Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has secured a long-term solution for several services affected by the closure of the bus company Little Gem which ceased operations back in April
After emergency contracts were put in place to cover at-risk services over a 13-week period, TfGM and operators have now agreed contracts which will ensure services continue until January 2025.
Diamond Bus will take over a revised 84 service which will be extended to introduce a new direct link between Chorlton and the Manchester Royal Infirmary. The MRI and Moss Side had been served by the 44, which will be withdrawn but parts of the route will be incorporated into the new 84 which will be renumbered 87.
The Royal Oak estate in Baguley, which will no longer be served by the 44, will be served by a re-routed service 18 – this will also be extended through Trafford Park to Eccles on evenings and Sundays.
New Local Link provision will be put in place to provide journeys from across South Manchester to and from Wythenshawe Hospital. In addition, existing customers on the Wythenshawe service will also be able to travel to/from Withington hospital.
The daytime 336, 337 and 389 services, which had been covered by First on a temporary basis, will also be operated by Diamond.
Belle Vue will continue to run the 280, though the service will be amended to run between Altrincham and Partington, with the route between Partington and Sale being covered by changes to Warrington’s Own Buses service CAT5, which will now run Altrincham to Warrington via Sale and Partington.
The 288 will be replaced by the X5, also operated by Warrington’s Own Buses, which will be extended from Altrincham to Manchester Airport.
The X5 will be routed via Bowdon Vale to replace the Arriva service 287, which will free up resources to extend the 281 route from Sale to Sale West replacing the 261 , while the 260 and 262 will be withdrawn from 23rd July due to the proximity of alternative services.
New evening services will be provided on both the CAT5 and X5 as well as a new Sunday daytime service on the X5. These shall replace some of the Partington Local Link journeys. The Partington Local Link service is withdrawn.
Passengers on the Partington service who are unable to walk to a bus stop may be eligible for the Ring & Ride service. For more information, visit TfGM’s Ring & Ride webpage.
The daytime 375 will be replaced by new service 385 which will cover Stockport, Bosden Farm, Hawk Green, Marple and Mellor. This will maximise coverage to areas with no transport alternatives, but it will no longer run via Stepping Hill Hospital or Hazel Grove.
New Local Link provision will be put in place to provide journeys from across East Stockport to/from Stepping Hill Hospital.
From September, buses will continue to run to all schools previously served under the Little Gem contracts.
Nick Roberts, TfGM’s Head of Non-Franchised and Transition Bus Services, said: “I would like to thank all the operators who have worked with us during this difficult period, including those who stepped in the short and medium-term while more long-term solutions were explored.
“While we haven’t been able to replace all affected routes on a like-for-like basis due to issues around affordability, we believe the new arrangements provide improved connectivity for passengers.
“Replacement services have been agreed on some routes which would otherwise be withdrawn, and I would encourage people to visit our website for the latest information.”
Services will start from Sunday, 23 July. People can find out more on the TfGM website.
