While I associate autumn bus service changes with September, there are some companies that do them in October and Stagecoach Manchester is among them. Mostly, the alterations are about maintaining punctuality but there are some due to low patronage and loss of Transport fro Greater Manchester (TfGM) contracts too. Here then is a list of what is changing:
Service 7: Stockport – Ashton
To improve punctuality, Monday to Friday journeys will be re-timed.
Service 15: Flixton – Manchester
To improve punctuality, Saturday morning journeys re-timed.
Service 23, 23A: Stockport – intu Trafford Centre
Monday to Saturday daytime services re-timed to run every 30 minutes. Together, they provide a bus every 15 minutes between Stockport and intu Trafford Centre.
Service 24: Stockport – MediaCityUK
Unfortunately owing to low patronage, it has become necessary to withdraw service 24.
Service 33: Wigan – Manchester
Monday to Saturday evening journeys will operated by Diamond. Sunday timetable revised.
Service 34: Bryn – Manchester
Buses will no longer serve the bus stop on the A6 at Westwood.
Service 43: Manchester – Manchester Airport
To improve punctuality, Monday to Saturday journeys will be re-timed.
Service 50: MediaCityUK – East Didsbury
By customer request, an additional late journey will be introduced Monday to Saturday at 00:10 from MediaCityUK.
Service 53: Cheetham Hill – Salford Shopping Centre
Service will be operated by First Manchester.
Service 56A, 57A: Bank House – Manchester
This service has been discontinued by TfGM.
Service 129: Middleton – Hollin circular
Daily evening and Sunday daytime service introduced following the award of a TfGM contract partially replacing service 156.
Service 156: Manchester – Middleton
Service curtailed to run between Manchester and Middleton only. Travel between Middleton and Hollin will be provided by new service 129.
Service 203: Stockport – Manchester
To improve punctuality, Saturday and Sunday morning journeys re-timed.
Service 219: Ashton – Manchester
To improve punctuality, Monday to Friday peak time journeys re-timed.
Service 250: intu Trafford Centre – Manchester
Early morning journeys before 06:00 revised to provide additional journeys. Monday to Friday, buses will leave Manchester Piccadilly at 05:09, 05:34 and 05:59. From intu Trafford Centre buses will leave at 05:47, 06:12 and 06:37.
Service 255: Partington – Manchester
To improve punctuality, Monday to Saturday early morning journeys will be re-timed.
Service 256: Flixton – Manchester
To improve punctuality, Saturday morning and Sunday daytime journeys will be re-timed.
Stagecoach Manchester are revising their bus services in North Manchester, Oldham & Tameside South Manchester & Stockport, Salford & Wigan and the list of affected services is at the bottom of this entry. On service 86, the 04:55 journey from Piccadilly to Chorlton is withdrawn and service 634 no longer will be operated by Stagecoach. Service 85A is being withdrawn and journeys are replaced with route 85, which runs via Alexandra Road South to Arrowfield Road instead of via Withington Road and Whalley Range. The last Monday to Saturday evening journeys on service 313 will be 22:20 from Stockport and 22:46 from Grove Lane while Sunday evening journeys stay as they are. To end on a more promising note, service 118 frequency will be increased to four per hour (every 15 minutes) on Sundays so their are more buses serving North Manchester General Hospital.
North Manchester, Oldham & Tameside
7, 56, 57, 81, 112, 118, 216, 219, 221, 231, 236, 237, 347.
South Manchester & Stockport
7, 11, 11A, 15, 23, 23A, 24, 42, 42A, 42B, 50, 53, 85, 85A, 86, 101, 102, 103, 111, 142, 143, 168, 171, 172, 179, 192,
201, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 250, 255, 256, 309, 310, 312, 313, 330, 345, 358, 368, 370, 372, 374, 375, 380, 381, 383, 384.
Salford & Wigan34, 38, 50, 540, 600, 621, 628, 630, 634, 658.
The usual September overhaul of bus services that I have seen in Cheshire also extends to Merseyside as you will see from the list below. As it happens, I always wonder if this type of thing is often better done six months earlier in the year so that lengthening hours of daylight help to bed in any innovations with more success. Still, I reckon that the trigger usually is the start of new academic year in schools, colleges and universities so there is some sense to the timing. All the changes are in order of service number regardless of Mersey side region so you may see the same service number reused in different places.
1/2 Liverpool – Chester
Monday to Friday times are changed.
1/1A/1B/1C Moreton Circulars
New group of circular services introduced by Merseytravel, to be operated by A2B Travel. Route 1 runs from Moreton Cross via Leasowe rail station, Leasowe Ross Avenue, Moreton Shore to Moreton Cross – hourly, Mon to Sat daytime. Route 1A runs from Moreton Cross via Leasowe rail station, Reeds Lane, Moreton Shore to Moreton Cross –hourly, evenings and all day Sunday . Route 1B runs from Moreton Cross via Borrowdale Road to Saughall Massie, Bermuda Road, Curlew Way (replacing the 901) and Town Meadow to Moreton Cross- hourly Mon-Sunday and Route 1C runs from Moreton Cross in the opposite direction to Route 1A – hourly, evenings and all day Sunday.
10 Liverpool – St Helens
Evening and all Sunday journeys no longer serve Liverpool ONE bus station but now start at Victoria Street stop VE, at the far end, past Crosshall Street. Times are changed.
10/10A New Brighton – Arrowe Park Hospital
Route 10 is curtailed to run between New Brighton and Liscard (Victoria Central Hospital) only. Times are changed. Route 10a times are changed. Both services now operate on Mondays to Fridays only, the Saturday service is withdrawn.
12/13 Liverpool – Stockbridge Village circulars
Daytime service returns to a combined 6 minute frequency.
14 Liverpool – Murdishaw
The 0857 schooldays only journey from Belle Vale is withdrawn. The main service is unchanged.
15 Liverpool – Huyton
The Mon-Fri daytime frequency is increased to every 7/8 minutes. Mon-Sat journeys now start from Sir Thomas Street. Times are changed.
16/17 Moreton – Clatterbridge Hospital
A new schooldays only journey (17S) is introduced from Moreton Cross at 0745 serving Bebington High School and Wirral Grammar School replacing school journeys on Routes 650 and 652. The main timetable is unchanged.
18 Liverpool – Croxteth Park
Saturday frequency reduced to every 12 minutes and the Sunday frequency is reduced to every 20 minutes. The Monday to Friday service is unchanged.
19 Liverpool – Gilmoss
Monday to Friday: From Liverpool – the evening 1953 journey is withdrawn. From Gilmoss – a new early morning 0713 journey is introduced. The main service is unchanged.
20/21 Liverpool – Tower Hill/Northwood
Monday to Friday daytime frequency returns to every 10 minutes. The rest of the timetable is unchanged.
26/27 Sheil Road Circulars
Monday to Friday times are changed. Saturday and Sunday service is unchanged.
37 St Helens – Eccleston
New hourly Sunday daytime Merseytravel service introduced, to be operated by Huyton Travel. The Monday to Saturday service is unchanged.
38/38A West Kirby – Bromborough
One daytime journey per hour and all evening and Sunday journeys are extended from Bromborough Retail Park/Riverside Park to Mill Park via Bromborough Cross, Acre Lane, Plymyard Avenue and Eastham Village. Times are revised.
38A St Helens – Rainford
The times of the evening and Sunday Merseytravel journeys have changed.
44X Crossens – Walnut St/Formby
Schoolday only journey from Ainsdale (0820) to Southport (0845) is re-introduced. The main service 44 is unchanged.
52/52A Liverpool – Netherton/Old Roan
Monday to Saturday evening journeys are retimed. Sunday daytime journeys now run to Netherton only, no longer extending through to Old Roan, while the evening journeys are retimed.
53 Liverpool – Crosby
Monday to Saturday frequency returns to every 6/7 minutes. Times are changed.
60 Bootle – Aigburth
Monday to Friday daytime frequency reduced to every 12 minutes. Saturday times are changed but Sunday service is unchanged.
60 St Helens – Windle Hall Drive
A new Monday to Saturday journey is introduced, leaving at 1735. Main service is unchanged.
76 Liverpool – Halewood
Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to hourly. Monday to Friday and Sunday service is unchanged.
79/79D Liverpool – Netherly/Halewood
Monday to Friday frequency increased to every 5 minutes. Times are changed.
81/81A Bootle – Speke
Monday to Friday daytime frequency returns to every 20 minutes. Times are changed.
82/82D Liverpool – Liverpool South Parkway/Speke
Combined frequencies reduced. 82 is re-routed in Liverpool city centre. Now comes into Liverpool via St James Street and Park Lane, omitting Great George Stree, Berry Street, Renshaw Street and Hanover Street.
83 Prenton – Liverpool
Route 83: the 0635 (Mon-Fri) and 0800 (Sat) journeys are withdrawn.
84/85 Clatterbridge Hospital – Raby Mere/Heswall
Both routes are revised with Route 84 now running between Heswall, Clatterbridge Hospital, Poulton Lancelyn, Bromborough and Mill Park to Raby Mere and new Route 85 running the same route to Mill Park then extending to Eastham Ferry. The service operates an hourly frequency, with the extension to Raby Mere and Eastham Ferry offered every 2 hours.
86/86A/86D Liverpool – Garston/ Liverpool JL Airport
Service frequencies return to the pre-summer level.
88/88A West Kirby – Heswall/Neston
Routes are curtailed to run between West Kirby and Heswall only. Route 88a journeys now operate every day. Some times are changed.
90 Birkenhead – Prenton Circular
Service now starts from Birkenhead bus station, now longer serving Woodside and is also rerouted to serve the Holmlands Estate off Woodchurch Road. Times are changed.
91/92 Birkenhead – Prenton
Hourly Saturday daytime service introduced. Operated for Merseytravel by A2B Travel.
106 Liscard – Moreton Cross
Now runs as a circular service between Liscard and Wallasey Village via New Brighton. No longer serves Leasowe, Moreton, Wallasey Road, Cliff Road, Mill Lane or St Georges Road. Operates to a 70 minute frequency.
110 New Brighton – Clatterbridge Hospital
Early morning journeys are renumbered 410.
111 Parr – Lea Green Station
Journey now operated for Merseytravel by Huyton Travel. Times are unchanged.
112 New Ferry – Poulton Lancelyn
Service is withdrawn.
113 New Ferry – Heswall
Service is withdrawn.
118/119 New Brighton – Mill Park
Monday to Saturday evenings and Sunday service is withdrawn.
124/125 Wallasey Circulars
Services are rerouted and are extended from Seacombe Ferry to Woodside and no longer run as circulars. Route 124 now runs via Wallasey Village, Breck Road, Poulton Road, Seacombe to Woodside. Route 125 now runs via Warren Drive, New Brighton, Liscard, Liscard Road, Seacombe to Woodside. All times are changed.
137 St Helens – Billinge
Service now operated for Merseytravel by Huyton Travel. Times are unchanged.
145/146 Various – Eastham Ferry
Route 145: Most journeys are withdrawn, with just a few early morning journeys remaining. Birkenhead – Eastham Ferry Route 146 is withdrawn.
154 Birkenhead – Prenton
Service is withdrawn.
155 Birkenhead – Higher Tranmere
Service is withdrawn.
156 St Helens – Ashton
The Monday to Friday 0620 is retimed to leave at 0630 (as the Saturday journey). The main service is unchanged.
175 Heswall – Irby Circular
Service is now operated for Merseytravel by A2B Travel. Times are unchanged.
203 Woodside – Seacombe Ferry
See 403/413 info below.
218 Woodside – Mill Park
See 418/419 below.
254 Bold (Travers Entry) – Warrington Interchange
New schooldays only journeys introduced by Link Network. Leaves Bold at 0750 serving St Gregory’s School (0835), then returning from St Gregory’s at 1505 arriving back at Bold at 1551.
286 Eastham Ferry – New Ferry
Service is withdrawn.
293 Woodside – West Kirby
Service is withdrawn.
300 Liverpool – Lydiate/Southport
Monday to Friday times are changed. Saturday and Sunday service unchanged.
352A Orrell – St Helens Bus Station
New schooldays only journey introduced by Link Network. Leaves Orrell Water Park at 0852, arriving at St Helens bus station at 0919 for Winstanley College.
403/413/423/203 Woodside/Birkenhead – Seacombe
Route 403 is withdrawn (the section of route between Wallasey Village and Seacombe Ferry is replaced by new/revised routes 408/409 – see below). Route 203 journeys are replaced by additional Route 423 journeys. Seacombe – Liverpool Route 413 is unchanged. Route 423 is rerouted and no longer serves the Sandrook Estate, is extended via Seacombe to Birkenhead bus station and some times are changed.
408 Woodside – Wallasey Village Circular
New Monday to Saturday half hourly daytime service introduced by Arriva. Runs via Birkenhead bus station, Four Bridges, Seacombe, Poulton Road, Breck Road, Wallasey Village, Liscard, Seacombe, Four Bridges, Birkenhead bus station and back to Woodside (although it is rerouted at the moment due to the work on Four Bridges).
409 Woodside – Wallasey Village Circular
Service is rerouted to run in the opposite direction to Route 408 – see above. Times are changed.
410/110 New Brighton – Clatterbridge Hospital
Route 410: Saturday service frequency is reduced, with buses offering a 15 minute frequency between New Brighton and Birkenhead and a 30 minute frequency through to Clatterbridge Hospital. Evening journeys no longer serve Woodside and some times are changed. Route 110: Early morning journeys are renumbered 410 and are retimed and early Sunday morning journeys will no longer serve Woodside.
411 Woodside – New Brighton
The late evening journeys are now operated by Arriva, with some minor changes to times.
418/419/218 Woodside – Mill Park
Route 419 is withdrawn. Route 218 journeys are renumbered 418 and the new 418 route now runs a circular route between Birkenhead bus station and New Ferry via Laird Street, Beechwood, Arrowe Park Hospital and Woodchurch Road. Times are changed.
487 Liverpool – Neston/Parkgate
The Monday to Friday schooldays only journey from Neston to Birkenhead bus station is withdrawn. The main service is unchanged.
492/495 Woodside/Birkenhead – Noctorum circulars
Evening and Sunday journeys are extended through to serve Arrowe Park Hospital. Daytime service is unchanged.
607 Upton – Storeton Lane
The 1555 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
608 Ridgeway High School – St. James Church
The 1525 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
621 Upton Station – West Kirby
The 0815 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
630 Woodchurch High School – Moreton Cross
The 1525 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
635 Weatherhead School – Town Meadow Lane
The 1537 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Eazibus.
650 Ridgeway High School – Wirral Grammar School
Journey withdrawn but replaced by new Route 17 journey – 17S from Moreton Cross at 0745.
652 Moreton – Wirral Grammar School
Journey withdrawn but replaced by new Route 17 journey – 17S from Moreton Cross at 0745.
657 Hindley – Gathurst
0755 schoolday only journey for St John Rigby College is now operated for TfGM by Greater Manchester Buses South. Times are revised.
666 St Julies – Childwall Valley Rd
The afternoon schoolday only journey now leaves the school at 1535.
673 Barnston – West Kirby
The 0804 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
702 Oxton – West Kirby
The 1600 journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
705 Thingwall – Noctorum
The 0725 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
712 Ridgeway High School – Bebington station
The 1700 schooldays only journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Arriva.
713 Hard Lane – Queens Park School
Now operated for Merseytravel by Hatton’s Travel.
716 Cowley hill School – Elton Head Road
Now operated for Merseytravel by Hatton’s Travel.
718 Sutton Manor – St Cuthberts School
Now operated for Merseytravel by Hatton’s Travel.
741 Southport – All Hallows RC School
Schooldays only journeys operated by Preston Bus on behalf of Lancashire CC. The morning journey leaves Southport at 0720 (arriving 0835) and returns at 1500 (arriving 1618).
780 Prescot – Rainford High Technology College
Morning journey now leaves Prescot at 0733 (arriving 0835) and returns from the College at 1525 (arriving back at Prescot at 1627)
781 Seaforth Station – Crosby
Journey now leaves Seaforth station at 0751, arriving in Crosby at 0806.
787 Liverpool South Parkway – Hope University
0805 schooldays only journeys now operated for Merseytravel by Selwyns Travel.
821 Netherton – Liverpool
Journey now operated for Merseytravel by Avon Buses. Times are unchanged.
892 Bootle – Kirkby Admin
The 0611 journey is now operated for Merseytravel by Avon Buses.
901 Leasowe – Moreton
Service is withdrawn.
X3 Liverpool – Kirkby/Knowsley Industrial Park
Monday to Friday late morning/early afternoon and all day Sunday frequency is reduced to hourly.