This is the 409 stand in ashton. It looks like this most of the day before 3 or 4 buses come in at once. Now i will admit we have, at certain times though the day, problems with the new road and a few people at work have been talking about the letter that was written in to the tameside advertisor. I think it's safe to say we all feel disappointed with the narrow mindedness of this letter and disagree with what has been said. Back to the 409s. My phone is almost dead because of the amount of emails today since it was mentioned that speedwell was running an ashton- oldham service lol. It's a brilliant idea almost! First will go all out to stop speedwell doing anything on this route. The other problems is, the lack of distance. The 409 makes a lot of it's money taking people through oldham and on to either ashton or rochdale. The speedwell service will certainly be missing a trick if it doesn't do the full length. Will have to wait and see i suppose.
First will try anthing to stop them and then go back to their old ways but speedwell will give it all they have
ReplyDeleteBear in mind the consumers going from Mossley/Stalybridge to Oldham. It is a great idea and has alot of potential.
ReplyDeleteI'm disapointed about the regards of a certain narrow minded individual, excluding the metrolink works, road works, heavy diversions etc...then there would be a worry, but I've been on the 216 now and again and allow a bit of extra time...something called common sense but that seems to dwindle on some people
I have just got back from Torquay , and read the advertiser,what a plonker! I have often seen 3 216's together, but know from experience they were not sent out like that!
ReplyDeletethere is also the 408 from Stalybridge to Oldham but only every hour
ReplyDeletestagecoach are no where bad as firstbus better buses aswell
those dennis dragon magic buses seem to be soldering on I do know a few are stored at Charles St
I disagree with Speedwell's new service. Alot of people dont travel as far as Rochdale and im sure with the lower fare they will switch to Speedwell, i know i will. Stott's ran the 398 on the 409 route for many years and that only went as far as Oldham and that did very well, but this is to First what the 192 is to Stagecoach - GOLD and they aint gonna roll over and do nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe person that wrote the letter about the 216 probably has had one bad experience and has decided to let off steam. They certainly need glasses though as ive never waited long for one, even last summer when the roadworks were bad.
I use to use the 398 they had some buses then from a roe bodied fleetline Ex Yorkshire rider to the west midlands buses
ReplyDelete409 may be gold but never runs on time I walk from work to Ashton each night as I do not trust the service
The 409 hits all sorts of problems with traffic all times of the day. Worse being 330 in Royton with the Horrid kids from the School near Broadway. There are no extra buses put on from here to Oldham to deal with them. Because of this. You get 4 409s rolling into Ashton at 4- 430ish.
ReplyDeleteLets also not forget!! When new drivers start with First Oldham they only do 3 routes for the first 6 months. 82-83 and 409!! This doesnt help matters when you need to use experiance and skill to get your time back. Good luck to Speedwell but i think it defo needs to go to Rochdale to make the real Dollar. The Application has been submitted takes 8 weeks a couple of drivers were telling me late on last night. So will see what happens
Havent we been here with Speedwell before, I remember them on 419s once running the full route, First didnt like it so started running additonal 409s Ashton-Hathershaw using Solos although most of the time these extra 409s started on Ashton Road and not the Bus Station, I'm guessing the same could happen again
ReplyDeleteFirst do not like anything that another firm does
ReplyDeletespeedwell was sharing the 419 with firstbus at the time
If the application has been submitted then we can have a look tomorow at vosa. Just remember when vosa put up the S48, it was labelled as 548 (changed now)...so look out for the 549 lol
ReplyDeleteSpeedwell have really nice Solo's. Far better than First cardboard cutout's...I understand stagecoach have a couple but I've never been on them
The Stagecoach Solo at Ashton is really nice. Was on it last week in Glossop.
ReplyDeleteI just hope Speedwell give it time to take off. They didnt give the Ashton - Manchester section of the S50 enough time.
But at the end of the day it may work, it might not but there offering an alternative to the rip off 409 and i for one will be using it alot.
so will I
ReplyDeletejust been to my bothers at Marsden and his wife told me from there to Huddersfield on a firstbus is £2.40