Rosso twits explain that 12th January was the anniversary of the purchase by Transdev. In fact Brands five and six do not happen until Sunday 27th, not quite within the amazing first year. But let's not be too picky, eh? Six rebrands in "just over" a year is very commendable.
Again, Rosso are jolly good at the twittering. Hints of the new livery in creation in the paint shop ...
... followed by one a day or two later out on service.
YJ07 OZU has been refettled from a former Rosso branded bus.
Bus travel between Bury and Rossendale is about to get and upgrade - say hello to Irwell Line. The 481 and 483 will come together to become Irwell Line, with amazing (yawn) refreshed buses featuring a smart new look and feel, with added creature comforts including contactless payments, free WiFi and USB power on board.
Both routes link Rawtenstall with Bury direct via the A56 ...
... omitting Rammy. The 481 strikes south east from Blackburn ...
... whilst one journey an hour on the 483 runs southbound from Burnley.
They come together at Rawtenstall to give the 15 minute frequency to Bury.
Now why doesn't Rosso include the full 15 minute frequency on both tables by adding 481s to the 483 and vice versa?
If your geographical knowledge is as weak as fbb's, you may not realise that the River Irwell ...
... runs parallel to the A56 - which makes Irwell Line an appropriate name.
The 482 will be replaced by more buses on Irwell Line 481 and 483. If you're travelling from Bacup to Bury, you can connect using the 464 – and you'll still be able to buy the same range of through tickets at no extra cost. The 7 & 8 will now run along Pennine Road, every hour.
Now why doesn't Rosso include the full 15 minute frequency on both tables by adding 481s to the 483 and vice versa?
If your geographical knowledge is as weak as fbb's, you may not realise that the River Irwell ...
The 482 will be replaced by more buses on Irwell Line 481 and 483. If you're travelling from Bacup to Bury, you can connect using the 464 – and you'll still be able to buy the same range of through tickets at no extra cost. The 7 & 8 will now run along Pennine Road, every hour.
The current service pattern has a 482 from Bacup ...
... but the poor 481 is still omitted between Rawtenstall and Bury.
There remains a 15 minute service on the 464 between Bacup and Rawtenstall but the Bacup loop via St James Gardens (called Pennine Road on map and explanatory text - consistency rules OK, NOT) ...
Brand Six - Trax
The existing 467 and 468 run via different routes between Rochdale and Bamford, both continuing via Jericho to Bury.
And, talking of First Bus, we need to go back to the Lakes Line.
Whatever ... from Sunday 27th a "new" Rosso service 457 joins the fray.
The 455 is operated by the amazing Rosso, but doesn't appear on Rosso's map. Good publicity, eh?
It takes an outstanding amazing intellect and true-grit determination to understand buses to Littleborough!
Next Rosso blog (plus) : Saturday 26th January
Pennine Road in Bacup is the Fire Station stop, as shown on the current 463 timetable. St James Gardens is the town centre stand. The 482 timetable does contain a note for appropriate journeys that "these buses operate via Pennine Road loop back to Bacup town centre".
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to how a relatively minor former municipal operator in Lancashire gained such a foothold in Greater Manchester, with sound commercial routes such as Rochdale to Bury and Bury to Tottington. It seems very surprising that these aren't run by First as successor to GM Buses (North). How did it come about?
ReplyDelete"It seems very surprising that these aren't run by First [insert numerous routes and even whole areas]. How did it come about?"
DeleteYou may well ask!
I look at my town's bus station, two First trunk routes now lost to an independent operator running at the highest frequency the routes have ever seen, and one Stagecoach trunk route again running at its best ever frequency and with Gold deckers which are only a few months old.
Why couldn't First do what Stagecoach has?
Or look at Southampton where Go Ahead now seems to be the dominant operator.
ReplyDeleteSee the anti-First crowd are out again.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of how Rossendale gained such a foothold in Greater Manchester, it pre-dates First. GM Buses closed their Rochdale depot in c.1991 and Rossendale already had their depot purchased with the Ellen Smith business.
As for the "other" example (which is Chippenham, I guess), then Faresaver simply had a very tough model to compete with (elderly van derived minibuses working around schools) and First had certain OFT limits placed on them.
Nothing "anti-First" here, just frustration and embarrassment at the way they [weren't] managed which led to such a decline.
DeleteIt is, however, hard to have any positive feelings towards an operator who shrivelled and died.