Services on the guided busway saw a record number of passenger journeys made during the final week of September, at the same time helping tackle the problem of air pollution.

Almost 57,000 trips were accounted for during the week by First – whose ‘Vantage’ service operates the Leigh to Ellenbrook guided busway.

The increase in patronage coincides with the completion of the Oxford Road corridor meaning passengers can now travel directly to key sites like Central Manchester Hospital and both universities in a single journey.

With nearly 3.5million journeys made since the busway opened in April 2016 – and a regular weekly average of around 50,000 – the busway continues to exceed all expectations.

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “I’m delighted to see that the guided busway is continuing to perform so well. It’s even more pleasing to see it defy expectations and provide the communities of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley with a clean, quick and reliable transport system.

“Alternatives like Metrolink and the guided busway are also great examples of how mass transit of commuters, particularly at peak times, can really help to minimise standing traffic and reduce air pollution and carbon emissions.”

Comprising a fleet of 25 modern hybrid buses, the service is also playing its part in helping to provide a cleaner and more sustainable transport option for tens of thousands of people each week.

Adrian Worsfold, Operations Director at First Manchester, said: “It’s fantastic that the Vantage service is doing so well and that it’s surpassing all forecasts but it’s just as important that the service we’re providing contributes to a cleaner and greener environment.

“With the guided busway, and the rest of the bus priority measures in place, we’re able to run a fleet of environmentally friendly buses quicker and more reliably than before making Vantage an ideal alternative to the car.

“It just goes to show what a difference traffic-free infrastructure and modern hybrid buses can make when combined.”

A busway passenger survey carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) last year showed early signs that people were opting to leave their cars at home and travel by bus. The survey of around 4,000 passengers indicated that 20 per cent had stopped using their cars for the same journey and had actively switched to the bus. More than half said they had access to a car either as a driver or passenger but still chose the bus.

A keen supporter of the North West’s first guided busway, the latest figures will make for happy reading for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. Working to reduce air pollutants across the region is a key priority for the Mayor and one he hopes to deliver upon during his tenure.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I think it’s critical for the economy of the region and even more so for the health of the people that we all start to think differently about how we travel.

“I’m delighted to see that the busway is performing so well. It’s also great to see that 40 million journeys are being made by Metrolink but I’d urge everyone to play their part and consider how they travel to improve not just their own health but that of us all.

“The guided busway, Metrolink and the many new cycle lanes that have been built are fantastic examples of how lots of people can travel more sustainably, but we still have a long way to go to eliminate congestion and really improve the quality of air that we breathe.”

Figures suggest that around 2,000 people die prematurely in Greater Manchester every year from illnesses caused by air pollution.

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