Council climbs on board the TIF bus

OLDHAM Council has thrown its weight behind the £3billion TIF bid saying it will mean a bus bonanza for the borough.

Residents across Greater Manchester are preparing to go to the polls to say whether they accept the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) — which will bring a public transport revolution but mean a peak-time congestion charge in and out of Manchester.

Earlier

Oldham Council says the scheme will not only bring trams through the town centre but bus services will be transformed beyond recognition — making a vast difference to the lives of thousands of local people.

Buses will start running earlier in the day and later in the evening.

Across the borough there will be a 10 per cent increase in bus services — doubling to a 20 per cent rise in Oldham on Sundays and in the evenings.

Improvements also include feeder bus services to rail stations and the new Metrolink tram stops, making integrated public transport in Oldham a reality for the first time.

Council leader, Councillor Howard Sykes said: “The big debate across Greater Manchester focuses on the congestion charge, but 95 per cent of our residents in Oldham will not pay it.

“However, 100 per cent of our residents will have the option to benefit from the vast improvements to our bus services. We will see more frequent and more reliable buses throughout the day and more modern and comfortable buses.

“There will be a more comprehensive bus service, ensuring all parts of the borough enjoy the real benefits of public transport. It will be a revolution in public transport.”

The target is to ensure 90 per cent of Oldham residents are within a five minute walk of a bus stop that provides a 20 minute bus service in the day and a 30-minute evening and weekend service. Bus priority will also be enhanced, providing faster journeys with increase reliability.

The school run will also be transformed with nine more yellow buses, increasing to 20 by 2018.

Councillor Sykes added: “There are so many gains for the borough as part of this programme.”


How Oldham’s services could improve:

:: Oldham – Limeside – Failsworth – Manchester: increased to operate every 10 minutes during the day, every 30 minutes in the evenings and every 20 minutes on Sundays, with extra peak journeys operating between Woodhouses, Newton Heath and Manchester.

:: West Chadderton – Oldham: increased from hourly to every 30 minutes during the day, Monday to Saturday. Will start earlier and will be re-routed to serve Royal Oldham Hospital.

:: Frequency of the Oldham – Alkrington – Middleton service increased to every 10 minutes between Oldham and Chadderton, during the day, Monday to Saturday. Evening and Sunday frequency will be increased to every 30 minutes between Oldham and Middleton.

:: Oldham – Moston – Manchester: increased to run every 30 minutes in the evenings and every 20 minutes on Sunday daytimes.

:: Shaw – Rushcroft – Buckstones: circular service every 20 minutes (rather than every half-hour), Mondays to Saturdays and every 30 minutes Sunday daytimes to provide a local feeder service to Metrolink at Shaw & Crompton station.

:: Greenfield – Oldham – Manchester: increased from 2 to 4 buses an hour, during Monday to Saturday daytimes, it will link to the Huddersfield/Diggle/Uppermill service at Grasscroft to 8 buses per hour to Oldham, continuing via Copster Hill to Manchester. Evening and Sunday services increased to every 30 minutes.

:: Sholver – Oldham – Manchester: increased to every 7/8 minutes during the day, every 20 minutes in the evenings and every 15 minutes on Sundays, to provide 16 buses per hour on Oldham Road between Hollinwood and Manchester in conjunction with the Uppermill – Greenfield – Manchester service.

:: Shaw – Oldham - Middleton – Manchester: increased to run every 7/8 minutes Monday to Saturday during the day, every 20 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays

:: Stalybridge – Grotton - Oldham: service diverted to serve Huddersfield Road, Waterhead, and increased to run every 30 minutes, with alternate journeys extending to Ashton.

:: Denshaw/Carrcote – Uppermill – Mossley – Ashton: services will be combined to operate as a single service running hourly throughout the week.

:: Frequency of Rochdale – Shaw – Royton – Chadderton – Manchester service: increased to run every 30 minutes on Sundays.

:: Frequency of Holts – Oldham – Fitton Hill service: increased to operate every 20 minutes on Sunday daytimes. improve:n Oldham – Limeside – Failsworth – Manchester: increased to operate every 10 minutes during the day, every 30 minutes in the evenings and every 20 minutes on Sundays, with extra peak journeys operating between Woodhouses, Newton Heath and Manchester.

:: West Chadderton – Oldham: increased from hourly to every 30 minutes during the day, Monday to Saturday. Will start earlier and will be re-routed to serve Royal Oldham Hospital.

:: Frequency of the Oldham – Alkrington – Middleton service increased to every 10 minutes between Oldham and Chadderton, during the day, Monday to Saturday. Evening and Sunday frequency will be increased to every 30 minutes between Oldham and Middleton.

:: Oldham – Moston – Manchester: increased to run every 30 minutes in the evenings and every 20 minutes on Sunday daytimes.

:: Shaw – Rushcroft – Buckstones: circular service every 20 minutes (rather than every half-hour), Mondays to Saturdays and every 30 minutes Sunday daytimes to provide a local feeder service to Metrolink at Shaw & Crompton station.

:: Greenfield – Oldham – Manchester: increased from 2 to 4 buses an hour, during Monday to Saturday daytimes, it will link to the Huddersfield/Diggle/Uppermill service at Grasscroft to 8 buses per hour to Oldham, continuing via Copster Hill to Manchester. Evening and Sunday services increased to every 30 minutes.

:: Sholver – Oldham – Manchester: increased to every 7/8 minutes during the day, every 20 minutes in the evenings and every 15 minutes on Sundays, to provide 16 buses per hour on Oldham Road between Hollinwood and Manchester in conjunction with the Uppermill – Greenfield – Manchester service.

:: Shaw – Oldham - Middleton – Manchester: increased to run every 7/8 minutes Monday to Saturday during the day, every 20 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays

:: Stalybridge – Grotton - Oldham: service diverted to serve Huddersfield Road, Waterhead, and increased to run every 30 minutes, with alternate journeys extending to Ashton.

:: Denshaw/Carrcote – Uppermill – Mossley – Ashton: services will be combined to operate as a single service running hourly throughout the week.

:: Frequency of Rochdale – Shaw – Royton – Chadderton – Manchester service: increased to run every 30 minutes on Sundays.

:: Frequency of Holts – Oldham – Fitton Hill service: increased to operate every 20 minutes on Sunday daytimes.