Bus services across Greater Manchester are set to change from this weekend. Dozens of routes were saved when Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) stepped in with a £15m package after more than 60 bus services were at risk.
All 31 services which were set to be scrapped have now been replaced and most of the 33 bus routes which were set to have a reduced timetable have been maintained thanks to new contracts awarded by TfGM in September. However, some services will still be withdrawn or run with reduced frequency.
Stephen Rhodes, TfGM’s Director of Bus Services, said: "As we move towards delivering an integrated Bee Network, it was essential that we maintained these local services. Without an intervention, some communities would have been left with much reduced – or in some cases a complete lack of – bus services.
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"This would have had a real impact on their ability to see friends and family, as well as access employment and education opportunities across the region. In most cases people won’t notice a difference, but there are some changes to times, frequencies and operator, so before these changes come into effect, I’d ask anyone who uses these services to check our website to make sure they have all the information they need before travelling."
From Sunday (October 30), the following service changes will come into place.
Services withdrawn
- 108 - Timperley - Brooklands - Northern Moor - Manchester
Alternative journeys available on services 41 and 101/103 - X58 - Flixton – Davyhulme – Lostock – Manchester
Alternative journeys available on service 256 - X84 - Carrcote – Uppermill – Lees – Manchester
Alternative journeys available on service 350 and 84
Services with reduced frequency and/or route changes
- 3/4 - Wigan - Kitt Green circular
Saturday services will operate every 15 minutes. - 10 - Manchester - Eccles - Brookhouse Estate
Sunday services will operate every 20 minutes. - 23 - Stockport - Stretford - Urmston - The Trafford Centre
There will be a reduction in the number of journeys before 9am between Monday and Saturday. - 59 - Oldham - Middleton - Manchester
Monday to Friday daytime frequency will reduce to every 12 minutes. - 191 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Levenshulme - Longsight - Manchester
There will be a revision of the Monday to Friday peak hour timetable. - 197 - Stockport - Heaton Mersey - Heaton Moor - Manchester
There will be a reduction in the number of journeys before 7am between Monday and Friday. - 250 - The Trafford Centre - Trafford Park – Manchester
Monday to Friday daytime frequency will reduce to every 12 minutes. - 253/255 - Partington - Carrington - Stretford – Manchester
One peak time Monday to Friday 253 service will be withdrawn. - 256 - Flixton - Lostock - Stretford - Hulme - Manchester
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency will reduce to every 15 minutes. - 323 - Stockport - Edgeley - Heaton Mersey circular
The 323 will only run on Saturday, replaced to Heaton Mersey Monday to Friday by an extended 375. Monday-Saturday, the section of route through Edgeley is replaced by Diamond 371. - 324 - Stockport - Denton - Haughton Green - Brinnington circular
The evening and Sunday 324 services is replaced by journeys on the 327 with these being operated by Nexus instead of Stagecoach. - 375 - Mellor - Marple - Hazel Grove - Offerton - Stockport
Monday to Friday services will be extended to Heaton Mersey to replace the 323. - 464(b) - Accrington - Haslingden - Bacup - Whitworth – Rochdale
5.13am arrival in Rochdale (Mon-Sat) and 6.13am and 7.13am on Saturday services will be reinstated. - 467(b)/468(b) - Bury - Jericho - Bamford - Caldershaw - Spotland - Rochdale
Daytime frequency to increase to every 30 minutes, and to add 5.11am arrival in Rochdale (Mon-Sat) and 6.11am on Saturday.
Operator changes
- 6 - Rochdale - Kirkholt circular
Service will be operated by Go North West instead of First (evening journeys run by Rosso are unchanged) - 11A - Altrincham - Gatley - Cheadle - Cheadle Heath - Stockport
Most journeys will be operated by Diamond and will be renumbered 370 and 371 (with journeys numbered 371 running via Edgeley to replace 323). Evening and Sunday journeys run by Stagecoach are also renumbered 370 (but times unchanged) - 81 - Oldham - Werneth - White Gate - Moston - Piccadilly Gardens
All journeys will be operated by First. - 150 - Gorton - Stretford - Trafford Park - The Trafford Centre
Most journeys will be operated by Diamond (evening and Sunday journeys run by Stagecoach are unchanged). - 183 - Limeside - Coppice - Oldham - Royal Oldham Hospital
Service will be operated by Stotts instead of Stagecoach and times are revised. - 345 - Ashton-under-Lyne - Denton - Dukinfield circular
Daytime journeys will be operated by Stotts. Evening and Sunday journeys will continue to be operated by Stagecoach. - 374 - Stockport - Adswood - Davenport - Hazel Grove circular
Daytime journeys will be operated by Nexus. Evening and Sunday journeys will continue to be operated by Stagecoach. - 583 - Leigh - Abbey Lane - Atherton - Hag Fold - Tyldesley
Sunday journeys will be operated by Vision. There will be an improved span of operation and the Sunday route is now the same as Monday-Saturday to replace Sunday 595. - 590 - Leigh - Lowton Common - Lowton - Pennington circular
Service will be operated by Hattons. - 594 - Leigh - Blackmoor - Astley - Tyldesley - Bedford circular
Service will be operated by Warrington's Own Buses with a new Sunday service operated by Vision. - 630 - Wigan - Scholes - Ince - Spring View - Platt Bridge - Abram
Service will be operated by Diamond. - 635 - Wigan - Dangerous Corner - Appley Bridge - Gidlow circular
All services will be operated by Diamond. - X50 - Manchester – Trafford Park – The Trafford Centre
Service will be operated by Diamond.
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