The World's Our Bus Stop (1996)
42 Buses in 5 Days (Page 1)
Contents:
Introduction
1996 was a most interesting year for bus operations in the Greater Manchester area. To say it was a transitional year was quite an understatement. Within the first part of the year, GM Buses North and GMS Buses were sold to FirstBus and Stagecoach.
By the end of 1996, GM Buses North's network changed beyond recognition, following extensive rationalisation at the end of September. Meanwhile, in Stagecoach land, the Network 7 was slashed to £5.00 a week.
The bulk of services were operated by double deckers inherited from Greater Manchester Transport and GM Buses.
You may ask yourself... what was I doing on the 400?
Between 1995 - 97, I was on a Youth Training scheme. With the summer period being lean months, I couldn't bring myself to eight hours of ennui. Armed with a 16 - 19 bus pass, I had places to visit, coach seated buses to board, and the odd Bee Line vehicle with a Tommy Cooper video playing in the front luggage tray.
Before February 1996, I was quite content to pay single fares to Ashton. Back then, a single journey from my home would cost 80p. At this time of writing, the fare has doubled to £1.70 (£1.90 maximum since 2010). My supervisor at the time introduced me to the 16 - 19 bus pass. Bad move.
This further fuelled my wanderlust. I realised that my £9.45 a week enabled me to board the Trans-Lancs Express (the 400 at 17 minutes past hour or the 401 half an hour later from Ashton). This also meant Rossendale, Mayne of Manchester and Pennine, as well as GM Buses North and GMS Buses (for the south). Between the 8th and the 12th July 1996, I made notes of each journey made that week.
Now for the part you have been waiting for: 'The Diary of a Bus Hopping Electronics Trainee Aged 17 Years and 21 Days'.
Monday 8th July 1996
For most people, the prospect of an easy Monday morning is a most exciting one. At the time I was quite the opposite. After being mid way through a BTEC ONC in Electronics and Engineering, I found myself increasingly bored. As the college term finished for its summer term, this meant no classes to attend, reduced library opening hours and having little to do besides the odd drawing or bus trip.
Along with a handful of other trainees, we were three months into moving from its previous premises in Heginbottom Mill and generally struggling to find our feet. The trainees, like myself, who studied the BTEC option were less apprehensive about the move, used to college protocol and the size of the complex. Others, more suited to the on-the-job training and smaller premises fared worse.
- 346: Dukinfield - Ashton-under-Lyne (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 219: Ashton-under-Lyne - Tameside College (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 219: Tameside College - Stalybridge Celtic (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 237: Stalybridge Celtic - Stalybridge (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 235: Stalybridge - Ashton-under-Lyne (Mayne of Manchester);
- 401: Ashton-under-Lyne - Oldham (GM Buses North);
- 58: Oldham - Rochdale (GM Buses North);
- 409: Rochdale - Oldham (GM Buses North);
- 401: Oldham - Ashton-under-Lyne (GM Buses North);
- 40: Ashton-under-Lyne - Dukinfield (Pennine).
As usual, I caught the 0828 346 into Ashton Bus Station, changing for the 219, where I alighted outside The Swan. The order of the day for the 346 was one of the remaining Leyland Atlanteans in the last version of the GM Buses livery.
With little to do, I later caught the 219 up to Stalybridge Celtic's ground. At the time, Stalybridge Celtic was in the midst of seeing a new main stand. This would later open in August 1996, in front of a friendly game with Oldham Athletic (who we beat 3 - 1).
Returning on the 237 (aboard a MCW Metrobus) into Stalybridge, I visited the local studies library for a quick session on the microfilm viewers, to read old Stalybridge Celtic match reports. I later bought my dinner in the town centre prior to catching the 235 into Ashton.
My reason for reaching Ashton (for leisure purposes) was always as a good excuse to catch the 400 or 401. I caught the latter as its route via Abbey Hills Road held greater sway over the tedium of Hathershaw. On reaching Oldham, I boarded the more scenic route to Rochdale, the 58.
On reaching Rochdale, I looked around the market and returned on the 409 (to Oldham), 401 (to Ashton) and my bus back home which was the 40.
Without a pass (single fares only), the journey would have costed £11.15. As there was no day rover tickets for any bus in Greater Manchester (bar the Wayfarer), the journey would have costed roughly £3.60 with 2 single fares and a SuperGem Teen Day Saver (for both GM Buses North and GMS Buses).
Tuesday 9th July 1996
- 346: Dukinfield - Ashton-under-Lyne (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 219: Ashton-under-Lyne - Tameside College (Stagecoach Manchester);
- 346: Ashton-under-Lyne - Dukinfield (Stagecoach Manchester).
I actually had something to do at college that day.
Without the bus pass, this would have costed £2.00 - not even enough for a SuperGem Teen Day Saver.
