On the conveyor belt tonight we have… an Enviro400… a Manchester Megarider… a cuddly disused ClipperCard machine…
The recently upgraded 50 route was relaunched yesterday [13 September] with Patsy Stone, Doctor Who and Bruce Forsyth lookalikes appearing alongside Assistant Mayor of Salford (and former GMPTE chief) Councillor Roger Jones. Also present was Peel Media’s managing director, Stephen Wild, University of Salford’s director of estates, Keith Beal and Stagecoach Manchester’s managing director, Christopher Bowles.
Since the start of this month, the 50 route from East Didsbury to Albert Square [Manchester] was extended to MediaCityUK, via Salford city centre and Pendleton. Besides offering a new link between South Manchester and Pendleton, it also replaces Maytree Travel’s 9 Quays Link route, subsidised by TfGM. The upgraded service now takes in both Salford and Manchester universities as well as the Lowry Centre and entertainment facilities at Parrs Wood.
The celebrity doppelgangers travelled to MediaCityUK to meet with Christopher Bowles and the other key stakeholders. Stagecoach Manchester’s revamped route is partly supported by the University of Salford to allow students and staff free travel between Adelphi Street/Oldfield Road and MediaCityUK, and will be fully ‘City Connect 50’ branded, making it easily recognisable to passengers.
Talking about the launch, Chris commented: “This new route will have a huge impact on the way that many of the staff at MediaCityUK commute to work. Never before have they been able to make a one bus journey from South Manchester, where many young professionals live, to MediaCityUK. The route will also be beneficial to students from the University of Salford, who we are certain will take advantage of the free service between key areas.
“Our aim is to make travelling between Manchester and Salford easier and more convenient for local residents and this cross city service is a major step towards that goal. The service also opens up opportunities for travel to the workplaces and amenities at Salford Quays, MediaCityUK and The Lowry.”
Councillor Roger Jones added: “To see a company such as Stagecoach Manchester investing so much into connecting the city of Salford with Manchester is extremely positive. This new service will make bus travel more appealing to commuters and hopefully will result in fewer cars on the road; ultimately reducing pollution and congestion on this busy route through the city.”
The route will also provide some much needed competition between Manchester and Pendleton, a corridor which remains dominated by First Manchester.
S.V., 14 September 2012.
East of the M60 