The Witch Way

X43
Overview
Operator Transdev in Burnley & Pendle
Garage Burnley
Vehicle Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2
Predecessors Ribble Motor Services
Stagecoach North West
GM Buses
Route
Start Skipton, Nelson bus station
Via Colne M65 Burnley
Rawtenstall
M66
Prestwich
End Manchester, Chorlton Street
Length 28 miles (45 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency Monday-Saturday daytime:
15 (Burnley-Manchester)
30 (Nelson-Manchester)
Sunday daytime:
30 (Burnley-Manchester)
60 (Nelson-Manchester)
Evenings:
60 (Nelson-Manchester)
← {{{previous_line}}} {{{next_line}}} →

The Witch Way is the branding for long-standing English bus route X43, which runs between Nelson and Manchester. The service is currently operated by Transdev in Burnley & Pendle.

The route has operated continuously since 1948. It was previously operated by Ribble Motor Services, Stagecoach North West and Burnley & Pendle, while GM Buses briefly competed with Stagecoach on the route. During its history it has served several places no longer on the present route, including Bury, Colne, Skipton and the Trafford Centre. (Transdev extended the route to Skipton once again in Spring 2016).

The service was rebranded as The Witch Way in 2005 to coincide with the introduction of new vehicles. It had previously been branded as The X43 and before then was unbranded. Between 1982 and 1986 the route was known as Timesaver, with buses carrying dedicated liveries.

History

Route X43 was introduced between Colne and Manchester by Ribble Motor Services in 1948, replacing another route between Burnley and Manchester. In the early 1950s it was extended to start from Skipton. In 1978, the route was rerouted to use the new M66 motorway, bypassing Bury. Some journeys continued to serve the traditional route, as route number 743.[1]

Ribble Motor Services was privatised in 1986 in a management buyout. In April 1989 it was sold to Stagecoach.[2] In 1992, in response to competition on route 192, GM Buses used its Charterplan coaching subsidiary to compete with route X43 between Manchester and Burnley.[3] The competition ended in 1994 following Stagecoach's withdrawal from route 192.[1] Stagecoach went on to acquire the southern half of GM Buses in February 1996.[4]

For a short time in the late 1990s, the route operated through to Keighley, this ceased in 1999. In 1998 the route was extended south of Manchester to the Trafford Centre.[5] A further change in 2000 saw the northern end of route X43 rerouted to avoid Barnoldswick, prompting some criticism from local residents.[6]

Preserved Ribble Motor Services Leyland Titan as used on route X43 in the 1950s and 1960s

Stagecoach's operations in the Burnley area were sold to the Blazefield Group on 15 April 2001 and rebranded as Burnley & Pendle.[7]In June 2001 one X43 journey in each direction was extended through to Skipton and Hawes on summer Sundays.[8] This proved relatively successful, and the single-deck coach initially used was replaced by a double-decker.[9] It continued to operate into 2003,[10] but was withdrawn at the end of September.[1] Fares on the route increased by 30% in the two years up to August 2004, prompting some passengers to abandon the route in favour of a car sharing scheme.[11] Despite this, the route saw an average of 12% yearly growth between 2001 and 2004.[12]

In August 2005, the route was upgraded with new vehicles and rebranded as The Witch Way. The service frequency was increased to every 20 minutes,[13] with a Saturday frequency of every 30 minutes and a Sunday frequency of one bus per hour, while the extension to the Trafford Centre was withdrawn.[14] The section of route between Nelson and Colne was also abandoned, prompting criticism from local councillors, although the parallel "Mainline" routes 20-29 were increased in frequency to partially replace these journeys.[15]

Blazefield was sold to Transdev in January 2006.[16][17] During the first six months after the new vehicles were introduced, passenger numbers on the remaining section of route increased by 24.1%, with total passenger numbers up by 16.1%.[18] The route was shortlisted for a UK Bus Award in October 2006,[19] going on to win the Viacom Outdoor Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year award.[20]

In October 2011, the Witch Way services underwent a revamp with an increase of journeys between Burnley and Manchester, running every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday daytime, but with a reduction of journeys between Nelson and Manchester, running every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday daytime. Route X44, which differed from the regular route by additionally serving Edenfield, was also withdrawn from service, being partly replaced by route X8, which ran between Burnley, Rawtenstall and Manchester via Bacup, and First Greater Manchester's route X35, which was extended from Stubbins.[21][22]

On 1 November 2013, all buses were replaced with Volvo B9TL's which received a new Black, white and grey livery. These buses currently serve the X43.

On May 1st 2016 the route will see further changes with:
faster buses introduced at peak time between Manchester and Burnley
2 buses an hour will continue beyond Burnley to Skipton via the M65 and Colne
Nelson will no longer be served by Off Peak X43 buses
The 872 number will be dropped in favour of the X43 - All buses to Skipton/ Grassington will start in Manchester

Route description

Route X43 currently runs between Nelson and Manchester, serving the intermediate communities of Burnley, Rawtenstall and Prestwich. The service make use of both the M60 and M66 motorways. The routes also connect three notable educational establishments: Alder Grange Community and Technology School, Burnley College and Nelson and Colne College. Another point of interest on the route is the Singing Ringing Tree near Burnley.[23]

On Sundays, there are 7 journeys continuing on from Burnley towards Grassington via Skipton as the DalesBus service 872, and 7 return journeys from Grassington towards Burnley from where the normal X43 Sunday service towards Manchester continues. From May 1st 2016 all 872 journeys will be operated as the X43 and will start/end at Manchester. [24]

Vehicles and marketing

Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL outside Chorlton Street coach station in Manchester in March 2011. These were the buses used Before the Volvo B9TL's arrived.

Route X43 was initially served with a mixture of double-deck Leyland Titans and single-deck Leyland Tigers. In the early 1960s these were replaced by new Leyland Leopards. From 1974 coaches were used on the route, with Leyland Leopards again the preferred choice. In 1982 a small number were branded for the route, using the name Timesaver and the tagline Regular Motorway service.[1]

In 1984 the route was converted to double-deck operation using new Leyland Olympians painted in a unique white and blue livery with Timesaver branding. Four Leyland Tiger coaches in a yellow and red livery also using the Timesaver name, arrived a year later. The route branding was replaced by Stagecoach's corporate image of white with red, orange and blue stripes following their takeover of Ribble Motor Services in 1989.[1]

New Dennis Javelin coaches were introduced to route X43 by Stagecoach in response to the competition from Charterplan in 1992. The route was marketed as The Mancunian, with the vehicles carrying the name alongside Stagecoach corporate livery. The route was briefly operated with articulated coaches in 1996, but this proved short-lived owing to restrictions on their use in Rawtenstall, with services returning to Javelin operation.[1]

The Javelins were transferred away from the route shortly prior to Stagecoach's sale of the operation to Transdev, and the service was briefly operated with 15-year-old Leyland Olympians.[1] In July 2001 a fleet of 15 new Volvo B7TLs, which included improved interiors and CCTV cameras, were introduced to the route.[25]

In August 2005, the route was again re-launched, with 16 new Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs, again with unusual features including CCTV and leather seats. The new service took the branding "The Witch Way", with buses named after the Pendle witches from the 17th century, and was advertised with the slogan "business class as standard". The older B7TLs were displaced to Lancashire United's routes X40 and X41.[14]

On the 1st of November 2013 new vehicles were introduced to the route, in the form of 15 Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B9TLs. The buses carry a new silver livery which also features a new witch design. Additionally, free WiFi is featured to allow passengers to remain connected on their journey.[26][27]

Variants

Ribble Motor Services coach on the later withdrawn route 743 in Earby in August 1983
Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL on route X44 in Rawtenstall in September 2008 which is now withdrawn.

There has been five alternative routes similar to route X43 operated in the past. When route X43 was diverted away from Bury in 1978, some journeys continued to serve the town. These were numbered 743 and were operated by Ribble Motor Services with a mixture of coaches and buses. Route X43's infrequent extension to Skipton was also transferred onto route 743. The route was withdrawn in 1985 due to a fall in passenger numbers which coincided with the rebranding of the main route as Timesaver.[1]

Route X53 took a different route between Burnley and Rawtenstall, via Water and Waterfoot in the upper Irwell Valley. In the early 1960s these journeys were 4-hourly and started/ended at Burnley. By the 1970s frequency had declined to a southbound morning and northbound evening peak working, but it survived to be renumbered 753 when X43 became 743. It was withdrawn along with the 743.

A variation of the route operating via the Rossendale Valley between Rawtenstall and Burnley was introduced in 2002, taking the number X45. It was operated with route branded Volvo B10M coaches, but was cancelled after a year because of low patronage.[12] In early 2002, route X43 journeys which extended beyond Manchester to the Trafford Centre were renumbered to X42 to distinguish them from the short workings.[1] This pattern continued until the August 2005 rebranding, when the extension was withdrawn. The most recent variation was route X44, which ran until October 2011. It ran via Edenfield between Rawtenstall and the M66 motorway. This allowed commuters and shoppers to travel to/from Manchester with the service running several journeys during the day Mondays to Saturdays. The service was partly replaced by route X8, which operated two weekday journeys to Manchester and four weekday journeys from Manchester,[28] leaving Edenfield without a weekend service to Manchester. Route X8 has since been withdrawn.

Accidents

In November 1999, a bus travelling on the route from Manchester to Barnoldswick was involved in a crash with a car travelling in the opposite direction in Earby. Four passengers and the car driver suffered minor injuries.[29]

In September 2006, the driver of an X43 on the M60 motorway fell unconscious while the vehicle was moving. Irene King, a 47-year-old passenger, was able to take over control of the bus to prevent a serious accident. She won several awards for this action, including an award for Outstanding Bravery at the 2006 Pride of Britain Awards,[30] a Vodafone Life Savers Award, a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum, a Chief Constable's Commendation.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Marshall, Roy (2008). "From White Ladies to Black Witches". In Stewart J. Brown. Buses Yearbook 2009. Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 60–65. ISBN 978-0-7110-3295-8.
  2. ↑ Stagecoach Holdings plc and Lancaster City Transport Limited Monopolies & Mergers Commission December 1993
  3. ↑ Booth, Gavin (1994). "Three big groups: Stagecoach". Buses Focus: 38.
  4. ↑ Tooher, Patrick (26 February 1996). "Pensioners lead protest at pounds 41m Stagecoach takeover". The Independent (Independent News & Media). Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  5. ↑ "Shopping boss insists: "We don't fear Trafford Centre"". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 3 September 1998. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Anger as town misses the bus". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 5 September 2000. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  7. ↑ Burnley & Pendle Travel Ltd - a Blazefield Company BCN Society
  8. ↑ "Tourism chief starts service to the Dales". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 30 June 2001. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Sunday buses to the Dales will be doubled". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 20 August 2001. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  10. ↑ "Easier access to the beauty of the dales". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 11 June 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  11. ↑ "Bus users rebel over fares hike". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 7 August 2004. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  12. 1 2 Hesketh, Peter (September 2004). "A vision for Lancashire: Blazefield three years on". Buses (594): 24–26.
  13. ↑ "Blazefield: Going for growth". Bus & Coach Magazine. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  14. 1 2 Millar, Alan (October 2005). "Every witch way but Colne in Blazefield relaunch". Buses (607): 8.
  15. ↑ "Anger over cuts to bus services". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 30 August 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  16. ↑ Transdev acquires Blazefield Group Bus & Coach Professional 7 January 2006
  17. ↑ A new stop for Blazefield Yorkshire Post 9 January 2006
  18. ↑ "Magic for the 'Witch' buses!". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 16 February 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Luxury bus service up for award". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 16 October 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  20. ↑ "2006 winners". UK Bus Awards. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  21. ↑ "Changes to services in Burnley and Pendle from3oth October 2011". Transdev. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  22. ↑ "Bus service cuts to hit Burnley and Nelson commuters". Lancashire Telegraph. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  23. ↑ "X43 The Witch Way". Transdev. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  24. ↑ "Sunday DalesBus service X43/872 <<The Witch Way>>". Dalesbus. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "£2m new bus fleet hits road". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 16 July 2001. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  26. ↑ New fleet for Witch Way Bus & Coach Professional 7 November 2013
  27. ↑ New buses in £3m Witch Way investment Clitheroe Advertiser, 3 November 2013
  28. ↑ "Starship 8 and X8 timetable" (PDF). Transdev. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Driver trapped in collision with bus". Lancashire Telegraph (Newsquest). 30 November 1999. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  30. ↑ "Bus life-saver's night with the stars". Bury Times. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  31. ↑ "Bravery honour for bus heroine". Rossendale Free Press. Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2010.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 22, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.