For parents of students who catch the 926 bus…

For parents of students who catch the 926 bus.

 

 

We wanted you to know that we are aware of the concerns that parents have that their child is unable to get a place on the 926 bus as it is too full.    We have an open dialogue with TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) in support of our parent community.  Below is the advice that we have received so far from Alban Green at TfGM.    As a school, we have concerns about additional costs to Turton families, and also that the solution only covers Harwood, and not all areas including Breightmet.   If you have concerns that you would like to raise, here is the contact page for TfGM: Contact form | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

 

Mr Oxley and Mrs Lane

(Assistant Head Teachers - Turton School)

 

 

FROM TGfM

The position of the low bridge on Turton Road means a double deck vehicle cannot be used on service 926. We currently have a 70-capacity single deck vehicle allocated to the route.

We’ve discussed possible options regarding this issue, and we have examined patronage data from services operating over the past few days. Unfortunately, we are unable to allocate a double deck vehicle to service 926 without requiring a lengthy diversion, which isn’t feasible. Similarly, we have no spare funding to allocate a second single-deck bus to service 926, and as you may be aware, there is currently a shortage of bus drivers locally, and in the wider industry, and I don’t believe allocating a second vehicle would make full use of the limited resources available.

Instead, I’d like to work with you to provide the information your pupils need to make their journeys using the public bus network. There are alternatives available on the public bus network from Harwood to Turton School that fall within the statutory guidance for home-to-school journeys. As part of the Bee Network there’s an aim to encourage further use of buses and active travel and I believe encouraging pupils now is the right approach to allow them to be more confident making journeys by public transport into the future. Additionally, pupils using the public bus network contributes to the ongoing financial stability of the network and allows us to invest more in those bus services.

 

Alternative routes:

Pupils travelling from Harwood are able to use services 480 and 507 from Harwood to Bradshaw Brow, to connect with services 533 and 541 to Toppings.

 

In the morning, pupils can catch:

  1. 507 Bus at 07:15 from Harwood White Horse, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 541 Bus at 08:15, to arrive at school approx. 08:25.
  2. 507 Bus at 07:50 from Harwood White Horse, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 541 Bus at 08:21, to arrive at school approx. 08:30

 

In the afternoon, pupils can catch:

  1. One of two 541 Buses both leaving Turton School at 15:07, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 507 Bus at 15:23 or 480 Bus 15:39.
  2. 533 Bus at 15:30 from Turton Road, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 507 Bus at 16:00.

 

Below are links to the TfGM website, for the timetables for services mentioned above and for the TfGM journey planner, which can be used to show other possible alternatives, such as walking and cycling as well as public transport.

480_22-SC-0561.pdf (ctfassets.net)

533_23-SC-0442.pdf (ctfassets.net)

507_23-SC-0438.pdf (ctfassets.net)

541_23-SC-0444.pdf (ctfassets.net)

 

Cost of tickets:

The £7.60 ticket is for school buses only (i.e. 926) and the £10.50 ticket is for all services, public and school. So, while it may be an increase compared to if people buy the £7.60 ticket, with the £10.50 ticket it’s only 50p more than if they were to buy single tickets each way every day, so is more cost effective. The £10.50 also has the added benefit that it can be used at all times, unlimited travel across 7 days, so you do get more use out of the £10.50 ticket.

 

 

For parents of students who catch the 926 bus.

 

 

We wanted you to know that we are aware of the concerns that parents have that their child is unable to get a place on the 926 bus as it is too full.    We have an open dialogue with TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) in support of our parent community.  Below is the advice that we have received so far from Alban Green at TfGM.    As a school, we have concerns about additional costs to Turton families, and also that the solution only covers Harwood, and not all areas including Breightmet.   If you have concerns that you would like to raise, here is the contact page for TfGM: Contact form | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

 

Mr Oxley and Mrs Lane

(Assistant Head Teachers - Turton School)

 

 

FROM TGfM

The position of the low bridge on Turton Road means a double deck vehicle cannot be used on service 926. We currently have a 70-capacity single deck vehicle allocated to the route.

We’ve discussed possible options regarding this issue, and we have examined patronage data from services operating over the past few days. Unfortunately, we are unable to allocate a double deck vehicle to service 926 without requiring a lengthy diversion, which isn’t feasible. Similarly, we have no spare funding to allocate a second single-deck bus to service 926, and as you may be aware, there is currently a shortage of bus drivers locally, and in the wider industry, and I don’t believe allocating a second vehicle would make full use of the limited resources available.

Instead, I’d like to work with you to provide the information your pupils need to make their journeys using the public bus network. There are alternatives available on the public bus network from Harwood to Turton School that fall within the statutory guidance for home-to-school journeys. As part of the Bee Network there’s an aim to encourage further use of buses and active travel and I believe encouraging pupils now is the right approach to allow them to be more confident making journeys by public transport into the future. Additionally, pupils using the public bus network contributes to the ongoing financial stability of the network and allows us to invest more in those bus services.

 

Alternative routes:

Pupils travelling from Harwood are able to use services 480 and 507 from Harwood to Bradshaw Brow, to connect with services 533 and 541 to Toppings.

 

In the morning, pupils can catch:

  1. 507 Bus at 07:15 from Harwood White Horse, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 541 Bus at 08:15, to arrive at school approx. 08:25.
  2. 507 Bus at 07:50 from Harwood White Horse, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 541 Bus at 08:21, to arrive at school approx. 08:30

 

In the afternoon, pupils can catch:

  1. One of two 541 Buses both leaving Turton School at 15:07, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 507 Bus at 15:23 or 480 Bus 15:39.
  2. 533 Bus at 15:30 from Turton Road, then change at Bradshaw Brow for 507 Bus at 16:00.

 

Below are links to the TfGM website, for the timetables for services mentioned above and for the TfGM journey planner, which can be used to show other possible alternatives, such as walking and cycling as well as public transport.

480_22-SC-0561.pdf (ctfassets.net)

533_23-SC-0442.pdf (ctfassets.net)

507_23-SC-0438.pdf (ctfassets.net)

541_23-SC-0444.pdf (ctfassets.net)

 

Cost of tickets:

The £7.60 ticket is for school buses only (i.e. 926) and the £10.50 ticket is for all services, public and school. So, while it may be an increase compared to if people buy the £7.60 ticket, with the £10.50 ticket it’s only 50p more than if they were to buy single tickets each way every day, so is more cost effective. The £10.50 also has the added benefit that it can be used at all times, unlimited travel across 7 days, so you do get more use out of the £10.50 ticket.