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.
