This Huddersfield bus was in oldham today on the 184. Thought it different as they normally run double deckers. Bad news though for First bus passengers. fares are on the rise from January the 2nd. Day tickets will be 4.50 monthly will be 59 quid. The 1.90, 2.50 and 3.10 fares will all increase by a massive 30p each. There is more increases but i cannot remember them at the moment. The company is blaming new buses and new ticket machines which are being introduced next year. My opinion is that these rises are a huge insult to the passengers and cannot be justified.
not in West Yorkshire read that fares there are staying as they are now also saw 37288 from Huddersfield on 184 tonight
ReplyDeleteNo i ment Manchester fares are going up.
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ReplyDeleteSeen 22179 (Stockport bus) on the 345. Have Stockport taken over the 345 duties?
ReplyDeleteAnd 19622 on the 317, unusual sights.
Seen 31938/52/34098/40371 on loan to pioneer
No 345 is still run by Ashton. 22179 must be a loan. The 317 must be one of the last out the depot and maybe gets what bus is left. Keep your eyes open there is a blue bus on the way. Can't say more.
ReplyDeletebenzo 31952 is back at oldham today was on 81a to waterhead at 4pm tonight 40371 i think is here for the long term too not sure with 31938 and 34098 seems to be banished to just 38/39/393 duties
ReplyDelete31938 was on 350 tonight 16.56 from Ashton I beat it to Mossley on 17.07 train to Huddersfield so got on it all the trains are now the bigger ones on Huddersfield line
ReplyDeleteIm afraid fares are going up in West Yorkshire by very similar amounts on the 2nd of Jan.
ReplyDeleteOldham 100 BSOG {FUEL REBATE} is being reduduced by 20% next year, be rest assured your beloved Stagecoach will very likely do the same.
well it said in Huddersfield Examminer that fares where been frozen over there
ReplyDeleteYes i know about the fuel rebate. And i'm sure my beloved Stagecoach (beloved because they pay me well) won't be raising weekly tickets to anywhere near the £17 quid mark. I will however make a very similar post when the time arises.
ReplyDeleteI have seen that Oldhams buses do not scroll anymore and look slimer to Huddersfields 184 buses now
ReplyDeleteFirsts latest advertisement campaign has me in stitches, especially when it's plastered on the side of a battered arrow with a broken destination display, o mean who on earth would give up traveling by car to travel on one of them every day.
ReplyDeleteAs for their fares well I do think the gap between stagecoach and first fares in Manchester is crazy. Just more confusion come January.
As for the 345, I have noticed Stockport buses on it before, also noticed alot of full size buses on the 7 of late, always seems that Stockport seem to be better at allocating larger buses when needed than Ashton.
31952 back on loan to Dukinfield again saw it on 350 today just to Hey Farm
ReplyDeleteDo bear in mind you "First Slaggers!"that
ReplyDeleteStagecoach Manchester inherited the most profitable areas of the former GMT/GMB operation.
Wilmslow Road,the 192 the busiest bus route in Europe!Dont forget Stagecoach Manchester is the Diamond in the crown of Mr Souters empire,and there are much poorer operations elsewhere in this company.
To be fair to First with their new new management team (Tim O Toole. Giles Fearnley and Dave ALEXANDER) THEIR ARE TRYING to change peoples perceptions of the group,but these things take time in such a huge organisation.
Next year along with new cash card enabled ticket machines rolled out throughout ALL OPERATIONS IN ENGLAND, 1300 NEW and refurbished buses will be supplied to the North region during the next 2 years! (North = First South and West Yorks +Manchester)and FINALLY Regional identities are to be applied to all buses.
So the group is trying although i appreciate it will be sometime before peoples mindset of the group will change,if ever.
no need for that saying there are some good first routes about
ReplyDeletebut last week I got on 350 and wanted to get of at Hey Farm and the driver just flew straight past at speed
today got First Huddersfield 32515 to Marsden no promblrm what so ever was late but with the roadworks in Oldham that is expected waited for same bus coming back and it was bang on time and I was impressed as I have not used the firm since it was Yorkshire rider as do have car but was snowy today why can you not Id yourself like others
We have discussed the differences between First and Stagecoach previously on this group and I don't think anyone intensionally slags off First, some areas of First Manchester are fine and good, but as a Tameside resident who uses both First and Stagecoach services in the borough and it's fair to say it sometimes feels like first forget about there Dukinfield depot. For years now it's been the dumping ground for all the old sheds not needed elsewhere, but we are still charged the same fares as passengers on other services like the 17 and 409 where modern low floor buses are the norm.
ReplyDeleteStagecoach on the other hand have seem to have an even age fleet at all their Manchester depots, and although slightly small int opinion have invested in the brand new Enviro single deckers for Tameside.
Felix keep seening 31952 on 350 on paper it is officially an Oldham based bus sometimes goes home but reappears
ReplyDeleteDukinfield fleet as of today
31927/29/43
31954w
40001/40135/40312-17/24-27
40337/38/39/41/43/47/60/61/62/64/65/66/68/69/74/80/81/82/84
40403/6/36
40871/78/79/42175
49113-16 (Hybirds)
50280
53143-50
409 yesterday, get on 37548 at 10:36 on what I assume to be the 10:40 departure as it's the only bus at the stand. Then 37413, which had been sitting at the sidings, comes up behind, stays for 2 seconds then goes on its way. At that time I realise I am actually on the 10:50!
ReplyDeleteNow they're going to charge more, I hope these improvements due to change of management do come into frutition. And that eventually they will reverse the tide a bit with the fares. Even other independent operators in North Manchester probably don't charge what First do.
well today waiting for 13.17 350 from Uppermill to Ashton I get of at Hey Farm the one going to Oldham was on time mine was 35 mins late then missed out Greenfield stn by going down chapel road then I had to get of above Hey farm as the driver forgot to go on but he did say sorry coming the other way was the one for Greenfield next thing that said Ashton on what is it with services on Sundays they seem to be quite late will start using the 354 every sunday that is allways near to time
ReplyDeleteThe change in management was several months ago, there just trying to rebrand themselves because of several years of bad press.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 409, that happens quite alot, often two buses come into Ashton together they both offload at the stand, the first then loads while the one behind goes out if service, leaves the bus station and once at traffic lights changes destination back to 409 Rochdale, also seen it done on 350 and 348 where the early bus will load at stand and late bus won't even stop and leave the bus station empty.
40315/16/17/40436 gone up to Oldham, 40315 seen on 410 and 40316 seen not in service
ReplyDeleteBenzo has 40135 turned up there it was due to go aswell thanks for the update
ReplyDelete40135 now staying at Dukinfield
ReplyDeleteNot sure about 40135 Mic, 40436 seen coming straight out of Oldham depot ready to start on the 415 lastweek and think 40001 has gone back to Bolton.
ReplyDeleteAll hybrids in service now on the 345/80/1/6.
Are all of the remaining Arrows to go Oldham?
benzo the plan as far as im aware is to keep 2 deckers for extra capacity for school kids on 348 (copley) / 350 (moss holl) but as usual vehicle movements seem to be the opposite as im told by mic we lost 3 solos and a dart now so god know what oldham n duki are planning to do now with the decker / school situ
ReplyDeleteno report on 40001 as yet mind you not seen 40324 and 40403 for ages
ReplyDeletesaw 40433 on 350 yestaday
Benzo
Oldham got 34088/92/96/98 from south Yorkshire the other week I think they could be getting 34101/7 currerntly at Halifax but could be moved over here 34207 is going in service at Halifax I think the arrows will stay at duki
Having worked for both companies in different roles with each I have to say I comparatively prefer every single aspect of working for stagecoach from the way the staff are treated, paid, trained and supplied with the best kit and support possible..... The standard of inspectorate and engineering is remarkable for an operation of its size.
ReplyDeleteI'm not jumping on any band wagon here and without going into too much detail standards are much higher within stagecoach
well firstbus fares went up yet again this week But I have heard stagecoach do not charge so much as firstbus do and they have good buses when down in Torquary you would see a bus every 5 mins between Paigton and Torquary
ReplyDeleteI think Stagecoach fares might be about to rise too, I've noticed a few ( but not all) Hyde rd buses on the 168/9 and 219 with the price part of the mega/day rider window stickers removed which would suggest a rise might be happening soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I've heard a rumour that only some single adult fares will be changed.
I am wonder if the 2 double decks at Dukinfield are now 34057/80 as saw these yestaday hope so and not sure but I think 31952 might be staying as Oldham only have 2 arrows left 31939/48
ReplyDelete