400: Trans-Lancs Express
An appreciation and obituary (Page 1)
Contents:
Introduction
The 400 service was launched by Selnec in 1970 to link Bolton with Stockport without the need to change several buses or trains. This was launched using Bedford VAL coaches with fares slightly dearer than normal bus fares. In summer months, this was extended to Manchester Airport on Friday and weekend journeys, providing Tameside residents with a link to the airport without changing at Manchester for the 200 service.
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The dawn of Greater Manchester Transport saw the coaches replaced by non-standard new Metro-Scania Metropolitan double deckers and sometimes standard Leyland Atlanteans.
Deregulation
Deregulation saw the arrival of new Northern Counties bodied MCW Metrobuses with coach seats. Similar Leyland Olympians were ordered for the 200 Manchester Airport service, which was renumbered 757 in 1988. Under the aegis of GM Buses, the arms length PTE owned limited company, these buses were branded with a special Express livery.
In addition to the 400, further express services were created. The 401 was launched with an hourly frequency between Oldham and Wigan. Other services included the 402 ran between Bolton and Warrington and the 403 between Leeds and Bolton via Rochdale. The latter, operated by Yelloway was short lived due to problems and the eventual closure of the Rochdale company in 1989.
Privatisation
By 1993, GM Buses was split into three ways, with the coaching arm, Charterplan sold to East Yorkshire Motor Services, who also owns Finglands Coachways. Bus operations were sold to the management, under the names GMS Buses (Greater Manchester Buses South) and GM Buses North. The latter company took over the 400 route, and re-routed the 401 from Oldham to Wigan, to run between Bolton and Stockport via Dukinfield and Hyde. This was abandoned and instead, ran between Denton and Guide Bridge along with the 400.
The sale of GM Buses North to FirstBus in 1996 saw a comprehensive service review. Some 81 services were cut back on the 6th October that year. The 400 and 401 saw stopping places reviewed, with the 400 servicing Brinnington. By May 1999, came the biggest blow, with the link to Manchester Airport and Sunday services discontinued. The following year saw the 400 diverted via the M60 cutting out stops at Denton and Brinnington, with the 401 still serving Reddish. Protests resulted in the 400 reverting to stopping at Denton and Brinnington.
By September 2001, the 401 service was withdrawn. In May that year, First deregistered the service and Stagecoach Manchester ran the service, albeit between Stockport and Middleton. This arrangement lasted four months.
The 400 survived under FirstGroup until May 2003. During that period, Superbus vehicles designated for the route (originally by GM Buses North) were switched to other routes. This resulted in standard single deckers with normal bus seats being legion on some journeys.
False Dawns and Eventual Demise
By May 2003, First Manchester de-registered the 400, ending a thirty-three association with the PTE companies and its successors. At the same time, the X1 service from Manchester to Derby (previously the 201, shared with First Manchester and First PMT) was deregistered.
Stepping in at short notice were Horwich based Blue Bus. Initially, their timetable was hourly on weekdays with the service every two hours on Saturdays. Due to demand, the Saturday service became hourly. At the time, the fleet used on the 400 service comprised of a motley selection of double deckers, single deckers and even MCW Metrorider minibuses.
The 400 prior to Blue Bus' operations in the last two years saw the service looking shabby, with buses devoid of route branding and sometimes full destination blinds. Adding inappropriate buses, and having a near constant review of stopping places, exacerbated the confusion. All this were a world away from the luxury coaches designated by Selnec for this route.
Despite news of the 401 making a comeback, albeit as one journey each way via Middleton, the 400 was withdrawn on the 20 September 2004, ending 34 years of continuous operation. The proposed return of the 401 didn't come to fruition either.
The 400 wasn't the only express service withdrawn by Blue Bus on that date. A recently launched service, the X9 from Manchester to Bolton was the other one. This service followed the route of the number 8 up to the M61 motorway and continued to Manchester via the A580 East Lancashire Road, with a 35 minute journey time from Bolton to Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens.
Factors of its demise
Ageing population: From my observations, the 400 service was mainly used by clientele over fifty years of age during daytimes, with the reduced number of passengers paying adult fares may have had some effect. During the peak periods, I had noticed prior to withdrawal steady ridership levels on early morning journeys to Stockport and Bolton at Ashton-under-Lyne bus station.
The M60 motorway: In addition to this, the 400 provided the people of Denton with a direct link to Oldham, and Oldham passengers a link to Stockport - unachievable by rail without the Metrolink between Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly. The main competition between Oldham and Stockport was the M60 motorway, although the 400 didn't serve the Hollinwood and Blackley areas. Though the Rochdale to Bolton section are served by the frequent 471 and 509 stopping services, the demise of the 400 has led to a loss of a service that replaced the Bolton - Bury - Rochdale line, which closed in 1970.
