Press Releases

18 September 2008

Bus boost for Rochdale - details released

New details have been released about how Rochdale bus services would improve if Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals go ahead.

The proposals include investment of up to £3 billion in Greater Manchester’s transport network and part of this would go on enhancing bus services to, from and around the town.

This would mean extra services at peak times to and from local town centres and Manchester city centre and more services operating during the early morning, the evenings and on Sundays.

Improvements would be funded in part by a weekday, peak time-only congestion charge to be introduced in 2013 at the earliest. At least 80 per cent of the public transport solutions will be in place before a charge is introduced.

Examples of proposed changes to buses in the Rochdale district include:

• The Rochdale-Rochdale Infirmary-Syke service will run every 10 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes (every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays)
• The Rochdale-Middleton-Harpurhey-Manchester, Bury-Heywood-Langley-Middleton-Harpurhey-Manchester and Middleton-Rhodes-Cheetham-Manchester services will run every seven to eight minutes during the day Monday to Saturday (every 20 minutes evenings and Sundays)
• The Rochdale-Sudden-Heywood-Bury service will run every seven to eight minutes during the day Monday to Saturday (every 30 minutes in the evening)

Many more changes are proposed. For more comprehensive information about a range of services see the Notes to Editors section below.

Improvements to the bus network will complement other changes proposed under TIF. New Metrolink trams, already set to run to Rochdale station by 2013, will be extended into a new town interchange running down Drake Street. The Metrolink network will be almost three times its current size across Greater Manchester by the time the full TIF transport solutions have been delivered.

Trains running through Rochdale district at peak times will have more seats under the proposals with extra carriages on trains running through Rochdale, Mills Hill, Castleton and Smithy Bridge stations. Rochdale, Castleton and Smithy Bridge stations will all be improved.

Cycling is also a key element of the proposals. Specific cycle routes planned for Rochdale include two new on-road cycle routes between Middleton and Manchester city centre. There will also be extra cycle routes to rail stations.

Proposed improvements across Greater Manchester are almost all funded by a Government grant of £1.5 billion and borrowings of £1.2 billion which both depend on congestion charging being introduced. Other contributions will bring in a further £0.1 billion, plus investment in rail from the Department for Transport.

Lord Peter Smith, Leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, said: “The TIF proposals promise considerable public transport benefits for Rochdale, including new and upgraded bus services. I’d encourage everyone in the area to look at the details of what the proposals would mean for them.”

Anyone who has not yet given their views on the proposals is encouraged to do so before October 10 - the end of the consultation. To find out how to take part in the consultation visit www.gmfuturetransport.com.

A postal referendum on the final proposals, with residents of all 10 districts in Greater Manchester voting, will be held in December.

Notes to Editors

Examples of what these proposals would mean for towns in the district include:

The Rochdale – Rochdale Infirmary – Syke service will run every 10 minutes, throughout the day, Monday to Saturday every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays.

The Rochdale – Bamford – Fairfield Hospital – Bury bus will run 10 minutes throughout the day, Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays.

A new shuttle service will to link Rochdale town centre, Rochdale railway station and Kingsway Business Park, running every 20 minutes during weekdays.

The Rochdale – Greave – Cutgate bus will be extended to Elmsfield and run every 30 minutes during the day, Monday to Saturday, with a new hourly evening and Sunday service.

Detailed proposals for Middleton include

The Rochdale – Middleton – Harpurhey – Manchester service will run every 7/8 minutes during the day, Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on evenings and Sundays.

Buses on the Langley – Middleton – Harpurhey - Manchester route will be increased to run every 7/8 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes on Sundays. They will also be extended to operate across Manchester City Centre to the University, MRI, the new Children’s Hospital and Chorlton.

Buses on the Bury – Heywood – Langley - Middleton – Harpurhey - Manchester service  will operate every 7/8 minutes Monday to Saturday and 20 minutes on evenings and Sundays.

The Middleton – Rhodes – Cheetham - Manchester service will also run every 7/8 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on evenings and Sundays.

The Middleton – Alkrington – Moston - Manchester service will be increased to run operate every 20 minutes during the day, Monday to Saturday.

Detailed proposals for Littleborough include

Rochdale to Littleborough via Halifax Road will see  8 buses an hour during the day. Monday to Saturday, with 3 direct buses an hour on evenings and Sundays.

The Rochdale – Wardle – Smithy Bridge – Hollingworth Lake service will be extended to Littleborough and increased to run every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime

There will also be an improved service for Wardle, Smithy Bridge and Hollingworth.

Detailed proposals for Heywood include

The Rochdale – Sudden – Heywood – Bury service will run  every 7/8 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and  every 30 minutes in the evening.

Buses on the Bury – Heywood – Langley - Middleton – Harpurhey - Manchester route will  run every 7/8 minutes during the day

The Norden – Heywood – Rhodes – Manchester service will run every 20 minutes in the weekday peaks and 30 minutes off peak, with a new hourly evenings and Sunday service introduced

Heywood – Fairfield Hospital – Bury – Ramsbottom services will be increased to run every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday, with a new hourly Sunday service introduced.