Decision details

To respond to the impact of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic on the bus network TfGM has undertaken to review supported services across Greater Manchester with a view to rationalising these in response to commercial network changes and to reflect the pronounced and continuing reductions in patronage. Changes will need to be implemented at short notice as this piece of work is being undertaken in the context of large and continuing drops in passenger numbers, of as much of 90% in some cases, alongside shortages of operating staff.

The overarching principles have been adopted to ensure access to hospitals and food retailers (usually in the district centres) is maintained in particular, as well as a more general level of coverage for other essential travel:

• Where a hospital or other healthcare facility is served, maintain a minimum two hourly frequency (although frequencies may be vary depending on operational circumstances), with first and last journey times remaining unchanged;
• Where a daytime service provides links to food retail, consider reduced operating period or lower frequency; and
• As a reasonable level of patronage data becomes available, reducing or removing services which have not demonstrated demand.