First v Stagecoach in Manchester

[Metroline1511]

RE: First v Stagecoach in Manchester

(30/08/2014 19:19)Dentonian Wrote:  I think if there were to be any more cross-towns it would have to be joining up existing routes, rather than additional resources being thrown at a bus war. The latter would raise the ire of the City Council, cost both Operators a lot of money and (if past experience is anything to go by) lead to the Operators taking their "eye off the ball" elsewhere. The 86 joining up with the 112 might indeed be a possibility (I doubt the 118 justifies a 10 minute service), especially as it serves the new Birley Fields campus of MMU

My suggestions are indeed joining up existing routes. As it is, the only real competition between First and Stagecoach is along the Wilmslow Road and Swinton via Salford corridors.

It occurs to me though that, apart from ex-Finglands and a handful of other routes like the 53 and 88, the standard Manchester City operator is Stagecoach. Most First routes serving Manchester are inter-urban routes from Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Bolton.