Night owls of Manchester, assemble – getting home in the early hours of the morning is about to get much easier. Transport for Greater Manchester has just announced an increase in its night bus services.
A 24-hour service on the V1 and 36 services will commence in autumn as part of a pilot scheme and connect Manchester city centre to Bolton and Leigh via Salford.
The two routes will begin from September 1, running at least every hour. The V1 and 36 were picked for the trial for their proximity to hotels, bars, clubs and hospitals and for serving people less likely to own a car, such as students.
Mayor Andy Burnham said: ‘Better transport at night is something I know people have been crying out for.
‘Transport should never be a barrier to opportunity and this is a step towards improving things for people who work – or want to work – in our hospitals, care homes, clubs, bars, distribution centres or theatres.’
It’s hoped that the new services will be a cheaper and safer option for the approximately 358,000 people that work night-shifts in Greater Manchester. That’s around a third of the area’s entire workforce.
The new night fleet isn’t the only thing on Manchester’s bus agenda. Right now it’s also rolling out its brand new, locally-controlled Bee Network and hopes to have a zero-emission bus fleet by 2032.
Time Out in Manchester
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