Ticket to ride — but not to stop!

DIVERTED: the popular 59 service now turns left from Middleton Road on to Broadway

BUS drivers are failing to stop along a diverted route — leaving fuming passengers miles from their destination.

Commuters have been left fed-up following the closure of a section of Middleton Road in Chadderton which has added 20 minutes or more to their journey.

But some have also found themselves facing a long walk home or having to catch another bus – because confused drivers refuse to pull-up at stops along the diversion.

The problems caused by travelling down the diverted streets because of carriageway improvement works have left both passengers and drivers baffled.

A section of Middleton Road between Broadway and Milne Street will remain one-way until November 6 and in both directions every Sunday until that date.

Claire Sykes (50), of Cragg Road, Oldham, revealed that First drivers are not stopping at designated stops: “I have to keep getting up to ask the drivers to stop, but most times they don’t, which leaves me with a long journey home from work. Once a driver told me he had been instructed not to stop until he was back on route, which leaves me with a lengthy walk.

“It’s not only me who is having problems. One driver last week decided not to follow the diversion and went up Broadway straight to Royton, meaning my niece and her friends had to get off at the Elk Mill retail park, cross the road and wait for a bus going back the other way!

“Along Broadway, it ends up doing one big loop taking in seven or eight extra stops — but the drivers won’t stop on the opposite side to save some people’s journey times.

“Why can’t the bus stops become dual stops for both the Manchester and Rochdale services until the diversion is over?”

A Royton resident also expressed her concerns over the diversion routes affecting the 24, 58, 59, 181 and 182 services.

She said: “Travelling to and from Manchester has been a nightmare.

“I realise the roadworks have to be done, but the thought of a few more weeks like this is depressing.”

A First spokesman apologised for the problems and promised: “We are talking to our drivers to ensure they know which stops they should use while this diversion is in place.”