Correct, when Tranche 3 began TfGM withdrew the funding for the 199 which only applied to some journeys within Greater Manchester so never applied to Disley (the only section within Cheshire East), it came in after COVID around maintaining the service level to Manchester Airport and particularly the early/late timetable (the evenings were changed after the funding ended with the short trips between the Airport and Stockport being withdrawn due to the loss of that funding).
They pay Arriva for a small number of Sunday PM services on the 320. Assume they can still issue de-min contracts?
The 199 was a de-min contract, you would have to ask TfGM what the difference between those two routes was as to why one lost its funding and the other didn't.
D&G withdrew service 312 from Wilmslow to Handforth Dean immediately after the S106 funding ran out in March 2025.
The 8 was operated commercially on a Sunday before 2020, so no reason to think that wouldn't have kept going. The 38 was extended from Crewe to Marshfield on a Sunday (part of weekday route 85), which is a service that has never returned since. There was also funding agreed for a supported Sunday service from Northwich to Shavington via Middlewich, Leighton Hospital and Crewe that was planned to start in 2020 (service 36?) but didn't go ahead because of Covid; Sunday buses to Leighton Hospital have only recently returned on the 12
Yeah, the 38 did run via the Marshfield estate to Nantwich up to 2018 as per the current 85. Just like the 5, 8 and 12 (or 12E), they were all supported by Cheshire East, the only time any journeys were run commercially on a Sunday was after the 2018 review. Pretty sure there was a very limited Sunday service to Leighton Hospital for a while in 2018 but not sure how long that lasted.
Once again thanks for this useful information.
There are a few late evening journeys on the 38 which are operated by Macclesfield depot - the vehicle operates 3’s and 10’s in Macc all day before going on to the 38, which would explain the smaller bus.
Thanks for clarifying this. It seems as though the 1915 and 2150 from Macclesfield and the 2035 and 2305 from Crewe are all operated by Macclesfield based vehicles.
Id have thought Cheshire East would have funded services which are profitable Monday-Saturday for a Sunday service first, given they would be more likely to be sustainable long term
Worth saying that there isn't much commercial stuff left in Cheshire East though. In part due to persistent failings over many years by both operators and the council.
Profitable is probably a bad word for it. More it will lose less money than the 19. If the 85 can be gotten down to < 30 minutes each way on Sundays to get a nice hourly service with 1 bus. I agree though it could be slightly better than a 19.
42 I don't think would be the best thing for Middlewich, I'd do the 37 same as Sundays. 1 bus Winsford-Middlewich which ideally links into the 38 (as this is something that the 37 has done for years on the short trips to maintain connections). The 42 would be 2 buses and it plods around areas that don't tend to use the bus much anyway. Least the 37 is, as you kind of suggested earlier, putting a Sunday service on an largely commercial route.
The bulk of the commercial services are in and around Crewe (8, 12, 31, 37, 38, 84, 84X, 85 and 103). I believe the only other CEC services that are commercial are the 3, 10, 14, 19/19A (Upton Priary section only) and 58 in Macclesfield plus the 42C (serves Handforth Dean only) and 199 (Disley).
Perhaps but 35 minutes allows for 1 bus to operate every 90 minutes, which if on opposite times to 84 on a Sunday could allow a regular 45-minute service between Crewe and NantwichProfitable is probably a bad word for it. More it will lose less money than the 19. If the 85 can be gotten down to0 minutes each way on Sundays to get a nice hourly service with 1 bus. I agree though it could be slightly better than a 19.
This was more if South Cheshire only had 1 Sunday addition with BSIP, the 42 would serve Frank Webb Avenue/Rolls Avenue, which is a dense part of Crewe which the 85 does, allows Leighton to see more buses which is a strategic goal and connects to Middlewich only, largest town without a rail service in CEC. A 2-hourly could then operate including driver breaks if did Crewe - Middlewich only
The Shavington part doesn't fit for just 1 bus and 1 driver operation on Sunday whilst maintaining a near hourly service. An extension to Shavington would require another resource.
Yes the 37 and 38 (plus other routes) have amended timetables for morning and evening peaks to cover the traffic
Most of these commercial services still receive a good amount of funding for various parts of the service. IF you remove all parts which get any funding, you aren't left with an awful lot.
They increase slightly, but not by much. However D&G timetables are generally well padded to start with (for example, on Tuesday afternoon, the 15:35 38 left Crewe 4 mins late, got to Haslington on time but still got into Sandbach 6 minutes early, sat for a minute at both Arclid Crossroads & West Heath, then still got into Congleton Bus Station 6 minutes early https://bustimes.org/services/38-crewe-macclesfield/vehicles?date=2025-07-15#journeys/751818638).
Thanks for the update! Is there a similar scheme planned for Crewe during Makers Market (serving areas of North Crewe which don't have a Sunday bus?)
I wouldn’t know unfortunately but I’ve been planning this Treacle Market service for a while now and am looking forward for it to materialise.
They could possibly run the bus via the old 44 route via the main road to Shavington although it could be a bit of a squeeze time wise. It also depends on whether the demand from Shavington was better than that from Fuller Dive and Whirlow Road.
Maybe it's a swap for the versas that are due at longton
