Greater Manchester

Bus network reviewed as First responds to changing travel patterns

RESPONDING to customer demand and changing travel patterns, First in Manchester has reviewed its bus network in Bolton, Harwood and Withins and has altered some services in the area. The changes, which come into effect on Sunday 25 January, affect services 506/7, 510, 533 and 561/2 with some additional minor changes being made to Services 22,36, 68, 95 and 540.

All of the adjustments are designed to make traveling by bus a more attractive option for passengers.

A leaflet outlining all the changes has been produced and will be available on buses, in the GMPTE Travelshop and to download from the website from 16 January.

A summary of the changes is as follows:

Service 533: The frequency of this service has been amended to operate every 60 minutes between Egerton and Bolton.

Services 506/507: These two services have been brought together to provide one high frequency service known as the 507. This will serve Harwood via the original 507 route from Bolton to Harwood before operating via Stitch Mi Lane, South Drive (request stops only*) and Hough Fold Way (request stops only*) before returning the way it came (the old 506 return route to Bolton). Evening and Sunday services on the 507 will now operate with an improved frequency of a bus every 30 minutes. While Service 507 will no longer operate along New Lane to Thicketford Road, most of this area is now served by other rerouted services (Services 561/562).

On South Drive & Hough Fold Way there are no designated bus stops, customers are requested to only wait where it is safe for the bus to stop to pick up & set down passengers.

Service 510: This service has been re-routed in Withins to operate along Kentmere Road instead of Red Lane. This provides a new direct link to Bolton Rail Station and Bolton College from Withins. These changes also provide better links for those customers wishing to travel from Withins to Bury.

Services 561/562 (Withins/Breightmet circulars): These services have been re-routed to operate along Padbury Way, New Lane, Thicketford Road, Ainsworth Lane and Bury New Road, covering some of the old 506/507 route.

Other minor changes include:

Service 22, Bolton " Stockport: Between Monday and Friday, the 0530 & 0550 journeys from Bolton and the 0720 & 0750 journeys from Stockport are re-timed to operate 15 minutes earlier to improve reliability.
Service 36, Bolton " Manchester: The Monday and Saturday timetable is revised to improve reliability and space out this service with Service 37 on the common journeys towards Manchester.
Service 68, Bolton " Manchester: Monday to Friday, morning peak journeys (up to 0830) between Bolton and Manchester are revised to improve reliability and Manchester to Bolton (up to 0650) are also revised to improve service reliability " detailed times will be available on the new timetable.
Service 95 Bolton " Pendleton: Between Mondays and Fridays, the journey from Bolton at 1650 is retimed to depart at 1700 hours to improve reliability.
Service 540 Bolton " Wigan: Minor changes have been made to the daytime timetable on journeys from Bolton towards Wigan. Services in the evening will now operate hourly.
School Service 906: This new service is introduced to replace previous 506 school journeys.

Talking about the changes, Claire Johnson, Commercial Manager, First Manchester, says: "We have looked carefully at the bus network in the area and the types of journeys people make, together this information has helped us build a picture of what people want from their bus services.

"We believe that the changes will benefit the majority of bus users. There will of course be a period of adjustment while people get used to them, but in the longer term we believe they will help people traveling around the region by bus. Particularly we believe the re routed services will offer a better bus service in the areas of Harwood and Withins. Services 561/562 will also be operated with low floor buses from 25 January, making them much more accessible to people for elderly and disabled people as well as parents with buggies and pushchairs.'

Full details of all the service changes can be found in a special customer information leaflet, which will be available on bus and from the GMPTE Travelshop at Moor Lane Bus Station from 16 January. Alternatively customers wanting more information can call the customer CareLine on 08457 88 11 55 or log onto to the First in Manchester web site:

www.firstgroup.com (follow the links to Greater Manchester).