Hey Farm Joins The 343 Route

Rerouting of off-peak journeys

Since the 27 January 2014, all off-peak Monday to Saturday journeys have called additionally at Hey Farm Estate. This change sees Oldham bound journeys pass the Dysarts Arms before turning left into Moorlands Drive, before returning to Huddersfield Road and joining Manchester Road. All Hyde bound 343s after turning onto Huddersfield Road now turn right onto Moorlands Drive before continuing to Micklehurst.

Before late January, residents on the Hey Farm Estate have had to change for the 343, 353, 354 or train at Bottom Mossley for Stalybridge. A journey to Hyde or Dukinfield meant changing at Ashton-under-Lyne. Today, you can now stay on the 343 after boarding at Moorlands Drive, which is a good thing, unless you’re travelling on Sundays, Bank Holidays or evenings.

Evening journeys operated by First Greater Manchester still use the 1980 route and are unaffected by the above changes.

S.V., 20 February 2014.

Stott’s Take Over Weekday Service

Daytime journeys of 343 to transfer from Stagecoach Manchester to Stott’s of Oldham

The latest instalment of the Continuing Saga of the Former SpeedwellBus Journeys reaches a new twist this coming Monday. Coinciding with the start of the spring/summer term, Stott’s of Oldham will take over the daytime service of our favoured bus route. There will be slight changes to the timetable, allowing for the traffic on schooldays journeys and of course, the Metrolink works at Mumps Bridge.

Stott’s of Oldham is a familiar face around these parts. They have operated the 342 and 344 (Hyde – Backbower Circular) routes since January. Stagecoach Manchester will take over these routes from Monday, swapping a longer 344 (the solitary weekday journey via Waterhead) for several more succinct local journeys around Hyde. In Dukinfield, they have operated the weekday 41 (Crowhill – Ashton – Dukinfield) service which has been taken over by First Pioneer. Though they already operate the evening, weekend and Bank Holiday services, they will become the sole operators of the 41 – this time with a fleet of brand spanking new hybrid Solo SRs.

Elsewhere, JPT Travel’s Saturday service will be rerouted to follow the weekday route, via Hey Farm and Roaches. One wonders how long it would be before First’s route follows suit.

We wish Stott’s of Oldham the best of luck with the 343. They’ve operated a most reliable service on the 41, so we shouldn’t expect anything less.

S.V., 14 April 2012.

Carrbrook Village Returns to the 343 Route

Postponed route revision reinstated

After a gap of nearly two years, Carrbrook Village will be reconnected to the 343 route on a Monday to Friday basis. Following requests from residents forced to change at the Buckton Castle for Top Mossley and beyond, this will save them the joys of getting a 348 or S48 that will connect with the 343 itself. A further change to the route involves the addition of new links to Roaches and Hey Farm.

Dysarts Arms Diversion Delayed

GMPTE’s proposed changes postponed

From next Sunday, the 343’s weekday and Saturday service was going to serve Hey Farm and Roaches avoiding the section of Huddersfield Road between Mossley Hollins School and the Stamford Arms. The proposed route would have gone via Staley Road and Winterford Road prior to joining the top part of Huddersfield Road and Manchester Road.