Stagecoach Manchester

[John I]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(18/12/2015 21:06)Dentonian Wrote:  I've no doubt that there are problems on some corridors, particularly at peak times whilst work is going on, but I think it is mostly a smokescreen. The figure of "17 buses" added to the fleet is approximately the PVR of the 38 service, and if you've been following allocation changes over the last few months, you will see that nothing else has gone into the fleet, even though some services have had increased running time and (on paper) PVR. On top of that there is never a shortage of buses and drivers when other Stagecoach companies need bailing out (the latest being Devon, who are taking the first six of Hyde Road's new E400MMCs), or Metrolink Replacements are running.
Also, the £6.75 million a year extra cost, just happens to be slightly more than what Stagecoach get paid for tendered services (30% of which is school services - a low proprtion, overall), so that definately sounds like politicking.
I've had cause to travel from/to MRI and Salford Royal regularly this year, and off-peak especially, there have been no problems on sections of route where Stagecoach run. The problems have been confined to Shudehill/Victoria affecting First - although even their drivers are happy to sit in Shudehill way after scheduled departure time. Indeed, the 41 and 42 are so slack that First sit in Piccadilly for way more than the maximum five minutes without any Supervispr raising an eyebrow. In my experience, the only problems across the city centre are the usual poor parking and orange box blocking, mainly by Goods Vehicles. There is virtually no congestion except turning left from Princess Street into Portland Street, and Oxford Road/Street is no worse than its been for years, except maybe evening rush hour, due to Mancunian Way.
Talking of Mancunian Way, even that isn't causing problems on Hyde Road - certainly not in the evening rush hour.
From what I've seen (and your local service is one of them), far from putting extra resources in, Stagecoach are cutting services and maintaining already tight suburban running times - which are now tighter still due to additional loads being crammed onto remaining services. I can only assume that some of the schools have already finished, as I was amazed that my 203 came on time this morning, and only lost three minutes (two between Bulls Head and Houldsworth Square and one more into Stockport). However loadings were well down on usual with a few empty seats downstairs. This will be partly because we reached Sandy Lane by 0930 (Tw'early time) and traffic was light. The last time I made this journey on a weekday, my 203 was 18 late, with the next 10 late and a third about 5 late.
I'm pleased that TFGM have finally started publishing weekly bulletins (e-mail/free subscription), to warn people of scheduled disruptions, but schedules can change. What we do know is that - despite GMRAPS - Council Highways contractors are a law unto themselves, keeping roads closed or narrowed way into the evening peak, despite a 1530hrs finish normally being imposed, and its amazing how many vehicles with chevrons on the back and the words "Highway Maintenance" or similar, can be seen obstructively parked, speeding or have drivers smoking in the cab.
One valid point Chris Bowles raised - and it might be so he can say "we warned you" to passengers at a later date - was forthcoming resurfacing on Hyde Road and Stockport Road. I don't know the details of Stockport Road, but Hyde Road should have been resurfaced in the Summer of 2014, but is now scheduled to cause absolute chaos next Autumn & Winter. I understand it is a considerable length of the route (could be Manchester all the way to Hattersley AFAIK!) and incorporates the removal of the long redundant railway bridge at Reddish Bridge. Interestingly, these projects are Highways Agency projects, despite HA claiming the A57 (Manchester-Sheffield) was not a Nationally Strategic route when everyone from Stagecoach to Manchester City FC lobbied them to sort said Bridge out years ago! What is not known is how traffic will physically get through this point.
We know that Stagecoach are making no attempt to solve punctuality problems on Hyde Road/Reddish Road corridors with the January change, so the next oppurtunity will be April - which coincides with both the new financial year meaning TFGM need to look at major cuts to tendered services, and Arriva take over the Northern Rail franchise including the Hope(less) Valley line.

So to get back to your earlier question, if the 38 is withdrawn in April (or at least by the end of the University year), then I will believe what Stagecoach are saying. If however, it is more Reddish Road style swingeing cuts, elsewhere in traditional, densely populated, low car-ownership suburban parts away from Salford and South Manchester - then yes, its a Smokescreen.

One final comment, in reply to John's point. I think he is also spot on, with the additional management changes in 2013 (just before this damaging bus war with First started), being an equalky aggravating factor. A NIF who recently retired from Ashton depot tells me service and schedules changes are now a shambles, and it seems its down to certain staff not being replaced at all, rather than by people of equal competence. No names, but let's just say Manchester's loss is Yorkshire's gain!

I don't whether I am fortunate or not but here in Sale but Stagecoach (and Go Goodwin's) are the most reliable operators whereas both First and Arriva are the worst.
The drivers from one company seem to think that 'Sorry not in service' is a destination whilst the other operate two buses together on a fifteen minute frequency!