Diamond Bus North West

[SF07]

RE: Diamond Bus North West
The Metrolink bridge on Drury Lane has a height of 16'0", so more than adequate for double deckers. I think the 81 has diverted that way when there's been closures on Turf Lane or Broadway. 149 used to run that way for a while, but don't think First put any double deckers on that route.

I think if Diamond is going to rent/sublet the ex-MCT depot, then that would suggest that there could be something happening with First's Oldham services. Probably more likely to pick up some routes rather than whole depot. First changing/splitting some of the services in the last twelve months suggests it's been tailored to getting rid of routes in groups to one or more operators rather than the whole depot to a rival. Chances are that Manchester services (59, 81, 83, 84, 181, 182, X84) could be passed on to one operator, local services (57, 180, 408, 425, 426) will go to another, the 409 could go in either group, while the 184 could easily switch to First's Huddersfield depot with some tweaks to the timetable.

If they are taking on the depot and it's not to do with First services, then I'm not sure what the appeal would be to Diamond. There aren't many contracted services in the Oldham area and those services have undergone changes recently (356, 402, 403, 408 and 415 changed routes/operators in April). Tameside also saw changes in April following MCT's demise with Stagecoach and Stotts picking up work there, while Diamond lost work in Stockport in April to Stagecoach and Go Goodwins. Rochdale saw changes with local services last year with Rosso picking up the contracts there.

South Chadderton location would allow close access to Middleton area, if there are any plans to relocate the 163 workings or if they gain contract work from Stagecoach or Stotts there or if they have ambitions to take on Go North West and Stagecoach with more services in North Manchester.