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Reading: Metroline dominates Greater Manchester franchising third tranche
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routeone > News > Metroline dominates Greater Manchester franchising third tranche
News

Metroline dominates Greater Manchester franchising third tranche

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: March 28, 2024
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Tap-and-go all set for Bee Network buses as tram milestone passed
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Metroline will operate four of the five large local service contracts awarded under the third and final tranche of bus franchising in Greater Manchester, with Stagecoach taking the other.

The third tranche accounts for around 50% of bus services in the conurbation. It will start on 5 January 2025. Rotala subsidiary Diamond Bus North West has gained three of the four small contracts, with Go North West chosen for the fourth.

Under its large contracts, ComfortDelGro subsidiary Metroline will take over operations from depots at Ashton-under-Lyne, Hyde Road to the south-east of Manchester city centre, Sharston, and Wythenshawe. Stagecoach will assume the Stockport large franchise. It is already the dominant operator in that town.

Diamond Bus North West will take up small franchises in Trafford and Stockport along with one of two in Tameside. Go North West gets the other Tameside contract.

Metroline was quick to reveal that its five-year large franchise contracts in Greater Manchester are worth £422 million, capture 232 services, and require 420 buses and over 1,350 drivers. Each has an option to be extended for two, one-year terms.

Diamond Bus North West has confirmed that its small franchise contracts are also for five years’ duration. It will take on 16 services using 25 buses and around 50 staff under those awards. They will work out of the operator’s existing Eccles depot. In total, the third tranche captures 248 services.

Speaking about the third tranche, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Chief Executive Eamonn Boylan says: “Awarding the last round of franchised contracts is a major milestone towards delivering the Bee Network. That ambition is central to our devolution journey.

“We look forward to working with the winning bidders over the coming months as we prepare to deliver this positive change for people and businesses in Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and the rest of Manchester and Salford from January next year.”

TfGM adds that certain service uplifts will be delivered “from day one” of the third tranche rollout.

ComfortDelGro CEO, Europe Business Unit, Edward Thomas has welcomed the award of the four large franchise contracts. He says that Metroline “will work closely with all of our stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition of services as we work towards delivering the Bee Network vision.”

Chairman Mark Greaves adds that the win “is a testament to our commitment to service quality and operational excellence, and will significantly expand our network, deepening the group’s presence in the United Kingdom.”

Award of the tranche three contracts confirms that small operators will have no place on the franchised local service network in Greater Manchester, although one – Vision Bus – is so far is represented among home-to-school contracts under the reregulated approach.

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ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
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andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
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