Bus service shake up

First Bus

First and Stagecoach will be making changes to bus services across Greater Manchester, including the Rochdale Borough, from 23 April.

First services affected in Rochdale include the 17 between Rochdale, Middleton and Manchester, the 18 between Langley, Middleton and Manchester, the 471 between Rochdale, Bury and Bolton, and the 58 service between Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton.

The 17 service will also see the 23.42 bus from Manchester extend all the way to Rochdale seven days a week. Currently, this service only operates on Fridays and Saturdays, terminating at Middleton on Sunday-Thursday.

Phil Medlicott, Managing Director of First Manchester, says the changes to the First services will be ‘minor’.

He explained improvements will be made to at least two services, including ‘improving the punctuality of services on the 58 route’ between Rochdale and Middleton following customer feedback, whilst the 18 service from Langley and Middleton will see three of the six hourly services extend to Manchester Royal Infirmary, following the completion of road works on Oxford Road.

He said: “We are pleased to announce that some journeys on service 18 will resume the cross-city operation to Manchester Royal Infirmary, due to the completion of the road works on Oxford Road.

“Buses will continue to operate from Langley and Middleton approximately six times per hour during the day on weekdays, with three of these extended through to the hospital. The other three buses will continue to finish at Chorlton Street until all road works are completed.

“In response to customer feedback, we are changing route 58 in the Oldham and Rochdale area to improve the punctuality of the service.”

A spokesman for Stagecoach confirmed there will be ‘minor changes’ to two current routes, and that Stagecoach will be taking over the 81 service (currently operated by First) between Holts and Manchester.

The changes will affect the 112 service between Middleton and Manchester, and the 118 service between North Manchester General Hospital and Manchester, will run less frequently in the evenings to accommodate the 81 service.

On weeknights, the two 112 services at 21.04 and 21.24 will be combined to one service at 21.13 from 23 April.

From Piccadilly, the current buses at 21.00 and 21.20 will be combined on to one bus at 21.05 from 23 April.

On Sunday, there are extra buses being put on from Middleton at 21.43 and 22.43, and from Piccadilly at 21.05, 22.05, 23.05, 23.45.

Other services across Greater Manchester will also be affected by changes including the relocation of Bury and Tameside operations, which will affect First services 95, 350, 468, 471, 511 and 524, and some Arriva bus services (which don’t service Rochdale).