Local bus services saved from being axed

A number of bus routes across Rochdale borough have been saved from being withdrawn or from having their frequencies reduced in October.

Throughout the pandemic, government funding helped to maintain public transport services across the country, as the significant reductions in patronage threatened their commercial viability.

With the threat of national funding ending on 4 October, Greater Manchester’s leaders developed plans to safeguard at-risk services.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed contract awards to replace the 31 routes earmarked for withdrawal, while most of the 33 services set to be reduced in frequency or have routes changed will also be replaced, except in a small number of cases where alternative services are available.

Without the intervention, some communities would have been left with much reduced – and in some cases a complete lack of – bus services, adversely impacting their ability to reach a range of critical services, including employment and education opportunities, as well as family and friends.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “With Greater Manchester set to start bringing buses back under local control in just over a year, and having introduced new low bus fares just this week, it was vital we didn’t find ourselves with a shrinking bus network.

“That is why we took the decision to step in, save these services and keep our communities connected.

“Buses are the backbone of our public transport system, and while this is good news for the tens of thousands of people who rely on them every single day, we now need more people to get on board with us, so we can grow and sustain a much-improved public transport network.”

TfGM has also been able to retain cross boundary links and frequencies through collaboration with neighbouring authorities and negotiations and contract awards with operators.

The cost is within the estimated £15 million per annum, with funding to come from a combination of existing budgets and government funding. Other significant local funds have also been allocated to improve bus services across the Greater Manchester region, including the £135m to transition to bus franchising and funding for Our Pass, providing free travel to 16 – 18-year-olds.

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Here’s which local services will be replaced – and which will benefit from an increase in service:

Replacements

• 6 Rochdale-Kirkholt circular

The 6 Rochdale-Kirkholt circular, currently operated by First, will be replaced by a Go North West service at the same frequency from October 2022.

• 56 North Manchester General Hospital-Higher Blackley circular

The Stagecoach 56 between North Manchester General Hospital and Higher Blackley circular service will also be replaced at the same frequency. It will remain under Stagecoach’s operation from October 2022.

• R3 Rochdale-Wallbank

The Rosso Rochdale-Wallbank service will be replaced by another service at the same frequency. Operated by Transdev (Rosso’s parent company), the service will still be run by Transdev from October 2022.

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Increases

Three Rosso services will have their services extended from October 2022 after being cut in January this year.

• 457/458 Rochdale-Shore/Stansfield

The 457 service between Rochdale and Shore was reduced to an hourly service between Mondays and Saturdays; the 458 will be extended to Shore and Stansfield to maintain a 30-minute frequency between these points.

• 464 Accrington-Rochdale

This service had its Monday-Saturday early morning frequency reduced; a 05.13am arrival in Rochdale (Monday-Saturday) and 06.13am and 07.13am arrivals on Saturdays will be reinstated.

• 467/468 Bury-Rochdale

The Monday-Saturday service had been reduced from every 30 minutes to every 40 minutes. The every 30-minute service will be reinstated (Monday-Saturday), whilst a 05.11am arrival in Rochdale the same days will be introduced. A 06.11am arrival in Rochdale on Saturdays will also be introduced.