Why? Probably because the timetables are based on the previous pre-Bee Network services, and services weren't coordinated between the previous operators (First for the 348 and Stagecoach for the 237).
Similar with the 231 and 230 running through littlemoss. Both always seem to end up running together which seems a bit pointless.
There's plans to do full network reviews in every area, so that's probably the best point for them to review this stuff.
Doesn't the 25 cover areas of Heaton Moor and also later on passes Barlow Moor Road tram stop?
The 348 would seem to make more sense being run from Ashton depot now rather than Oldham.
Yeah, although the 23 & 25 have common section Chorlton to Stretford, they're both go on different routes, as shown on the Manchester South bus map.
There's more than a few routes where the routes are assigned to a large franchise and the depot allocations seem to make no sense. Ashton does multiple Stockport school services, and the 382 which runs Stockport to Woodley.
Several routes seem to have been removed from Stockport depot and spread around elsewhere - for example, the 313 and 368 that were moved to Wythenshawe and Sharston respectively. It's perhaps strange that the 330 didn't get the same treatment, given there's an obvious alternative depot to run it from (Ashton) and it would have avoided leaving Stagecoach with that small nonstandard fleet of Wrightbuses. I can only speculated as to why this was done, but I would imagine it had something to do with the delays being encountered in relocating/electrifying Stockport depot.
The 330 was for many many years an Ashton depot service that moved to Stockport on changeover night.
Yeah, I doubt TfGM were anticipating that Diamond would hoover most of the small franchises up and run them out of Eccles. It will be interesting to see what happens with the small franchises when they come up for renewal. After all, there were hardly loads of SME bus operators left in Greater Manchester, and it's hard to imagine who would bid for a small franchise next time. No new SMEs are going to be created on the hope they may win. Belle Vue and Vision Bus are about the only obvious contenders. Maybe a coach company already doing schools contracts may decide to try their luck. But without some change, then the chances are they'll simply get outbid.
Why was Wigan not included in the itinerary above?
Bit too far out of the way, I could still see it being part of it (maybe with a non-loop upgrade of the 609, like London's SL8), it was a conscious choice to leave it out.
I put it out to avoid having a service closely paralleling the train between Wigan and Bolton.
Look at the map - it’s on a limb rather than anything more sinister!
It would work now for West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and South Yorkshire (it would be more of a 'super triangle' shape in South Yorkshire). They have major towns circulating around the edge of the region with routes which are already core services with high frequencies. It would really only need a rebrand and a couple frequency lifts for the weakest links.
Indeed, the rough sketch is almost a circle. (+ a circle for reference) (map from https://www.systemonetravel.co.uk/assets/public/downloads/S1-Travelcard-Guide-March-2023-WEB.pdf)
Looking at what tranport modes the settlements on the proposed route already have in addition to bus services....
Yes but none of those directly parallel the proposed bus route (except tram Rochdale-Oldham).
