The History of the 343 Bus Route
The more scenic route to Mossley and Oldham from Hyde and Dukinfield (Page 1)
Contents:
Introduction
I would probably be a little biased about this bus route, being my favourite one for years. Thanks to having family members on this route, I was introduced to the scenery between Stalybridge and Mossley. Back in 1984, when I started gaining an interest in public transport, this was how I gained competence in using the Greater Manchester bus network.
The 343: Oldham - Mossley - Hyde
An Optare Solo minibus loads at Armentieres Square, Stalybridge for Oldham on Speedwell's 343 route (29th March 2008).
- Started life as the 4A route in the 1950s by SHMD, introduced to serve the then new housing estate in Winterford Road, Micklehurst, complementing the 4 route via Staley Road;
- Renumbered 343 by SELNEC during the 1973 - 74 renumbering scheme;
- Extended from Mossley Brookbottom to Oldham in 1980 by Greater Manchester Transport, absorbing the 416 route;
- Daytime service briefly operated by Speedwell Bus (15 April 2007 - 02 October 2009);
- Operated by First Pioneer on full time basis (Saturdays excepted: daytime journeys by JP Travel) since October 2009;
- Monday to Friday daytime service reverted to Speedwell Bus (December 2009 - to date);
- 30th anniversary of Oldham - Mossley extension (20 July 2010).
The 344: Mossley - Stalybridge - Hyde (Gee Cross)
- Originally a tram route before conversion to bus operations resulted in becoming the 4 bus route;
- Renumbered 344 by SELNEC during the 1973 - 74 renumbering scheme;
- Relegated to peak hours only service during deregulation in October 1986;
- Withdrawn in November 1992, following closure of Tameside garage: number now used for circular route from Hyde to Gee Cross and single journey via Waterhead to Hyde (April 2004 to present day).
Operators since 1905 (E/4/4A/16/343/344/416 routes)
- 1905 - 1969:
SHMD Joint Board (Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Joint Board) (4/4A)
Oldham Corporation (E/16); - 1969 - 1974: SELNEC (Southern Division)(4/4A/16);
- 1974 - 1986: Greater Manchester Transport;
- 1986 - 1993: GM Buses;
- 1986 - 1987: Checkmate Coaches (Sunday service only, Carrbrook - Mossley);
- 1990: Citibus (Sunday service only);
- 1991: Bee Line Buzz Company (schooldays only);
- 1993 - 1995: Tame Valley Motor Services (Monday - Saturday evenings only);
- 1993 - 1996: GMS Buses (Sunday service only);
- 1993 - 1996: GM Buses North;
- 1995 - 1998: Glossopdale Bus Company (Monday - Saturday evenings only);
- 1996 - to date: Stagecoach Manchester (continuation of Glossopdale and GM Buses South contracts; includes 2 school journeys operated at present);
- 1996 - 2001 and 25 April 2009 - to date: JP Travel (one early morning journey to Hyde till 2001 and present day Saturday daytime service);
- 1996 - 2005: First Manchester;
- 2005 - to date: First Pioneer (evenings, Sundays and Bank Holidays only, 15 April 2007 - 05 October 2009: daily except Saturdays from 05 October to 10 December 2009);
- 2006: UK North (one schooldays journey in 'GM Buses' guise);
- 16 April 2007 - 03 October and 13 December 2009 to date: Speedwell Bus.
