New Wilmslow to Handforth Dean bus service to replace axed 378

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 11^th April 2017

Tue 11^th Apr 2017

Wilmslow and Handforth residents are getting a new bus service later this month to partially replace the current 378 service.

As reported on wilmslow.co.uk last month, the Stagecoach 378 service will no longer operate in Cheshire East from April 23rd but will terminate at Grove Lane on the Stockport border, instead of travelling on to stop at Ollerton Road and The Green in Handforth before proceeding to Benson Walk, Holly Bank Road, Lacey Green and Bank Square. Thus leaving Spath Lane and Lacey Green residents without a bus service.

However, D&G Bus, which operates services in Cheshire, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, has decided to launch a new commercial service which will travel from Wilmslow Station to Bank Square, Lacey Green and up Manchester Road to Handforth and Spath Lane.

Unlike the current Stagecoach service, the new D&G 378 will not cover the Colshaw Farm Estate, which is served by an Arriva service, or go to Stoockport instead it will continue onto Handforth Dean.

The new 378 service will launch on Sunday, 23rd April, and run roughly every hour Monday to Friday. The earliest bus will leave Spath Lane at 8.14am, with the last bus returning to Spath Lane 7.57pm.

Chris Almond, Bus Network Manager at D&G Bus, told wilmslow.co.uk "We see this as an interesting opportunity to expand our service as we've never really run services in this area before. We have a service from Wilmslow to Knutsford and Altrincham so this new service compliments the existing one."

Janet Taylor set up a petition to 'Keep the vital 378 bus route to Wilmslow' said "We would sincerely like to thank Handforth Parish Council and Wilmslow Town Council for their support in this matter and the D&G Bus Company for stepping in and ensuring the community still have this valuable service.

"Special thanks go to our wonderful community who helped us collect over 3500 signatures on the petition."

Click here to view the timetable for the new D&G 378 service.

Photo: The Stagecoach 378 which will terminate on the Stockport border from April 23rd. Credit Martin Vincent Photography.

Tags:: D&G Bus, Stagecoach 378 Service

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Richard Burgess

Tuesday 11^th April 2017 at 5:55 pm

This is good news as there's a bus every hour from Handforth dean to Stockport I think it's 57 minutes past the hour.
Thanks d&g.

DELETED ACCOUNT

Tuesday 11^th April 2017 at 6:24 pm

This is a good initiative from a different company. A dedicated bus to Handforth Dean - especially if it goes through the Stanley Green estate would enable many people to get to work.

David Hoyle

Tuesday 11^th April 2017 at 9:45 pm

Looking at the route I don't think it goes through Stanley Green.

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 9:58 am

David, the route is down as "Handforth Dean internal roads". If it is going up Manchester Road - presumably it will go the back way in to Handforth Dean and then round up to the top. This would take it through Stanley Green.

Jon Armstrong

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 10:54 am

That isn't what the route information says. It says that after leaving Spath Lane, it will go up Wilmslow Road, onto the A555 airport link road in the Woodford direction, turn off onto the A34 and then into "Handforth Dean internal roads", suggesting it will either go in the entrance at the Boots end (although I'd wonder if the tight turns and bridge make this unlikely) or in the main entrance by Marks and Spencer.

Richard Bullock

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 11:34 am

An interesting timetable clash. If you wanted to use the 312 service from Stockport to Handforth Dean, then onwards to Handforth or Wilmslow on the new 378, then the 378 on the proposed timetable leaves 2 minutes before the 312 is scheduled to arrive. Couldn't be scheduled any worse!

E.g. First 378 bus leaving Handforth Dean for Wilmslow is 09:32. Arrival of the 312 at Handforth Dean is 09:34. 58 minutes wait for the next bus.

Bob Bracegirdle

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 4:47 pm

As ever these days it is daytime only. Oh for the days of the North Western running until 11.15pm.

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 5:15 pm

Thanks Jon for clarification.

Russell Young

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 5:24 pm

Looks lime one bus, one driver, no recovery time at Wilmslow and a gap in the afternoon for the drivers break, so could have reliability issues, we' ll see.
To get it round in an a hour, some time has been clawed back and Culshaw Farm appears to be the sacrifice.

At least it's something, so points to D&G for having a go.

Chris Wigley

Wednesday 12^th April 2017 at 8:13 pm

This is good news.

It says a lot about how Handforth is seen by CE that it withdrew funding for the 378.
Handforth still has no direct public transport connection to the largest employer in the North West - Manchester airport, yet Wilmslow (and the small population of Styal) have an hourly bus service and Wilmslow has a train connection.

Martin Watkins

Thursday 13^th April 2017 at 3:27 pm

@ Chris Witley. Cheshire East did not withdraw funding. This route was and remains an unsubsidised route and the decision by Stagecoach was a purely commercial one.