Stagecoach is axing an afternoon non-stop bus service because passengers have hurled abuse at drivers - and tried to open the doors and jump out - when it doesn’t stop.

Passengers regularly mistake the X92 Express, which skips all 34 stops between Piccadilly and Stockport, for the 192, which stops at every one.

An increasing number of people only realise their error when the bus doesn’t stop - and take their frustration out on the driver.

Drivers have had to put up with verbal abuse, arguments, death threats, hammering on the glass and even a near-crashes caused by disruption, according to reports.

(Image: Manchester evening news)

The brutal backlash has led Stagecoach bosses to axe the four afternoon services from the end of this month.

But some commuters who rely on the express to slash ‘more than two hours a week’ off their evening commute have reacted with fury.

The M.E.N. spoke to X92 passengers who will be forced to catch the regular 192 from January 28.

Paul Thompson, 57, an insurance worker from Stockport, said: “Every other night drivers get abuse.

“About a month ago a passenger came down the stairs and opened the door himself with the button, the driver was pulling him back from jumping out and narrowly missed a bus on the inside lane.

(Image: Manchester evening news)

“I’m devastated it’s being axed. This is £40 cheaper a month than the train, which I can’t afford.

“Why doesn’t Stagecoach make a tannoy announcement?”

Matthew Collins, 28, a civil servant, added: “I’ve noticed abuse - mainly due to people not reading the number.

“I saw someone throw death threats at the driver and bang on the plastic screen. I understand them axing it, but it’s a massive problem for me, it’s going to add 30 minutes a day to my journey.”

A council worker, who did not want to be named, added: “People don’t realise how much this will change our lives.

“I don’t think there’s any more abuse than on the regular 192. I’m going to switch to the train.”

(Image: Manchester evening news)

Michael Todd, who uses the service every afternoon after work, said the 192 takes an hour, a journey shaved in half by the X92.

“It’s an unnecessary disruption to my life,” he added.

It is understood the confusion began last year when the X92 bus was moved to the same stop as the 192 - and never moved back.

Regular commuter Judith Bannister, a financial administrator from Hazel Grove, asked why bosses couldn’t simply move the service to another stop, adding: “I’m so annoyed.

“Everybody I know who catches this service regularly is appalled by this decision.

“You can see the evening X92 services are busy, there is demand. But Stagecoach know they won’t lose passengers because we all have to still get the bus.”

(Image: Manchester evening news)

A Stagecoach spokesman confirmed plans to withdraw the X92 afternoon service due to ‘operational difficulties’ and replace them with journeys on the 192.

He added: “We have made these changes as a result of ongoing verbal abuse directed towards our drivers by passengers who pressure them to stop at stations which the X92 does not serve.”

However, he insisted the change would not make a big difference to the lives of regular X92 commuters, adding: “Scheduled journey times for the regular 192 service are longer than the X92 due to the time it takes passengers to alight the bus at additional stops, however, congestion and delays along the route beyond our control mean journey times are currently similar.

“The changes we are making will mean passengers travelling between Manchester and Stockport will see an increase of four journeys in the afternoon peak.”

Morning journeys on the X92 are unaffected, he added.