Trams will be running through the night to to keep the overhead lines clear of ice as Transport for Greater Manchester gears up for a crucial weekend
TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, Danny Vaughan, said: “This weekend’s forecast of snow, ice and rain will be compounded by the recent flooding and will most likely cause disruption to journeys.
“We will be doing absolutely everything we can to minimise disruption while also bringing the remaining half of bus services into the Bee Network and under local control – which is a huge undertaking.
“We will have as many staff as possible out on the network, will be working with partners to ensure our interchanges and key routes are gritted, will run trams through the night to keep the overhead lines clear of ice and have our control room, which is staffed around the clock and has links into local authorities and emergency services on heightened alert.
“We are well versed at responding to disruption and working with the wider resilience teams across Greater Manchester and my main advice for anyone travelling this weekend or returning to work or back to school on Monday is to plan and allow extra time.
“Our social and digital channels will have the latest information and advice for customers and our Bee Network app will also enable you to see if there is any disruption to your journey and check the time of your next bus and tram departure.”
The weekend sees the remaining half of bus services into the Bee Network and under local control. It is a major undertaking, including the taking over of five large depots, two small depots, a TfGM storage site at Manchester Airport, a site at Old Trafford and a storage facility in Chorley.
Movement of more than 500 vehicles overnight between Saturday and Sunday, many requiring kits and branding installed, including ticket machines on 702 buses, and moving across multiple locations.
In total over 800 buses will be moving across Manchester between 6pm 4th January and 8am 5th January and there will be a transfer of around 1300 staff to incoming operator Metroline.
