If, like us, you frequently use the free Manchester Metroshuttle services you'll have noticed how much busier they seem to be these days. It's not just your imagination - use of the three city centre circulars has increased by 14% in the past year.
The 1 and 2 services saw reasonable growth at 12% but service 3 is the real star in new figures published by GMITA - it's up an astounding 22% on last year.
The increases come despite delays suffered due to water pipe renewal works and the Metrolink track replacement programme.
As the graph below shows, the recently launched Bolton and Stockport Metroshuttles are also growing nicely. Recent dips on the 1 and 3 are likely to be nothing more than a summer lull - the overall trend is up.
If you thought the recession might see these free buses being cut - that seems highly unlikely looking at these numbers. The Metroshuttles have become a key part of the city's infrastructure - long may they continue. The full GMITA report can be downloaded here.
Hopefully, this may be good news for other towns in Greater Manchester. Bury, Rochdale and Wigan were three towns that were ear-marked for services earlier in the year, with companies invited to set up routes but nothing seems to have come from it. It was also mentioned that the other two places, Oldham and Trafford, were considered for possible services.
Given that West Yorkshire will see new free bus services in Dewsbury and Halifax in the next few weeks to add to the four services already running, it would be nice to see GMPTE/GMITA follow suit.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1133215_free_bus_service_to_expand
Posted by: Shaun | November 14, 2009 at 01:43 PM