Plan your travel over the festive period

Plan your travel over the festive period

A summary of public transport services over the festive period is now available to help people plan ahead when making travel plans.

A reduced level of service will run on several days over Christmas and the new year and anyone travelling should check and plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

The pocket-sized ‘Christmas services’ guide is now online at www.tfgm.com/christmas and from TfGM Travelshops at bus stations and interchanges across Greater Manchester.

Howard Hartley, TfGM’s Head of Bus, said: “We want everyone to make the most of the festive period and, while public transport services are always reduced, there’s more than you might expect, especially on Boxing Day.

“It just takes a few minutes to find out more about your services online, at stops or by phone, and could save time in the long run.

“Look at your options, plan your journey, and check before setting out as poor weather could affect services at this time of year.”

• Thursday 24 December, Christmas Eve: Last trams leave the city centre at around 9pm, bus services will stop running from 6pm onwards and train services will stop from 7pm onwards.
• Friday 25 December, Christmas Day: No services, with the exception of Stagecoach daytime bus services 43 (Manchester Airport – Manchester) and 192 (Hazel Grove – Manchester).
• Saturday 26 December, Boxing Day: Sunday service frequency on Metrolink, special services on a number of bus routes until early evening, and no train services.
• Sunday 27 December: Normal Sunday services with minor changes on some bus and train services.
• Monday 28 December, Christmas Bank Holiday: Most buses will run a normal bank holiday service with minor changes on some routes. Metrolink will operate a Sunday service and trains will run to a normal weekday service.
• Thursday 31 December, New Year’s Eve: Most bus services will stop running from 6pm onwards and trains from 7pm onwards. Metrolink will run a Friday service with last trams leaving the city centre at 1am and some special bus services will run until 4am. 
• Friday 1 January, New Year’s Day: A Sunday service frequency on Metrolink. Stagecoach will run the following daytime bus services: 42, 43, 50, 86, 101, 192, 201, 203, 216, 219 and 250. No other buses will run. Weekday train services, though some early morning trains will not run.
• Football: Metrolink will run extra services for the Manchester United home games against Norwich on Saturday 19 December, Chelsea on Monday 28 December and Swansea on Saturday 2 January. Extra trams will also run to the Etihad Campus on 26 December for the Manchester City home game against Sunderland.
• Manchester Metroshuttle: Services will run every day except Christmas Day with some changes to frequency on 26 and 28 December and New Year’s Day.