The World's Our Bus Stop (1996)
42 Buses in 5 Days (Page 3)
Contents:
Into 2008
Twelve years since these rough notes were written, Greater Manchester's network had changed again. Pennine, then under the ownership of FirstBus' PMT subsidiary, became part of First Manchester (GM Buses North) in September 2000. The beginning of 2008 saw Mayne of Manchester's bus operations sold to Stagecoach Manchester (GMS Buses). Rossendale however has remained part of the public sector, owned by Rossendale Borough Council, albeit with a greater presence in the Rochdale and Bury areas.
Repeating the same journey would see Rossendale as the sole survivor. Both the 400 and 401 services are no more, with the 409 and 471 running along the same route between Bolton and Ashton.
The 40 has since been renumbered the 41 with a change of route and (in the daytime) operator. In 2001, the 40 merged with the 1 service (Ashton - Hyde via Dukinfield Town Hall and Yew Tree Lane). This followed the route of the 40 service up to Yew Tree Lane, then that of the 346.
From 1996 - 2001, it was the only route to serve the Richmond Park housing estate. 2004 saw the link with Hyde severed, leaving the 389 and 346 to cater for that section. Two years later, Speedwell Bus took over the daytime route.
Rolling stock comparisons
In 1996, double deckers were commonplace in Greater Manchester's bus network. Both GMS Buses' and GM Buses North's fleet comprised of GMT standard Leyland Atlanteans and Olympians inherited from their predecessors. The last GMT standard Leyland Atlantean on revenue earning service operated in 2002 on the 26 route to Leigh.
Express services were operated by coach seated Northern Counties bodied MCW Metrobuses. These were being displaced by single deckers, in the form of the Wright bodied Dennis Dart (dubbed as Superbus - and as low floor vehicles despite being step entrance buses). Again, these had coach seats, though with less comfort than the double deckers.
Pennine's fleet comprised of Eastern Coach Works bodied Leyland Olympians, cascaded from its parent company in Newcastle-under-Lyme. These were regular campaigners on the 346 route. Also present were the then newly purchased Dennis Darts, bodied by Marshall and Plaxton, often seen on the 32 - 35 routes. Shorter routes, such as the 39 and the 40 were operated using Mercedes minibuses with van chassis.
Fast forwarding to 2008, we see Dennis Dart single deckers as standard fare on First Manchester's route. In the Tameside area, the Marshall bodied vehicles have since been replaced by Plaxton Pointer bodied examples. Within Bury, Rochdale and Oldham, more modern Wright bodied counterparts feature heavily on most routes.
Making its presence felt in the Tameside area - with First Manchester and Speedwell Bus is the Optare Solo midibus. With big bus comfort levels and the flexibility of a minibus, these have become regular performers on subsidised routes. The 337, 39 and 41 routes are core Optare Solo territory.
Reversing a trend towards single decker vehicles is Stagecoach Manchester. Recent purchases have been weighted towards the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double decker. Further double deckers have been acquired through the takeover Dennis' Coaches and the bus operations of Mayne of Manchester. Most examples see regular service, even Mayne's 1987 East Lancashire bodied Dennis Dominators, acquired through Brighton and Hove Transport.
Stagecoach in Manchester also operates the last surviving GMT standard buses. A 1986 Leyland Olympian sees regular service aptly on the 86 route to Chorlton, in Magic Bus livery. 1991 H-Reg Dennis Dominators amble merrily on peak hour journeys of the 236/237 from Piccadilly Gardens, in the standard Stagecoach livery.
"...And This Is Me"
After 1996, I had become more able to visit weirder and more wonderful places by bus in Greater Manchester. Two years later (to celebrate Public Transport Week), I did so on a limited issue all operator bus only rover ticket. Three months later, this mutated into the System One Bus Only Day Saver. The rest as they say was home economics, and the start of several circumnavigations around the SELNEC/GMPTE boundary.
Then came FirstGroup's FirstDay ticket in 2000 - through ticketing on Pennine routes and former GM Buses North ones. Two years later, I was able to travel to West Yorkshire for a measly £2.50 (now £3.70 at 2008 prices). If I was that daring, I could travel from Warrington to Garforth in one day!
One wet September in 1998 at Altrincham Interchange, a bystander called me 'a glutton for punishment' for travelling around the conurbation by bus. You know what, they were right, and ten years on I still am.
Stuart Vallantine,
Friday 20th June 2008
