Kingsway jobs bus

Kingsway Link bus

A door-to-door transport service providing essential links to job opportunities at Rochdale’s Kingsway Business Park has celebrated its first birthday with over 11,000 journeys.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s ‘Kingsway Link’ was one of the first community transport schemes to undergo major expansion with funding from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF).

The service, which runs seven days week, provides transport links for shift workers, running from 5am to 11pm.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of the Rochdale Development Agency responded on behalf of the Kingsway Partnership: “We are extremely pleased with the success of the Kingsway Link. It has assisted hundreds of local residents to accept new employment opportunities on Kingsway as the park continues to develop and grow.

“Along with the new Kingsway Metrolink stop it provides an affordable public transport alternative for employees, and the partnership is happy to contribute towards this important service.”

Local Link uses minibuses that passengers can book in advance like a taxi and share with other passengers. The buses are fully accessible and include space for a wheelchair.

It currently runs from Kirkholt, Newbold, Stoneyfield, Milkstone and Deeplish, Belfield, Balderstone, Castleton, Milnrow, Smallbridge, Buckley, High Crompton, Sholver and has recently been extended to serve the whole of Shaw. It also includes a fixed route to Heywood for the morning shift changeover times.