Changes to Bus Services in South Manchester - April / May 2022

 Hello Everyone!

My name is Ant and I have joined the team to help contribute on the Greater Manchester side of things. For my first post I am going to detail a few changes to the TfGM Tendered Bus Network within Greater Manchester this time mostly focusing on the South of the City which is better known as Trafford.

Arriva North West (Wythenshawe Depot)

Route 18 which runs from Manchester Airport to The Trafford Centre has been won from Diamond. Existing Wythenshawe allocated VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar single deckers are being used on the daytime service. The 18 is also altered to run via Ashton-upon-Mersey & Flixton hence omitting Stretford.

Optare Versa Hybrid 30141 YJ61 JFV on the Penultimate day of Route 18 under Diamond operation. It is believed these buses have returned to TfGM. 22/04/22.

Evening journeys on Route 245 are also now back in the hands of Arriva but this service has been severley cut back to run between The Trafford Centre and Stretford Metrolink Stop only. Also returning to Arriva are evening journeys on Route 247 at the time of writing their is no major timetable change to these journeys.  

Altrincham Local Routes 281 to 287 have been won from Little Gem. As a result several of the former Winsford based Mercedes/ Mellor Strata Minibuses are now allocated to Wythenshawe Depot. 

Arriva North West Mercedes/ Mellor Strata Minibus 4705 LM17 WOC is seen turning back towards Altrincham Interchange having almost completed a trip on the 282 Oldfield Brow Circular. 03/05/22.

Routes 280 & 288 are operated by Arriva on Sundays & Evenings Only. Route 280 only runs as far as Dunham Massey on a Sunday at every 2 Hours, see further down for more info on the 280.  

Diamond Bus North West (Eccles Depot)

Route 254 is a new Monday to Saturday daytime route which operates as a circular from Stretford serving Humphrey Park, Urmston, Lostock and the Shetland Way Estate. This partly replaces Route 84A.   

Go Goodwins (Little Gem) 

Route 44 has been taken on from Selwyns Travel albeit has changed to merge the East Didsbury to Altrincham section of the Old Route 288. The 44 now runs from Piccadilly Gardens to Altrincham via Didsbury Village, Northenden & Wythenshawe Hospital. 

Route 280 is a new route linking Altrincham and Sale via Dunham Massey, Partington & Carrington running every hour during Monday to Saturday Daytime. 

Route 288 has been cut as a result of the New 44 Route. Route 288 is ran by Little Gem on Monday to Saturday Daytime and operates between Altrincham, Hale Barns Village & Manchester Airport on an hourly frequency. 

Recently arrived at Little Gem are 3 Fiat Ducato Minibuses with Mellor Bodywork. These being 1958 SJ22 HKP, 1959 SJ22 HKT and 1960 SJ22 HKU. They are primarily for use on Routes 280 and 288 and are based at the former Mayne facility at Warrington. 

Little Gem Fiat Ducato/ Mellor 1958 SJ22 HKP departing from Altrincham Interchange on Route 280 to Sale. 03/05/22. 

Thank you for reading! Be sure to check back soon for future updates including a post from Terence on the Volvo B5LH MCV eVoSeti deckers that are entering service with Go North West, coming soon!