First Manchester

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester

(02/07/2022 08:41)Metroline1511 Wrote:  The latest registrations point to routes 6, 80, 81/a and X84 being due for withdrawal on October 8th.

Did wonder whether it was First just tiding up the registrations, seeing as the 80 was partly replaced in September 2020 by a re-routed 184. Wouldn't surprise me if the 6, 81 and X84 were withdrawn by First though.

The 6 definitely would fit in more with the Rosso portfolio of services in Rochdale, particularly after the 408 was withdrawn back in April, meaning that the 6 has become a standalone service in Rochdale.

As previously mentioned, the 81 is a shadow of its former self now, being squeezed out by Stagecoach services along Moston Lane (and possibly the sales of Queens Road depot to Go Ahead Group and Bolton depot to Rotala reducing First's presence between Harpurhey and Manchester as they stopped running the 17, 18 and 163 routes). Oldham-Moston section has also lost out a bit to Metrolink as well with the trams providing a quicker journey to Manchester from Freehold or South Chadderton stops.

The X84 was a service I used regularly pre-pandemic and is probably a service that has suffered due to Covid. The service was busy at rush hour pre-2020 but now numbers much lower, plus just one journey each way (down from four each way).

The presence of Metrolink in the Oldham area has definitely had a negative impact on First's services in the area. And Covid has probably made it worse. Could also include the abandoned plan to sell Oldham depot, when several cross-town routes were split up in Oldham (59, 83, 180/184, 425).

Looking back to Oldham/Rochdale/Tameside area (or services operated from Oldham/Tameside depot) services 10 years ago (mid-2012) compared to now:

• Rochdale-Kirkholt: Was every 12 minutes, now every 20 minutes (6)
• Rochdale-Manchester via Middleton: Was every 10 minutes, now every 12 minutes and operated by Go North West (17)
• Rochdale-Manchester via Royton: Was every hour, now scrapped (24)
• Failsworth-Salford via NMGH: Was every 30 minutes, now operated by Go North West (52)
• Oldham-Shaw: Was every 7/8 minutes (58/59), now every 30 minutes weekdays and hourly Saturdays (57)
• Oldham-Middleton via Chadderton: Was every 7/8 minutes (58/59), now every 10 minutes (59)
• Oldham-Middleton via Royton: Was every 30 minutes (64), now scrapped
• Oldham-Moston-Manchester: Was every 10 minutes (81/81A), now every 30 minutes weekdays and hourly Saturdays (81)
• Oldham-Derker: Was every 20 minutes (81), now every hour operated by Stagecoach (411)
• Oldham-Waterhead: Was every 5 per hour (81/81A/350), now every 30 minutes (350)
• Oldham-Sholver: Was every 10 minutes (83), now every 20 minutes (82)
• Oldham-Manchester via Manchester Road: Was every 5 minutes, now every 15 minutes weekdays and every 10 minutes Saturdays (83)
• Oldham-Manchester via Hollins Road: Was every 10 minutes (180/184), still every 10 minutes (84)
• Oldham-Uppermill via Lees: Was 4 per hour (184), now 3 per hour (84/184)
• Oldham-Diggle via Lees: Was 2 per hour, now every hour (184)
• Oldham-Huddersfield: Every hour (184)
• Oldham-Greenfield via Lees: Was every 30 minutes, now every 70 minutes (180)
• Oldham-Limeside via Heron Street: Was every 30 minutes, now operated hourly by Stagecoach (183)
• Oldham-NMGH via Moston: Was every 30 minutes, now every hour and operated by Stagecoach (149)
• Rochdale-Shaw: Was every 7/8 minutes (58/181/182), now every hour and operated by Transdev
• Shaw-Manchester: Was every 15 minutes (181/182), now every hour (182)
• Royton-Manchester: Was 5 per hour (24/181/182), now every 30 minutes (181/182)
• Ashton-Hazelhurst circulars: Was every 30 minutes each way (38/39), now partly covered by Little Gem services 336/337
• Ashton-Hurst circulars: Was every 30 minutes each way (331/333), now partly covered by Little Gem services 336/337
• Ashton-Denton: Every hour, now operated by Stotts (335)
• Ashton-Crowhill: Was every 30 minutes (41), now operated by Stotts (339)
• Ashton-Dukinfield: Was every 30 minutes (41), now operated by Stotts (335) or Little Gem (389)
• Ashton-Hyde via Dukinfield: Was every 20 minutes, now operated by Stagecoach only (346)
• Carrbrook-Ashton: Was every 10 minutes, now every 20 minutes weekdays and every 30 minutes Saturdays (348)
• Oldham-Uppermill-Ashton: Every 30 minutes (350)
• Hey Farm-Ashton: Was every 10 minutes, now every 30 minutes (350)
• Micklehurst-Ashton: Was every 10 minutes, now every 15 minutes (350)
• Denshaw-Uppermill-Ashton: Was every two hours (354), now every hour and operated by Nexus Move (356)
• Delph-Uppermill-Ashton: Was every hour (353/354), now every hour and operated by Nexus Move (356)
• Ashton-Hyde via Mottram: Was every hour, now every hour and operated by Stotts (387)
• Ashton-Hyde via Stalybridge: Was every 30 minutes, now every hour between Ashton and Dukinfield and operated by Little Gem (389)
• Ashton-Smallshaw: Was every 30 minutes (393), now every hour and operated by Stotts (396)
• Oldham-Oozewood via Royton: Was every 30 minutes, now every hour and operated by Transdev (402)
• Shaw-High Crompton circular: Was every hour each way (403/404), now every hour and operated by Transdev (403)
• Oldham-Chadderton Park: Was every hour (406), now every hour and operated by Stagecoach (149)
• Stalybridge-Oldham via Abbeyhills: Was every hour, now scrapped (408)
• Buckstones-Oldham: Was every 30 minutes weekdays (408/428), every hour Saturdays (408), now operated by Transdev (402).
• Rochdale-Ashton via Oldham: Was every 7/8 minutes, now every 10 minutes (409)
• Oldham-Glodwick circulars: Was every 30 minutes each way (410/411), now scrapped.
• Oldham-Holts via Greenacres: Was every 30 minutes (415), now every hour between Oldham and Lees (184)
• Oldham-Middleton via Alkrington: Was every 15 minutes, now every hour and operated by Go North West (415)
• Middleton-Ashton: Was every 30 minutes (419), now every hour operated by Stotts (396)
• Oldham-Holts via Abbeyhills: Was every 12 minutes, now every 15 minutes (425)
• Oldham-Fitton Hill: Was every 12 minutes (425), now every 30 minutes (426)
• Rochdale-Daniel Fold: Was 2 per hour (438), now every 30 minutes and operated by Transdev (467)
• Rochdale-Peppermint Bridge: Was every hour (451), now every hour and operated by Transdev (R4)
• Rochdale-Littleborough via Milnrow: Was every hour (452), now every hour and operated by Transdev (R5)
• Rochdale-Stansfield: Was 4 per hour (454/457), now every hour and operated by Transdev (457)
• Rochdale-Wardle-Hollingworth Lake-Littleborough: Was 2 per hour (455/456/458), now every 30 minutes and operated by Transdev (458)
• Rochdale-Ladyhouse: Was every hour (462), now every hour and operated by Transdev (R6)
• Rochdale-Bury via Bamford: Was every 30 minutes (469), now every 15 minutes and operated by Transdev (467/468)
• Rochdale-Bury-Bolton: Was every 10 minutes, now every 12 minutes and operated by Diamond (471)
• Carrcote-Manchester Express: Was every 3/4 journeys, now 1 journey (X84)