How bus cuts could affect you if last ditch rescue plan fails

A plan to save dozens of bus services across Greater Manchester is to be signed off by transport bosses this week – but there are fears of a ‘devastating’ impact on the network should it fail.

Government funding helped to keep bus services going during the pandemic, as plummeting passenger numbers put their future at risk.

But that emergency cash is set to be pulled from October – and commercial operators in Greater Manchester have identified a raft of unprofitable services they intend to axe completely or run less often.

In total operators intend to cut 33 services, while a further 32 services would see reductions in frequency or changes to the route.

A plan to save the routes and maintain service levels as best as possible has been hatched by local leaders – who say failure to act would have ‘significant’ consequences for people who rely on public transport.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is currently working on retendering contracts, using funding from existing budgets and the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Where operators – such as Stagecoach, First and Transdev – are proposing to run services less often, TfGM would seek to agree a subsidy to maintain current service levels up to a maximum of four buses per hour.

But rescuing services which operators intend to pull altogether hangs on successfully retendering the contracts – something which may not be easy.

A report to the GMTC acknowledges that rising costs  – including fuel and driver wages – have ‘further undermined the viability of the network and continues to do so’.

The rescuse plan goes before the Greater Manchester Transport Committee for approval on Friday.

But committee member Councillor David Meller has warned the the rescue package is almost entirely dependent on successfully retendering the contracts – leaving vital bus services in the borough ‘under serious threat’.

In Stockport, where Coun Meller is shadow cabinet member for economy and regeneration, there are fears losing the 42B would mean commuters in Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall would lost any viable link to the city centre. The remaining 42C does not arrive in Piccadilly Gardens until 8.30am in the morning, while the last service of the day leaves Manchester at 6.02pm.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that failure to secure under-threat services would have a ‘devastating’ effect on the network.

Below is a list of the local services that are to be axed by their current operator from October – and the action proposed by TfGM in a bid to save them.

Oldham
First 180 to be retendered.
First 81 to be retendered.
First 181 to be retendered.
First 182 to be retendered.

Rochdale
First 6 to be retendered.
Transdev R3 to be retendered.

Tameside
Stagecoach 237 to be retendered.

Below is a list of local services which TfGM will seek to subsidise to maintain current levels (up to a maximum of four buses an hour)

Oldham
First 59 – operator proposing to run less often.
First 350 – operator proposing to run less often.
First 425 – operator proposing to run less often.

Tameside
Stagecoach 346 – operator proposing to drop early morning services

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