The History of the 343 Bus Route
The more scenic route to Mossley and Oldham from Hyde and Dukinfield (Page 4)
Contents:
Route summary:
Monday - Friday:
Daytime: Stott's of Oldham;
Evening: First Manchester.
Saturday:
Daytime: JP Travel;
Evening: First Manchester.
Sunday and Bank Holidays:
Daytime and Evening: First Manchester.
All services apart those operated by Speedwell Bus go via Winterford Road, Micklehurst and Lees Road. Buckton Vale Road, South View, Staley Road, Hey Farm and Roaches Lock are served by Speedwell Bus' weekday journeys.
Other journeys:
As well as its core daytime route, the 343 also has a handful of part route journeys serving peak hours and schooldays:
- 344: a single journey operated by Speedwell Bus departing 0745 from Oldham to Hyde via Waterhead, Springhead, Lees and the daytime route of the 343;
- 343, Mossley Hollins School - Stalybridge: a single Wednesday schooldays only journey departing at 1425, operated by Stagecoach Manchester;
- 343, Astley Sports College - Gee Cross: a single schooldays only journey departing at 1520, operated by Stagecoach Manchester - and the 343's only present day link with Gee Cross;
- 343, All Saints Catholic College - Huddersfield Road/Manchester Road: a single schooldays only journey departing at 1540, operated by First Manchester, terminating outside the Royal George pub in Friezland;
- 343, Oldham - Mossley (Railway Station/The Commercial): a single weekdays only journey departing at 1620, operated by First Manchester;
- 343, Oldham - Dukinfield (Boyd's Walk/Birch Lane): a single weekdays only journey departing at 1720, operated by First Manchester following the evening route via Winterford Road.
Connections with other routes:
Bus and rail routes which may connect well with the 343 service. Please note that connections cannot always be guaranteed due to traffic conditions. Timetables may also be subject to change.
- Manchester Piccadilly: if you are travelling from Dukinfield, the best railway station for connecting with the 343 is Flowery Field. The Hyde bound 343 is also handy for Carrbrook and Millbrook residents wishing to board the First Transpennine Express service from Stalybridge;
- Uppermill: Hyde and Dukinfield residents can avoid travelling via Ashton to Uppermill by changing at Stalybridge for the 353/354 route on Sundays, evenings and Bank Holidays. However, the connections between buses on the return journey are long enough to warrant a quick pint at the Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar. Changing at Bottom Mossley (The Commercial) for the 343 and boarding the 350 rather than the 353/354 may be a better option;
- Stockport: change at Hyde for the 330 service;
- Glossop: change at Stalybridge for the 236/237/239 services. Please note that the 239 takes a more circuitous route compared with the 236/237. Flowery Field is the best connection point for Glossop trains. From Hyde, the 202/341/397 routes serve Glossop;
- Liverpool Lime Street: the all stations Northern service offers a good connection with the Oldham bound 343 by alighting at Stalybridge. Allow 25 minutes more from the stopping service departure time to connect with the First Transpennine Express service. Carrbrook and Millbrook residents may be best waiting for the First Transpennine Express service.
Route Map:
Further reading:
Bibliography:
British Bus Fleets: SHMD, W.G.S Hyde and Eric Ogden; Transport Publishing Company (Glossop), 1990;
Greater Manchester Buses, Stewart J. Brown; Capital Transport (London), 1995;
Greater Manchester Transport Album, Michael Stokes; Rochester Press (London), 1984.
Stuart Vallantine,
Tuesday 15th December 2009.
