Go Goodwins
Encyclopedia
Go Goodwins is a family-run bus company based in Eccles
, Manchester
, which operates passenger bus services across the south-west Manchester area and private hire coaches.
In 2010 Goodwins secured £500,000 after winning a number of new bus routes. They used the money to buy five Optare Solo
midi-buses, which are to be used on routes into Sale
and Altrincham
, and created eight jobs for drivers. They also invested in new premises, including a new driver training centre which would allow them not only to offer classroom-based training to their own drivers, but also offer these services to other transport providers.
and Altrincham
areas, they took delivery of their five new Optare Solo
s. They chose the Solos following good experience with a low mileage second-hand example acquired earlier that year. They also wanted to put a tried and tested midibus model into service. It was also important for them to move towards a greater degree of vehicle standardisation on the 16-strong bus side of their 25-vehicle fleet as this would bring a number of benefits. Their new buses are 8.8 metre 28-seat SlimLine models.
In 2011 Goodwins chose ADL Enviro 200s for their latest midi bus purchases. Three of these buses have gone straight into operation on recently won routes in Sale and Altrincham
, where Goodwins have previously made a significant investment in new vehicles. They tried a variety of midi vehicles and decided that the Enviro 200 was the right one for them. They based their decision on its all-round performance, the reaction of passengers, and the support they have had from ADL.
All three of the new Enviro 200s are 8.9m long 29-seat models. Two of them are powered by Cummins ISBe four-cylinder Euro5 engines with Allison S2100 transmissions, while the third - a former demonstrator vehicle - has a Euro4.5 Cummins ISBe, again with an Allison S2100 transmission.
(ECB) to provide the England team's official transport, with responsibility for ensuring England's cricketers arrive at their international games on time. Go Goodwins have been a partner of the ECB since 2001 and, in addition to the official England Team coach, also provide one other ECB branded coach for use by England's teams.
Eccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, which operates passenger bus services across the south-west Manchester area and private hire coaches.
History
The company has been owned by the Goodwin family for five generations.In 2010 Goodwins secured £500,000 after winning a number of new bus routes. They used the money to buy five Optare Solo
Optare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
midi-buses, which are to be used on routes into Sale
Sale, Greater Manchester
Sale is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, the town lies on flat ground on the south bank of the River Mersey, south of Stretford, northeast of Altrincham, and southwest of the city of Manchester...
and Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, and created eight jobs for drivers. They also invested in new premises, including a new driver training centre which would allow them not only to offer classroom-based training to their own drivers, but also offer these services to other transport providers.
Fleet
In September 2010, in order to meet the requirements of new five-year contracts from the Greater Manchester PTE for the services in the SaleSale, Greater Manchester
Sale is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, the town lies on flat ground on the south bank of the River Mersey, south of Stretford, northeast of Altrincham, and southwest of the city of Manchester...
and Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
areas, they took delivery of their five new Optare Solo
Optare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s. They chose the Solos following good experience with a low mileage second-hand example acquired earlier that year. They also wanted to put a tried and tested midibus model into service. It was also important for them to move towards a greater degree of vehicle standardisation on the 16-strong bus side of their 25-vehicle fleet as this would bring a number of benefits. Their new buses are 8.8 metre 28-seat SlimLine models.
In 2011 Goodwins chose ADL Enviro 200s for their latest midi bus purchases. Three of these buses have gone straight into operation on recently won routes in Sale and Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, where Goodwins have previously made a significant investment in new vehicles. They tried a variety of midi vehicles and decided that the Enviro 200 was the right one for them. They based their decision on its all-round performance, the reaction of passengers, and the support they have had from ADL.
All three of the new Enviro 200s are 8.9m long 29-seat models. Two of them are powered by Cummins ISBe four-cylinder Euro5 engines with Allison S2100 transmissions, while the third - a former demonstrator vehicle - has a Euro4.5 Cummins ISBe, again with an Allison S2100 transmission.
Services
This is a list of Go Goodwins services:| No | From | To | Via | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 14 |
Halebarns (14) | Oldfield Brow | Hale (14), Altrincham | Service 13 runs early weekday mornings and late weekday afternoons. Evening and Sunday journeys (13) run by M Travel |
| 21 | Warburton Green | Altrincham Altrincham Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington... |
Hale Hale, Greater Manchester Hale is a village and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It is contiguous with the southeast of Altrincham, approximately southwest of the city of Manchester.... |
Sunday daytime. Monday-Saturday journeys run by Manchester Community Transport. |
| 41 | Northenden Northenden Northenden is a suburban area and electoral ward of the city of Manchester in North West England. It lies on the south side of both the River Mersey and the M60 motorway, west of Stockport and south of Manchester city centre. Northenden is bounded by the districts of Didsbury, Gatley and... |
Sale Sale, Greater Manchester Sale is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, the town lies on flat ground on the south bank of the River Mersey, south of Stretford, northeast of Altrincham, and southwest of the city of Manchester... |
Northern Moor | One schoolday journey. Other journeys run by Stagecoach Manchester and Finglands |
| 252 260 |
Sale | Partington | Carrington Lane | |
| 261 | Sale | Manor Avenue | ||
| 262 | Sale | Firs Road | Ashton-upon-Mersey | |
| 266 267 |
Altrincham | Sale | Brooklands, Broomwood, Timperley, Broomwood, Brooklands, Sale Moor | |
| 268 | Wythenshawe Wythenshawe Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner... |
Urmston Urmston Urmston is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of around 41,000. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies about six miles to the southwest of Manchester city centre. The southern boundary is marked by the River Mersey and the... |
Baguley, Sale, Stretford Stretford Stretford is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, it is to the southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Salford and northeast of Altrincham... , Lostock |
|
| 270 | Baguley | Trafford Park | Wythenshawe, Benchill, Northenden, Southern Cemetery, Chorlton, Trafford Bar | Peak times only. Some journeys run by Manchester Community Transport and GB Coaches |
| 272 | Sharston | Trafford Park | Northenden, Sale, Stretford | Peak times only. Some journeys run by Arriva North West, Hayton's and Manchester Community Transport |
| 278 | Trafford General Hospital | Lostock | Flixton, Urmston, Stretford | |
| 283 285 |
Altrincham | Altrincham | Hale, Halebarns | Circular routes. Service 285 runs in opposite direction. Service 283 runs weekday afternoons and 285 runs weekday mornings. |
| 286 | Halebarns | Altrincham | Hale | Sunday daytime plus some weekday morning journeys. Most Monday-Saturday journeys operate as service 14. |
| 291 | Manchester Piccadilly | Trafford Park | University of Manchester, Hulme, Trafford Bar, Old Trafford | One weekday morning journey only. Other journeys run by Bluebird and First Manchester |
| 297 | Chorlton | Trafford Park | Stretford | One weekday morning journey only |
| 370 | Northenden | Altrincham | Baguley | One schoolday journey from Northenden to Altrincham |
England and Wales Cricket Board
The company has a contract with the England and Wales Cricket BoardEngland and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
(ECB) to provide the England team's official transport, with responsibility for ensuring England's cricketers arrive at their international games on time. Go Goodwins have been a partner of the ECB since 2001 and, in addition to the official England Team coach, also provide one other ECB branded coach for use by England's teams.