Plans for new cross-city bus network proposed under Transport Innovation Fund
Unless you have had your head buried in the sand, Manchester was the successful bidder for the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund. This would add £3 billion to Greater Manchester’s transport budget, with a third of this funded by a congestion charge in the peak hours. Subject to the works being completed and the transport network being of a good enough standard, this will be in force by 2013.
Unsurprisingly, the charges themselves have taken a disproportionate chunk of the news agenda. For instance, the Manchester Evening News and its sister local newspapers have seen at least two letters a day on the charges – 70% of which against them – despite the fact charges would only be imposed throughout the peaks – and subject to a suitable enough public transport network.
In my honest opinion, the self interest of a few whingers seems to be undermining the good work the TIF would do. The improvements are much needed for the greater good of this conurbation. What are the self interested types concerned about? Their unfettered freedom to drive anywhere and everywhere not giving two hoots for the environment and adding to road congestion. With oil prices increasing, these days could almost be over.
Other than the naysayers’ responses, expansion of the Metrolink network has attracted numerous column inches. Some critics have seen the congestion charge as a form of blackmail into delivering the Phase 3B of the network. This has been expressed by Trafford, Bolton and Bury councils, and Shadow Transport Minister Theresa Villiers. Like Bolton Council (currently a council under no overall control), the Conservative MP has suggested a Greater Manchester wide referendum.
Given only a passing reference seems to be a bus related Easter Egg. This refers to a network of cross-city bus routes.
Till recently, cross-city bus routes formed part of the Greater Manchester bus network, linking north with south without the need to walk from one end of Manchester to another. The first examples started in the late 1920s with 10, 13 and 14 linking Uppermill with Gatley, and the 8 linking Hyde with Bolton.
Prior to the formation of Greater Manchester Transport in 1974, there were some 21 cross-city routes. By 2008, all 21 routes have since been split between the north and south and the west and east parts of Manchester. The 64 and 66 was split, with the Ashton – Manchester section being renumbered the 219. The 82 has since been split in recent years, moving between Manchester – Waterhead.
More recently (2002 thereabouts), the 149 had been curtailed by its current operators to run between Manchester and Oldham, via Werneth and Moston. Under previous operators Bee Line and Bluebird, the service linked Oldham with Heald Green.
Only one cross-city service remains, and that is the 112. Running from Middleton, this continues to serve Manchester University. In its Greater Manchester Transport guise, this service operated between Moston and Sale.
GMPTE’s ‘Greater Manchester Future Transport’ brochure includes a map of the proposed cross-city services, which are marked in red. The emphasis is on high quality bus corridors, possibly with rolling stock similar to FirstGroup’s FTR bendibuses.
Outlined within the map in red are the ghosts of the 64/66 Ashton – Peel Green routes and the 94/96 West Didsbury – Whitefield routes. The other possible routes outlined in red may operate between Sale and Middleton (almost the old 112/113 cross-city services), Worsley and Southern Cemetery, plus Eccles and Stockport.
In addition to this would be district centre schemes (marked in dark green). Likely to benefit from this may be the 348 (Ashton – Carrbrook) and the 409 (Ashton – Rochdale) routes. Bus priority measures will be added to main routes.
Most of the new bus development will focus on increased peak hour frequencies and higher vehicle standards. Though it would be great to see investment on the main routes, I feel that local routes should be a great, if not, greater priority, as most bus journeys of a fair distance involve at least one change of bus.
Further investment and boosting frequencies to local bus services will contribute in a great way to reducing traffic on the main roads into Manchester, if the service is good enough for the householder to leave his/her car in the garage. From personal experience, I have found shorter distance local services a bigger pain in the rear end than more profitable longer distance journeys with higher frequencies.
Apart from that, I would have loved to have caught the 64/66 from Ashton to Peel Green, or the 96 from Whitefield to East Didsbury. Who knows, it may be possible by 2013 – unless Cameron gets in to 10 Downing Street and reneges on what is rightfully ours – £3 billion to improve our transport to ‘outstanding’ for our country (though ‘mediocre’ to ‘good’ for our Swiss brothers and sisters).
Link: http://www.gmfuturetransport.com
S.V., 25 June 2008
