Arriva North West - Wythenshawe Depot

[BHA]

RE: Arriva North West - Wythenshawe Depot
I took a trip to Altrincham and Wythenshawe last Tuesday. What an eye-opener the 19 from Altrincham to Sale is. This route takes the slow road round Woodheys rather than the direct route up Washway Road. The 19 for some time has run a 15 minute frequency carrying on through to Manchester Airport. Pulsars are the order of the day now. However there is now a 19A double deck route also on a 15 minute frequency which requires 5 buses which were 4018, 4020, 4162, 4165 and 4167. This is not all!! Finglands now have a similar route 19 working the same route as the 19/19A running through Sale to Sale Moor which also needs 5/6 buses.

Thus there is currently a 5 minute frequency around the 35 minutes or so route from Altrincham to Sale. So much fresh air. I caught a 19A and had 4165 to myself for three parts of the journey and shared it with two others for the balance.

I see the 19A is advertised as 'School Term only" Why does is need to run during the middle of the day? Or am I missing something?

I should mention that there is also a 16 going through to Manchester Piccadilly every 30 minutes round this route. So 14 buses an hour????

After Sale I found Wythenshawe depot at last and 4161/3/6/8 were all there. No sign of 4171 but 2621 and 2622 were there from Bolton. Also 4013 and 4019 were in the depot so that is 4 Dafs still at WY. 2256 was towed in while I was there.

I was briefly in Manchester on Wednesday and saw 4161 on an evening 130 to Macclesfield. They look really smart in Interurban blue.