New bus services hailed by council
New bus services are set to link Bolton town centre with Middlebrook for the first time and make getting to and from Logistics North easier for people who work there.
Bolton Council has hailed the changes as some of the biggest improvements to public transport in years.
The routes of the 575, 576 and 615 buses will be altered to help shoppers and staff get to and from Middlebrook, bringing an end to the long running frustration with public transport to one of the UK’s biggest shopping destinations.
Meanwhile, people who work at Logistics North will benefit from changed timetables for the 20, 471, 507 and 511 buses.
The changes are designed to make bus journeys better match the times of shift patterns at the major employment hub, helping people to get to and from work more conveniently.
People using the 471, which links Bolton with Bury and Rochdale, will find the changes are not just about getting to Logistics North.
More buses during the morning, daytime and evening will improve performance and carry more people, while the Sunday service will increase from 7am to midnight.
In the last of the changes, the number 36 late night service between Bolton and Manchester will be continued on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, alongside proposals for changes to the timetable on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The far-reaching changes are only possible because of the switch to public control of buses under the Bee Network, giving Greater Manchester the first locally controlled, integrated transport system in the UK outside of London.
Bolton was one of the first two areas to join the Bee Network and bus journeys have seen a 14 percent year-on-year increase.
The leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “This is great news for Bolton that will boost jobs and make life easier for people.
“People have been crying out for a bus to Middlebrook as well as better buses to Logistics North and now thanks to the Bee Network they are finally on their way.
“Alongside the continuation of the £2 flat fare and the removal of restrictions for all-day free travel for pensioners and disabled people, we are fully on board with these improvements and will keep working with the mayor to bring new and better public transport to Bolton.”
The director of Middlebrook Retail Park, Robert Hallworth, said: “Following today’s announcement from Andy Burnham regarding improvements to bus services across Greater Manchester, this is particularly great news for Bolton and Middlebrook retail park.
“After the erosion of bus services to Middlebrook over the years we are really pleased that the 575, 576 and 615 will now provide direct connectivity between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook retail park.
“With over 7,000 employees on site and thousands of shoppers a week these services will provide greatly needed access between these two shopping and employment hubs in Bolton.”