Plan your travel this winter

Photo: Ian Kimber

Plan your travel this winter

Make sure you prepare your travel plans before you leave home this winter – that’s the message from transport leaders in Greater Manchester.

The advice comes following three years of severe winter weather in the region in which all forms of transport have been affected by prolonged periods of heavy snow and freezing conditions.

Transport for Greater Manchester has produced four memorable tips to help people make their way around during winter: 

• Know your numbers: find out which company runs your bus or train service and keep a copy of their contact details to hand so you know who to call if there are any problems. You can use your local Travelshop or check www.tfgm.com to find details.
• Time it right: allow extra time for your journeys, as wintry weather can affect road and rail conditions which, in turn, can make journeys slower. 
• Check in: Check www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.metrolink.co.uk before travelling for service updates on train and tram services in Greater Manchester. You can also follow TfGM on Twitter: @OfficialTfGM for general updates. 
• Keep your options open: use the Journey Planner section of the TfGM website to research in advance what alternative services or routes are available if your usual plans are affected. This might involve using more than one service or mixing types of travel. Alternatively, call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 to plan a journey. (Calls cost 10p a minute from BT landlines. Mobile and other landline networks may charge more. Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends.)

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Heavy snowfall and icy conditions can have a significant impact on all forms of transport, as previous winters have shown.

“While it can be difficult to know what’s around the corner, I would encourage everyone to plan ahead now by thinking about how they travel and what their alternative options are.

“I hope the tips we’ve produced will provide passengers with memorable options for finding out about public transport during the winter months.

“A dedicated TfGM webpage is also available and it is certainly worth taking a look at if you want the latest advice at a touch of a button.”