Manchester Bee Network

[Mikeonthebuses]

RE: Manchester Bee Network

(12/10/2021 17:09)SF07 Wrote:  Bury-Oldham link would be good, but probably more likely to happen as a tram-train via Rochdale and the ELR rather than as a bus service, particularly if tram-trains are also under TfGM's control. It would be good to see some links created that avoids the need to having to go in and out of Manchester. Definitely would like to see an increase and/or improvement of routes that run around the city, like the 52/53, 171/172 etc.

Given that Wigan and Bolton areas will be the first area to come under the control of the mayor/TfGM, I'm wondering what kind of changes may take place around there in January 2023. Perhaps restoring the direct link to/from Manchester, seeing as Wigan is the only major town in Greater Manchester without a direct bus link to the city centre. Could extend the V2 to Wigan or improve the connections between the 132 and V1/V2 at Tyldesley Interchange.

Should imagine some of the competing routes between Diamond and Vision Bus in Bolton (501/502/503, 571/572 and 580/581) will be simplified and perhaps links to Middlebrook could be improved with more buses running from Bolton (currently every two hours on the 577) or creating a direct link from Wigan to Middlebrook. Also some kind of direct link between Bolton and Tyldesley (currently requires a change at Atherton or Walkden).

I was thinking something along this could work well merging the 584 with 126 to create a new 584 between Crankwood and Trafford Centre to provide a better range of services to crankwood. also, this would then see the 132 being renumbered to the 585. I would curtail the 583 from Shakerley to extend that route to Logistics north. I have previously heavily worked on the Wigan and Leigh networks mainly the 600 series routes which I can provide a full list of my proposed ideas. I'm basically recycling the 1986 numbering system and making the relevant changes needed to fit the modern greater Manchester and I'm reducing the duplication of routes by working around the areas that need a service but often forgotten.

I agree with you we need two circular routes for Manchester the Inner Circular and The Outer CIircular