Changes are on the way for Manchester’s popular free Metroshuttle bus service, with new routes offering improved services to help people get around the city centre.

Millions of journeys are made every year on the free Metroshuttle buses, which link key transport interchanges and NCP car parks to key shopping and business areas right across the city.

The changes, due to be introduced on Sunday 28 June, will see new routes for the distinctive Orange, Green and Purple Metroshuttle buses – with the latter route becoming a peak-time weekday service.

The new routes will introduce a direct Metroshuttle link between Piccadilly and Victoria train stations for the first time, and more frequent services from Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Deansgate train stations and Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.

There will also be more frequent services to popular areas of the city such as Peter Street (Manchester Central, Central Library, Bridgwater Hall, Halle, Great Northern, Albert Hall) and Whitworth Street (HOME, MMU All Saints Campus, Number One First Street, Hotel INNSIDE).

The services will continue to provide links to key employment areas whilst also providing connections to key retail centres and NCP car parks.

The new services will support Metrolink passengers during the upcoming closure of the St Peter’s Square stop from 28 June until the end of August for the first phase of work to build a new, expanded stop.

Metrolink passengers travelling from the south of the city will be able to catch the free Metroshuttle buses from the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop every five minutes in the peak and every ten minutes in the off peak period to key areas of the city, including Piccadilly and Oxford Road.

Buses will also run between Victoria Station and Deansgate-Castlefield stop every ten minutes to provide links for passengers using Bury and Oldham and Rochdale Metrolink services coming in from the north of the city. Full details of bus replacement services will be available at www.metrolink.co.uk soon.

TfGM’s Head of Bus, Howard Hartley said: “The city centre is a changing landscape and at the moment we’re seeing a huge period of growth with construction works on major new transport and regeneration projects.

“We’ve reviewed Metroshuttle to make sure we continue to offer both a reliable service and take people where they want and need to go.

“We’re sure our passengers will welcome more free and frequent links to key destinations, including along Deansgate and Spinningfields, and to newly opened developments like HOME.

“With changes on the way to Metrolink services this summer – as the St Peter’s Square stop closes for transformation work – Metroshuttle will also play a key role in getting people from A to B, with frequent services from the Deansgate-Castlefield stop across the city.”

The following routes will be introduced on 28 June. More detailed information on services, including times and a route map, will be available at www.tfgm.com/metroshuttle from Friday 19 June.

· Metroshuttle 1: Piccadilly Station – China Town (Portland St) – Manchester Central (Peter Street) – Deansgate (Spinningfield) – St Mary’s Gate – Piccadilly Station

· Metroshuttle 2: Piccadilly Station – Oxford Road Station – Deansgate Station – Spinningfield – Deansgate (Barton Arcade) – Victoria Station – Shudehill Interchange – Victoria Station – Deansgate Barton Arcade – Spinningfield – Deansgate Station – Oxford Road Station – Piccadilly Station.

· Metroshuttle 3: Piccadilly Station – MMU – Deansgate Station – MOSI – Deansgate Station – Oxford Road Station – Piccadilly Station.

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