The first timetable changes of 2012 come into play over the last weekend of January (28/29th) and there are TfGM contracts changing hands. Over in Salford there’s a revised network to take into account; Arriva are losing out, whilst First seem to be gaining.
The Salford network is changing. It’s too complicated to explain for a non-Salfordian such as myself, so if you’d like to see a before and after map, check out the last few pages of this TfGMC report (PDF). In summary, there are two new routes 66 (Clifton Junction to Eccles) and 79 (Swinton to Stretford) which between them replace services 55, 61/62 (some), 64/65, 69 and 70 (daytime). Arriva have won the contracts for these, but lose out on other routes to First: early morning journeys on the 10 (Brookhouse to Manchester) and 19 (Clifton Junction to Trafford Park); Sunday services on the 31 (Manchester to Farnworth); evening and Sunday services on the 63 (Brookhouse to Manchester); and all day service on the 74/75 (Agecroft circulars) and 484 (Salford to Prestwich) – the latter of which is a Bu-val refugee.
First also assumes operation of services run by other operators: from Bluebird comes the 27 (Manchester to Swinton), Sunday 95 journeys (Pendleton to Whitefield), 402 (Oldham to Royton) and 406 (Middleton to Oldham); whilst from JPT comes the 335 (Ashton to Denton) and Sunday 406. One loss is the short-term 575 contract (Bolton to Horwich) which heads to Maytree, who will also run the daytime 31 timetable that was operated by Arriva.
Word on the street is that Arriva will close their Manchester depot at the end of March 2012. What would this mean for their remaining services? We’d expect that services in South Manchester can be operated from the depot in Wythenshawe, especially given the loss of contracts around Altrincham of late – though we wouldn’t be surprised if the 130 to Macclesfield sees more vehicles based from that Cheshire outstation. The services towards Salford we’re not so sure about: Wythenshawe and Bolton are the closest depots, but would require some dead-running or inter-working. We’ll keep monitoring.
Like the proverbial bus, there’ll be another blog along shortly looking at some of the other changes taking place that weekend…
- TfGM: Latest Bus Service Changes
- TfGM: Bus Times Leaflet Library
- First Manchester: Changes from Sunday 29th January 2012
[Image credit: “Arriva Manchester 667 CX57 CYW” by Ingy the Wingy on Flickr]
Manchester Transport blog 
Interesting possibility for the 130 route if what is said is true, as it used to run from the old Macclesfield depot very many years ago.
We wait and see – should find out in a matter of weeks.
D&G have taken on the evening two round trips on the 130 from Macclesfield to ParrsWood from Bakerbus. They appear to be operating this from Crewe – thats a long way out of service to Macclesfield and return! These were originally operated by Macclesfield depot of Arriva – or was it C-Line line?
I suppose D&G may also be operating the 38 service from Crewe to Macclesfield via Sandbach and Congleton. Therefore, if this is the case, the 130 would co-work with the 38.
Do Bakerbus have an outstation near Macclesfield? Their main depot is in Biddulph, so not much difference from Crewe! (D&G only work the 38 on Sundays, not Mon-Sat evenings.)
Speaking as another non-Salfordian, in terms of the new/withdrawn services in Salford, the changes are:
*55 – Replaced by 66 between Eccles and Ellesmere Park, 27 between Salford Royal and Swinton Park and 31/79 between Irlams o’th’ Heights and Pendleton
*64/65 – Party replaced by services 61, 62 and 66.
*66 – New route, mainly replacing the Monday-Saturday daytime 70 service, re-routing between Swinton and Eccles via Moorside and Worsley (restoring old 35 route between Swinton and Worsley)
*69 – Replaced by 79 between Pendleton and Stretford, 27 between Pendleton and Salford Royal Hospital and 66 between Salford Royal Hospital and Eccles
*70 – Monday-Saturday daytime service replaced by 66
*71/73 – Terminates at Whitehead Road (old 72 terminus) rather than at Clifton Junction
*72 – Replaced by 79 between Pendleton and Swinton and 71/73 between Swinton and Clifton
*79 – New route, replaces 69 and 72 services
I only know the 22 route sufficiently – Monton Green looks nice!
Bakerbus currently run three services with their distinctive navy and yellow livery into Stockport via the Poynton area:-
391 Stockport – Poynton – Hockley – Middlewood
392 Stockport – Poynton – Bollington – Tytherington – Macclesfield
393 Stockport – Poynton – Adlington – Tytherington – Macclesfield
Also got the 372, which interworks with the 391
All the timetables for Salford changes except 484 now available on the Transport for Greater Manchester website. The 63 timetable states that Green ecobuses will be used on this route. Interesting to see if other Salford services obtained by First will use ecobuses.
TfGM have provided a page on their website dedicated to the changes in Salford
http://www.tfgm.com/salfordchanges/
Looks like Arriva are trying to get tenders again, as they’ve gained some journeys (presumably in the evenings) on the 22, which will mean the big 3 of First, Stagecoach and Arriva will be running the same service:
PC0002598/368 – ARRIVA NORTH WEST LTD, 73 ORMSKIRK ROAD, LIVERPOOL, L9 5AE
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Stockport Bus Station
Finish Point: Bolton Bus Station
Via:
Service Number: 22
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 15-APR-2012
Other Details: Daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
How large is the Arriva route network these days in Bolton, which is one of the terminal destinations of the 22 route?
Well, they dominate the Bolton-Astley Bridge corridor with services 534, 535, 537 and 538 plus 575 and 715 to/from Wigan and 541. Then a few evening and Sunday services, some of which they’ll lose in April
Pingback: Arriva movin’ out to the ‘burbs | Manchester Transport blog
hi arriva do you have a bus service from station road swinton to worsley garden centre
service 66 operates hourly between these points on monday to saturday (arriva)