Mancunians and visitors to Manchester city centre can benefit from a revamped and later-running free bus service, which launched on 28 October.
‘Free bus’ is being operated by First Manchester, which was awarded a three-year contract following a competitive procurement process. It replaces the Manchester Metroshuttle service that First Manchester had operated since 2010.
The new service will maintain the ten-minute Metroshuttle frequency – 12 minutes on Sundays – on two routes, which both start and finish at the city’s Piccadilly rail station. An extended route 2 will include Salford Central Rail Station during morning and afternoon rush hours while other improvements include later running times up to 2200hrs on Mondays-Saturdays.
Buses operating the service have a new livery and passenger screens providing audio and visual announcements on various aspects of the journey, including the route plan, next stop, places of interest and nearby businesses.
“Free bus provides an excellent high-quality, free bus service that links key public transport locations with shops and leisure destinations across the city centre,” says Councillor Mark Aldred, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.
