutgate - Bamford - Jericho - Bury
469: Bury - Tottington
480: Bolton - Tonge Moor - Tottington - Bury
B1 (will change to 477): Bury - Summerseat - Peel Brow - Ramsbottom
B2 (will change to 487): Bury - Limefield - Nangreaves
B3 (will change to 433): Bury – Ferngrove - Heywood – Norden
B4 (will change to 475): Heywood - Heap Bridge - Bury
R1 (will change to 440): Rochdale - Rochdale Infirmary - Syke
R2 (will change to 461): Rochdale - Shawfield Circular
R3 (will change to 447): Wallbank - Rochdale
R4 (will change to 451): Rochdale - Peppermint Bridge - Rochdale
R6 (will change to 450): Rochdale - Peppermint Bridge - Rochdale
R7 (will change to 434): Rochdale - Kirkholt - Castleton - Middleton
R8 (will change to 442): Rochdale - Bamford - Norden
R9 (will change to 435): Rochdale - Milnrow - Buckstones - High Crompton - Rochdale
R10 (will change to 436): Rochdale - High Crompton - Buckstones - Milnrow - Rochdale
R11 (will change to 437): Rochdale – Lane Head

https://tfgm.com/the-bee-network/bus-ser...March-2024

[M60lad]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Do we have any ideas yet of which depots will be operating which routes?

[Rodney259]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Just reading (in Manchester Evening News I think) that, summarising what a Salford Councillor said, is that privatisation of bus services destroyed them and how much better things are now. Interesting as the current franchising is being subsidised to the hilt by local and national taxpayers. Also they were restricted by being unable to cross subsidised routes. The private operators managed to provide very good quality stock and reasonable services in the restrictive and cash poor environment in which they operated. I see the government has cancelled the building and refurbishment of quite a number of hospitals due to cash constraints. Wonder if the lavish spend on buses in Manchester and excessive wage increases in the public sector without strings will continue or maybe they'll just cancel more hospital building? The economy isn't in a good state and seems to be heading downhill so will be very interesting if the excessive subsidies the the Bee Network continue and franchising wil continue be the panacea Burnham and his chums think it will be. I have grave doubts.

[knutstransport]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
A lot of people seem to be asking about capacity reductions when there's not been an improvement in frequency. The 313 and 370 seem to have gone down from decker operation, to Enviro 200s. A number of the former Arriva Trafford routes are seeing smaller single deckers, while some of the Stockport routes have gone down from Solos or short Enviros to minibuses. It seems the decision to put a minibus on the 288 to Manchester Airport has already been reversed. Had TfGM really forgotten about Little Gem putting the Fiat minibuses on the 288, switching the destination display to "BUS FULL" and having to leave people behind? Their own inspectors witnessed it at Altrincham Interchange, so even if the operator didn't take action they should have been aware of it.

[Mrboo]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(21/01/2025 18:37)knutstransport Wrote:  A lot of people seem to be asking about capacity reductions when there's not been an improvement in frequency. The 313 and 370 seem to have gone down from decker operation, to Enviro 200s. A number of the former Arriva Trafford routes are seeing smaller single deckers, while some of the Stockport routes have gone down from Solos or short Enviros to minibuses. It seems the decision to put a minibus on the 288 to Manchester Airport has already been reversed. Had TfGM really forgotten about Little Gem putting the Fiat minibuses on the 288, switching the destination display to "BUS FULL" and having to leave people behind? Their own inspectors witnessed it at Altrincham Interchange, so even if the operator didn't take action they should have been aware of it.

Often the reason now there smaller buses is bad data from before. Due to drivers not taking right fare or not logging passes TFGM had the data so used the right buses for the data. Or past tenders had bigger buses then the spec on them routes, but does make you think if they are now finding routes overloaded and in past tendered maybe there was never a need to be tendered.

[Valandil]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(05/02/2025 21:49)Mrboo Wrote:  Often the reason now there smaller buses is bad data from before. Due to drivers not taking right fare or not logging passes TFGM had the data so used the right buses for the data. Or past tenders had bigger buses then the spec on them routes, but does make you think if they are now finding routes overloaded and in past tendered maybe there was never a need to be tendered.

Yeah, especially with the flat single fare and drivers for some operators just putting everyone as going to the next stop when issuing a ticket, it must have looked extraordinarily popular to travel just 1 stop.