Axe falls on bus services
COMMUTERS are to be affected after First Bus cancelled a number of Rochdale services.
The 24 route, that runs to Manchester, has been withdrawn as it is no longer “commercially viable” while several others have had their
timetables changed.
The 181/182, 454/457 and 6 bus routes have all been part of the changes which will come into effect from Sunday, September 1.
First Bus estimate that an average of just 6.55 passengers board between Rochdale and Royton on the morning journeys of the 24.
A First Bus spokesman added: “Unfortunately we’ve had to withdraw service 24 as it is no longer commercially viable across the route at peak times. Customers on the Rochdale - Royton sections of route can now change between 409 (High frequency) and 181/2 providing 4 buses per hour at peak times.”
Alternative services are available - including the Go North West service 17 between Rochdale and Manchester via a different route and the First service 409 between Rochdale and Royton.
The First 181/182 between Rochdale and Manchester is also an option but this has been reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly on Monday to Saturday daytime.
The peak service will continue to operate every 30 minutes will co-ordinate with the 182 to provide three buses per hour on ‘key sections’. Announcing the changes on their website, First said: “We have been making changes to our operation over the past six months to provide greater stability to the bus network across Greater Manchester and as part of a recent review, we will be introducing service changes from Sunday 1 September.”
Elsewhere, the Rochdale – Littleborough – Stansfield 454/ 457 route will no longer be operated by First Bus - but will be partly replaced by new Service 588 provided by First West Yorkshire.
The 6 bus to Kirkholt will also now operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday - instead of every 12 minutes.
Tracey Lynam, who lives in Balderstone, said she will be most affected by the changes to the 181 service’s day-time schedule.
The 49-year-old said: “I will be taking my daughter to her singing lesson and its on the 181 route there is absolutely no point me using the Metrolink as there is no stop for where her teacher lives and for them to make it hourly means I now have to be on an early bus just to get her there or it’s a tram to Shaw and a taxi out each week.”
Tracey, who works as a council officer, said she also uses the 181 to visit a relative in a Royton nursing home.