Relief as Over Sixty Important Bus Routes are Spared Service Cuts

Funding found for socially necessary Greater Manchester bus routes

With the perfect storm of skyrocketing energy prices and swingeing bus service cuts, Greater Manchester’s bus users could have been in for a much bleaker winter. The loss of Department of Transport funding on the 4th October from COVID Recovery grants would have seen cuts to 33 bus routes and the loss of 31 bus routes.

AI’s ‘Aye’ For The 111: Introducing Optibus

Stagecoach Group invests in AI based bus route planning tool

• Investment will help plan the changes in travel coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic;
• New AI platform Optibus will help improve service delivery and provide more efficient timetables;
• State-of-the-art artificial intelligence, advanced algorithms and cloud computing used to make timetables smarter;
• Major technological transformation will enable quicker roll-out of electric buses.

Low Bridge Strikes Scuppered by Bridge Alert System

Stagecoach Group becomes first UK bus operator to invest in national roll-out of new bridge alert technology

• £4m project to strengthen existing safety measures to prevent bridge strikes;
• Enhancement to GreenRoad’s leading driver safety and fuel-efficiency system;
• 8,000 buses covered in England, Scotland and Wales by summer 2021.

New Year and New Man for Stagecoach Greater Manchester

Lee Wasnidge to succeed Elisabeth Tasker in 2021

Lee Wasnidge.

• Lee Wasnidge joins Stagecoach’s largest bus company on 04 January 2020;
• Successor to Elisabeth Tasker has Background in running rail and air services in Greater Manchester at senior level;
• New MD has extensive customer service and stakeholder management experience, whilst recognising Stagecoach’s major role in supporting the North West’s economy.

Official! Santa Swaps Sleigh For Bus

Stagecoach Greater Manchester drivers spread a bit of Christmas cheer to raise funds for local communities

Given how strange 2020 has been, Father Christmas trading in his sleigh for a double decker bus now seems run-of-the-mill. Who could blame him as he could use the top deck for storing presents? Unless he uses an open top bus, the presents wouldn’t be soggy. As for automatic transmission, cab heating, kneeling floors and buggy bays, a development that is long overdue. Sadly at the expense of Rudolph and his fellow furloughed reindeer friends.

The Clippercard Makes a Comeback!

Clipper ticket resurrects spirit of the Clippercard on Metrolink trams

The Clippercard is dead… long live the Clippercard! Well, that’s how we may have reported on the self-cancelling ticket’s demise if East of the M60 was around in 2004. Years after the original ticket’s demise, Greater Manchester Transport’s ten-trips-for-the-price-of-nine tickets still carry fond memories. You might have travelled with a Clippercard by fair means (with a black plastic wallet) or foul (by boarding and passing the card on to your friend).

Stagecoach Greater Manchester Begins Near Restoration of Weekday and Saturday Timetables

Timetables to run at 70% of pre-COVID-19 levels next month – then to 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels by mid June

Across England, the Stagecoach Group has today confirmed it will be increasing bus service levels from the 01 June. Its aim is to get the country moving as lockdown restrictions start to ease.

Emergency bus timetables have been in place since March to help key workers travel to and from work and for other essential journeys. This has seen services running to Sunday frequencies with peak hour journeys. In some cases, at a lower level than the usual Sunday service offerings.

Important Changes to Senior Citizens’ Passes on 01 February

£10.00 per annum charge for unlimited off-peak tram and train travel in Greater Manchester

If you are a passenger of pensionable age in Greater Manchester, there’s every chance you will be using your concessionary pass to access the City Region’s buses, trains and trams. In the weekends, you may be able to take a train, tram or bus before 9.30 am and travel by bus anywhere in England. This month, train and tram concessions are covered by your existing pass.

Have Your Say on Bus Franchising in Greater Manchester

Bus franchising consultation to begin in October

Next month, the people of Greater Manchester will be involved in a far-reaching consultation to transform the city region’s bus routes.

Seven Different Ways of Rediscovering Greater Manchester By Bus

East of the M60’s look at seven unusual ways of rediscovering Greater Manchester – by bus

A bus is for life, not just for schoolchildren. It is, like it or not, Greater Manchester’s most popular form of public transport. With Andy Burnham on the verge of re-regulating all of Greater Manchester’s bus routes, there is talk of a post-franchising revival.