First Bus has announced more buses for commuters and new routes in Salford to better link the city with Prestwich, Manchester and the Trafford Centre.
Demand from customers drove the changes, say First, which will begin operating the new routes on 25 October.
There’s be extra early morning journeys on well-used commuter routes in and out of Manchester, while the 93 bus between Manchester and Carr Clough has been extended to Prestwich every 30 minutes.
Councillors say the extensions will be much appreciated by local residents.
Cllr Peter Connor, who represents Kersal, said: “I’m very pleased to see that First Bus will be extending service 93 to Prestwich. Buses play a vital role connecting communities.”
New early morning journeys will be introduced on weekdays on the 8 from Bolton, the 36 from Walkden, the 33 between Worsley and Eccles and between Manchester and the Trafford Centre on Sunday mornings.
The 95 bus between Bury and Salford Shopping Centre will now serve Whitefield Interchange.
The early 39 bus between Leigh, Astley, Walkden, Boothstown and Manchester city centre will be replaced by the X39 – a limited stop service which First says will be much faster.
The 52 bus, which runs between Failsworth, Cheetham Hill and Salford, will be extended to Eccles and the Trafford Centre, which should allow more journeys to Salford Royal Hospital from further afield, say First.
The 52 will replace part of the 110 route which will now operate between Salford and Manchester Shudehill.
Ian Humphreys, Head of Commercial for First in Manchester said: “Many of the changes we are introducing on 25 October are as a direct result of customer feedback including the link to Prestwich.
“The changes also represent new investment by First Bus into the network with the addition of a number of early journeys for commuters.”
Main image by deltrems via Flickr
