First Manchester

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RE: First Manchester

(22/09/2012 06:44)M60lad Wrote:  Just found the following First Manchester changes for 28 October reported on another forum:

18 extended to run Langley-MRI via city centre

64 Oldham-Middleton section reduced to hourly

67 Daytime reduced to every 15 mins.

82 withdrawn. Replaced by additional 83s. Overall, less buses direct down Oldham Road, with Uppermill extensions also withdrawn. Nightbus unaffected, though.

100 Trafford Centre-M'cr reduced to every 15 mins Mon-Sat. Warrington/Hollins Green retimed, but current frequency maintained.

180/4 Totally revised, with 180 reduced to hourly, but additional shorts between Grotton & M'cr meaning 8bph (M-Sa day) on this section. Diggle Sam Road will now be served by through Hudd-M'cr journeys. NB; FWY (HU) will no longer run on this route - all workings will be OM.

350 Route changed to serve Greenacres Road (see 415). Minor t/t changes

415 Truncated to run between Middleton and Oldham only

Minor t/t changes: 58, 59, 68, 98, 348, 472/4, X84

Sad to see the continuing demise of the 82. Gone from prominent service in Oldham area to virtually scrapped (with exception of Nightbus) journeys in about 4 years. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Sunday journeys replaced by the 81/81A by extending the short journeys between Moston and Manchester to Waterhead, giving a 15-minute service between Oldham, Moston and Manchester.

Not surprised with the 350 re-routing and the 415 curtailment, although I imagine there'll some complaints if there is no service along Stamford Street and St John's Street or between Lees and Holts. Expect a TfGM tender to come up, which will probably be won by First.

The 180/184 is a slight surprise. Can imagine a few complaints in Saddleworth with the 180 being reduced and presumably Dobcross no longer being served. I'm guessing it'll be 3ph to Uppermill, with one 184 continuing to Huddersfield and combined 15 mins with 180/184 to/from Saddleworth. Also guessing that because the 184 will become wholly-First GM, that we'll see an extra morning journey to Huddersfield and extra early evening journey from Huddersfield. Interesting to see if the first journey from Huddersfield and last journey to Huddersfield will stay in place.

Shame that the joint operation is over between First GM and First WY though. Caught the 184 to/from Huddersfield a lot, particularly, as I was at uni at the time the 184 was extended over to Huddersfield. Used to have the same drivers from Huddersfield depot, which meant me becoming familiar with the drivers and vice versa (some drivers knew I got on with a student bus pass so just waved me on when I got on before I had chance to show it).

However, reliability has a major issue with the 180/184 for the last few years (speaking from personal experiences as it's my local route), so hopefully, a new timetable will help because it does become frustrating when waiting for a bus that turns up 7 mins late regularly. Also, interesting to see First increase the 180/184 to every 7/8 mins just after Stagecoach increased the 76 to every 10 mins.