East Cheshire Bus Services

[Shauny]

Monday to Friday departures for Macclesfield Bus Station, Knutsford Bus Station & Wilmslow Bank Square

MACCLESFIELD BUS STATION DEPARTURES

0555 38 Crewe Bus Station

0640 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0650 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

0650 87 Knutsford Bus Station

0655 38 Crewe Bus Station

0655 130 Manchester Airport

0700 60 Hayfield Bus Station

0705 14 Moss Rose Estate

0705 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

0710 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0725 14 Moss Rose Estate

0725 19 Prestbury, McCanns

0735 3 Weston Estate

0740 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0744 109 Leek Bus Station

0745 14A Langley via Moss Rose

0745 130 Manchester Airport

0805 3 Weston Estate

0805 38 Crewe Bus Station

0810 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0812 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

0815 58 Buxton Market Place

0820 87 Knutsford Bus Station

0830 14 Moss Rose Estate

0835 3 Weston Estate

0840 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0840 19A Whirley Barn

0850 14 Moss Rose Estate

0905 3 Weston Estate

0905 38 Crewe Bus Station

0910 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0915 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

0915 130 Manchester Airport

0920 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

0925 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

0930 14A Langley via Moss Rose

0935 3 Weston Estate

0940 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

0940 19 Prestbury Turning Circle

0945 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1005 3 Weston Estate

1005 38 Crewe Bus Station

1010 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1010 14 Moss Rose Estate

1010 109 Leek Bus Station

1015 58 Buxton Market Place

1015 130 Manchester Airport

1020 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1030 14 Moss Rose Estate

1035 3 Weston Estate

1040 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1040 19A Whirley Barn

1045 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1050 14 Moss Rose Estate

1105 3 Weston Estate

1105 38 Crewe Bus Station

1110 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1110 14 Moss Rose Estate

1115 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1115 130 Manchester Airport

1120 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1125 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

1130 14A Langley via Moss Rose

1135 3 Weston Estate

1140 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1140 19 Prestbury Turning Circle

1145 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1154 109 Leek Bus Station

1205 3 Weston Estate

1205 38 Crewe Bus Station

1210 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1210 14 Moss Rose Estate

1210 60 Hayfield Bus Station

1215 58 Buxton Market Place

1215 130 Manchester Airport

1230 14 Moss Rose Estate

1235 3 Weston Estate

1240 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1240 19A Whirley Barn

1245 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1250 14 Moss Rose Estate

1305 3 Weston Estate

1305 38 Crewe Bus Station

1310 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1310 14 Moss Rose Estate

1315 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1315 130 Manchester Airport

1320 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1325 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

1330 14A Langley via Moss Rose

1335 3 Weston Estate

1340 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1340 19 Prestbury Turning Circle

1345 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1405 3 Weston Estate

1405 38 Crewe Bus Station

1410 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1410 14 Moss Rose Estate

1415 58 Buxton Market Place

1415 130 Manchester Airport

1420 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1430 14 Moss Rose Estate

1435 3 Weston Estate

1438 109 Leek Bus Station

1440 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1440 19A Whirley Barn

1445 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1450 14 Moss Rose Estate

1505 3 Weston Estate

1505 38 Crewe Bus Station

1510 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1510 14 Moss Rose Estate

1515 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1515 130 Manchester Airport

1520 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1525 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

1530 14A Langley via Moss Rose

1535 3 Weston Estate

1540 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1540 19 Dean Row, Lees Lane

1545 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1605 3 Weston Estate

1610 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1610 14 Moss Rose Estate

1610 38 Crewe Bus Station

1615 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1620 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1625 130 Wythenshawe Interchange

1635 3 Weston Estate

1638 109 Leek Bus Station

1640 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1640 14 Moss Rose Estate

1640 19 Prestbury, McCanns

1645 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1700 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1705 3 Weston Estate

1710 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1710 14A Langley via Moss Rose

1715 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1720 38 Crewe Bus Station

1735 3 Weston Estate

1735 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

1740 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1740 19 Prestbury Turning Circle

1745 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1745 130 Handforth, The Paddock

1750 14 Moss Rose Estate

1750 60 New Mills Bus Station

1805 87 Knutsford Bus Station

1810 10 Bollington, Cotton Tree

1810 14 Moss Rose Estate

1825 60 Rainow, The Robin Hood

1830 38 Crewe Bus Station

1838 109 Leek Bus Station

1845 58 Buxton Sylvan Park

1850 60 Whaley Bridge Railway Station

1910 391 Stockport Bus Interchange

1915 38 Crewe Bus Station

2020 38 Crewe Bus Station

2150 38 Crewe Bus Station

2250 38 Crewe Bus Station



KNUTSFORD BUS STATION DEPARTURES

0710 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

0730 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

0820 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

0858 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

0903 89 Northwich via Wincham

0925 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

0948 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1030 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1058 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1103 89 Northwich via Wincham

1130 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1158 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1230 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1258 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1303 89 Northwich via Wincham

1330 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1358 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1440 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1458 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1540 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1558 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1603 89 Northwich via Wincham

1640 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1715 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1740 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow

1810 87 Macclesfield via Chelford

1855 88 Altrincham via Wilmslow




WILMSLOW BANK SQUARE DEPARTURES

0625 88 Altrincham Interchange

0630 88 Knutsford Bus Station

0703 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

0733 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

0738 88 Knutsford Bus Station

0745 130 Manchester Airport

0753 88 Altrincham Interchange

0835 130 Manchester Airport

0907 88 Knutsford Bus Station

0909 88 Altrincham Interchange

0934 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

0953 130 Manchester Airport

1009 88 Altrincham Interchange

1018 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1034 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1053 130 Manchester Airport

1109 88 Altrincham Interchange

1118 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1134 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1153 130 Manchester Airport

1209 88 Altrincham Interchange

1218 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1234 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1253 130 Manchester Airport

1309 88 Altrincham Interchange

1318 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1334 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1353 130 Manchester Airport

1409 88 Altrincham Interchange

1418 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1434 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1453 130 Manchester Airport

1518 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1519 88 Altrincham Interchange

1536 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1607 130 Manchester Airport

1619 88 Altrincham Interchange

1635 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1647 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1722 130 Wythenshawe Interchange

1730 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1802 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1819 88 Altrincham Interchange

1828 88 Knutsford Bus Station

1836 130 Handforth, The Paddock

1902 130 Macclesfield Bus Station

1928 88 Knutsford Bus Station

 

[SeanM1997]

Just how little commercial services there are in Cheshire East that don't serve Crewe is interesting to see (only 3, 10 and 14 in Macclesfield and 42C in Handforth). More needs to be done to boost travel - and part of the issue is the TfGM boundary:

- The 42B terminates at Woodford, just 4 miles from Wilmslow
- The 42C terminates at Handforth Dean, just 3 miles from Wilmslow (D&G 312 has ended due to S106 ending but this would have been an ideal route to merge the two)
- The 192 terminates at Hazel Grove, just 2 miles from Poynton

If Cheshire East and TfGM could work together to extend these services, it would really open connectivity - make Wilmslow and Poynton town centres more accessible, and improve bus perception and patronage. It would take very little resources to do both (could inter-work the Wilmslow ones, and 192 could fit in existing schedule with juggling)

 

[jfollows]

Many years ago there was a 190 service which ran limited-stop along the A6 and then through Poynton to Woodford.
Presumably the demand for services like this, with the increase in car ownership, made them less viable.
As a schoolboy I’d use the 190 occasionally (and I moved away from Poynton in 1976) but I can’t imagine anyone who has a car or can use the train would use such a service today.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Many years ago there was a 190 service which ran limited-stop along the A6 and then through Poynton to Woodford.
Presumably the demand for services like this, with the increase in car ownership, made them less viable.
As a schoolboy I’d use the 190 occasionally (and I moved away from Poynton in 1976) but I can’t imagine anyone who has a car or can use the train would use such a service today.

I think an extended 192 every 15 mins to the centre of Poynton would make sense, to connect into rail services towards Sheffield/Buxton at Hazel Grove and for journeys into Poynton.
I agree that an express variant of the 192 to Poynton/Woodford/other Cheshire East locations would be pointless though, traffic on the A6 (especially north of Stockport) would handicap any skip-stopping badly.

 

[daodao]

I think an extended 192 every 15 mins to the centre of Poynton would make sense, to connect into rail services towards Sheffield/Buxton at Hazel Grove and for journeys into Poynton.
I agree that an express variant of the 192 to Poynton/Woodford/other Cheshire East locations would be pointless though, traffic on the A6 (especially north of Stockport) would handicap any skip-stopping badly.

The days of joint limited stop service 20 (Manchester to Woodford via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Poynton) are long gone. However, East Cheshire Council have just funded an increase in service frequency on route 391 between Stockport and Poynton to hourly (Monday to Saturday daytime) with effect from 31st March 2025, which frankly is all that will be viable nowadays.

 

[jfollows]

My main memory of the 190 was that it cost 2p inside Greater Manchester, so I think to the A5143 junction which I knew as “Five ways” (oh, yes, there’s a pub called The Fiveways), then something like 10p for the relatively short journey on to Clifford Road, Poynton.
Even then I only used it for the variety since I normally used the train and had a season ticket for it.
I enjoyed the A6 journey simply because it was even then terrible but I just watched because I wasn’t in a hurry.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The days of joint limited stop service 20 (Manchester to Woodford via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Poynton) are long gone. However, East Cheshire Council have just funded an increase in service frequency on route 191 between Stockport and Poynton to hourly (Monday to Saturday daytime) with effect from 31st March 2025, which frankly is all that will be viable nowadays.

Great news. Hopefully it is successful.

 

[SeanM1997]

The days of joint limited stop service 20 (Manchester to Woodford via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Poynton) are long gone. However, East Cheshire Council have just funded an increase in service frequency on route 391 between Stockport and Poynton to hourly (Monday to Saturday daytime) with effect from 31st March 2025, which frankly is all that will be viable nowadays.

It's a shame that they couldn't work with TfGM to use the funding to extend the 192 every hour to Poynton (and every two hours to Macclesfield) - meaning less resources and more successful as offers through Stockport connectivity

 

[Llandudno]

I think an extended 192 every 15 mins to the centre of Poynton would make sense, to connect into rail services towards Sheffield/Buxton at Hazel Grove and for journeys into Poynton.
I agree that an express variant of the 192 to Poynton/Woodford/other Cheshire East locations would be pointless though, traffic on the A6 (especially north of Stockport) would handicap any skip-stopping badly.

Connecting into rail services at Hazel Grove for Sheffield….?

 

[py_megapixel]

I think an extended 192 every 15 mins to the centre of Poynton would make sense, to connect into rail services towards Sheffield/Buxton at Hazel Grove and for journeys into Poynton.

Every 15 mins might be tricky, since the frequency on that existing section is 10 mins for most of the day. I agree with the sentiment though. Realistically half-hourly would probably be sufficient, ideally timed so that the 391 fits into the middle of one of the 30 min gaps, and would need only one additional bus. It would be the best public transport service Poynton had seen in years!

I do wonder about the reliability though. The A6 is notoriously congested. It doesn't matter too much for the current 192 with so many buses all going to the same place and nobody aiming for a specific bus in the timetable - the average gap between buses might get a bit longer, but as long not unacceptably so to passengers, everyone's happy. But if you start introducing infrequent extensions then the punctuality of each individual bus does start to matter, because certain passengers will now need to aim a specific one.

A better solution might be to take that single bus (probably in fact a smaller, cheaper bus than the gigantic ones on the 192!) and use it to provide a half-hourly shuttle from Poynton to the current 192 terminus just south of Hazel Grove. With the new TfGM fare structure, passengers could then change onto the next available 192 at no additional cost.

Sadly trains to Sheffield don't stop at Hazel Grove, though perhaps it would be useful for connectivity if that were to change.

 

[daodao]

It's a shame that they couldn't work with TfGM to use the funding to extend the 192 every hour to Poynton (and every two hours to Macclesfield) - meaning less resources and more successful as offers through Stockport connectivity

Routes 192 and 391 are like chalk and cheese. The former is a high frequency urban route that replaced Manchester's last first generation tramway service in 1949 and uses double deck vehicles to maximise capacity. The latter is a low frequency rural and interurban service provided by small single deck buses. Combining them isn't sensible.

 

[Redmike]

I think it’s safe to say that if Wilmslow, Handforth and Poynton had joined Greater Manchester in the early 70s then they’d have a much better bus service now. In areas like Stockport so much of the traffic comes from Cheshire and Derbyshire which makes the end of routes like the 130, 190, 191 and 378 seem shortsighted.

 

[jfollows]

I think it’s safe to say that if Wilmslow, Handforth and Poynton had joined Greater Manchester in the early 70s then they’d have a much better bus service now. In areas like Stockport so much of the traffic comes from Cheshire and Derbyshire which makes the end of routes like the 130, 190, 191 and 378 seem shortsighted.

I’m sure you’re right.
Back in the day I remember my father arguing against the “Keep Poynton in Cheshire” campaign because it was founded on the dubious claim that the “rates” were higher in Manchester. He argued that if Poynton, Wilmslow etc. were added that the rates would come down. The current “council tax” rates in Cheshire East are penal and we get less for our money every year. So I think my dad was right also.

Wilmslow’s bus services are rubbish, I agree, I last used the 130 when it went to Cheadle but now it doesn’t even do that. It’s become a self-reinforcing decline for a number of years.

 

[Simon75]

The days of joint limited stop service 20 (Manchester to Woodford via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Poynton) are long gone. However, East Cheshire Council have just funded an increase in service frequency on route 391 between Stockport and Poynton to hourly (Monday to Saturday daytime) with effect from 31st March 2025, which frankly is all that will be viable nowadays.

Im surprised The 391/392 doesn't serve Stepping Hill hospital

 

[AlastairFraser]

Connecting into rail services at Hazel Grove for Sheffield….?

Forgot that they had fixed New Mills!

Every 15 mins might be tricky, since the frequency on that existing section is 10 mins for most of the day. I agree with the sentiment though. Realistically half-hourly would probably be sufficient, ideally timed so that the 391 fits into the middle of one of the 30 min gaps, and would need only one additional bus. It would be the best public transport service Poynton had seen in years!

I do wonder about the reliability though. The A6 is notoriously congested. It doesn't matter too much for the current 192 with so many buses all going to the same place and nobody aiming for a specific bus in the timetable - the average gap between buses might get a bit longer, but as long not unacceptably so to passengers, everyone's happy. But if you start introducing infrequent extensions then the punctuality of each individual bus does start to matter, because certain passengers will now need to aim a specific one.

A better solution might be to take that single bus (probably in fact a smaller, cheaper bus than the gigantic ones on the 192!) and use it to provide a half-hourly shuttle from Poynton to the current 192 terminus just south of Hazel Grove. With the new TfGM fare structure, passengers could then change onto the next available 192 at no additional cost.

Sadly trains to Sheffield don't stop at Hazel Grove, though perhaps it would be useful for connectivity if that were to change.

Half hourly would be a good start. Every 15 mins could probably be better expressed as 4bph (with an interval of less or more than 15 mins depending on 192 timetable).
You have a fair point about reliability on the 192, although it's important to note that 192s regularly turn back at Stockport or Stepping Hill too.
I can't see the 391 turning back at Hazel Grove being popular sadly, I know the hopper fare would allow people to switch buses, but a lot of people who use the 391 are elderly or vulnerable shoppers heading to Stockport and would not be particularly comfortable changing.

 

[daodao]

I think it’s safe to say that if Wilmslow, Handforth and Poynton had joined Greater Manchester in the early 70s then they’d have a much better bus service now.

Woodford, within Greater Manchester, is sited between these 3 settlements. It is similar in character in terms of housing and has a large new housing development on the site of the former Avro aerodrome. It has no railway station and just 1 bus per hour (daily except late evenings) which runs to Manchester rather than Stockport.

All the outer South Manchester / North Cheshire settlements south of the River Mersey outwith inner Stockport and Wythenshawe, whether within Greater Manchester or still in Cheshire East, have very limited bus services, reflective of likely demand in these prosperous car-owning suburbs, with the exception of the few places that had become urbanised over 100 years ago and had first-generation tramways, such as Hazel Grove, inner Sale/Sale Moor and inner Altrincham.