Anxious wait for bus workers

Local transport company 'First' says it is too early to say whether jobs will go in Greater Manchester as it cuts 3,500 posts over the coming year.

The transport giant says 1,100 jobs will be axed within its UK Bus division and another 650 at UK Rail.

First Manchester buses and the Trans-Pennine Express rail operator, which serves Manchester Airport, are owned by the company.

FirstGroup announced a £200 million savings programme last week but a spokesman said it was too soon to say where the axe will fall. In a glimmer of hope, members of Greater Manchester Independent Transport Authority are inviting bus companies to join them in claiming European funds to tackle their carbon footprint.

It follows a visit by leading members of the ITA to Brussels where they met, among others, Neri di Volo, head of the European Investment Bank’s Clean Bus Finance Facility.

The six-strong team heard about new loan facilities of up to 75% of the cost for new buses which outperform current environmental regulations.

Although the bank does not define the technology which would qualify, it is thought that diesel-electric and hydrogen buses would meet the criteria. ITA chairman Councillor Matt Colledge said: “They have significant funds and they are thinking of deals for between 50 and 100 vehicles. They are not interested in pilots, they are looking at fleet replacement and renewal.”

Both First and Stagecoach run 700 buses in Greater Manchester. First is committed to introducing 200 new double deck buses before next year and Stagecoach has just spent £6 million on 43 more new low-floor buses.

Vice-chairman Councillor Keith Whitmore said: “This was an extremely timely and useful meeting. We need to get the operators together now to see how we are going to take this forward.”

Councillor Whitmore, who is leader of the UK delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, added: “This country is missing out on millions by not being properly prepared to get access to the funds.”

The authority may now employ a new member of staff to monitor European grants and loans for transport.

A spokesman for First said: “We would welcome anything which helps us get cleaner, greener buses on the road and we look forward to talking to the authority.”