Stockport: Bus Network Proposals

A new network of bus services for Greater Manchester is being developed. This will be at the heart of services planned to be up and running by summer 2013. The new network will have about 10% more services than it does now, and some parts of the borough will experience an even greater increase in bus services at specific times of day. For example, Sunday daytime services and weekday evening services to Stockport town centre will be up to 20% higher.

The new bus network is being designed so that in many cases bus services will start earlier in the day and run later at night, and new 'feeder' services to rail and Metrolink stations will be created. The network will provide 'minimum service frequencies', so that on main routes to the city centre such as the A6, at least eight buses an hour will run through the daytime, and no fewer than three buses an hour will be available in evenings and on Sundays.

The minimum service frequencies for local services to Stockport will be for at least three buses an hour during the daytime, and no less than two an hour in the evenings and on Sundays.

New bus routes
A new cross city bus route will operate from Stockport to Pendleton. Many routes will have increased bus frequencies, even during evenings, early mornings and Sundays.

The whole network will be simpler to understand, and better co-ordinated with other bus services, Metrolink and rail.

The network will bring as many people as possible within a five-minute walk of a regular, all day, and service to a local town centre. 90% of the population of the borough of Stockport will be within a five-minute walk of bus services, running at least every 20 minutes during the daytime, Monday to Saturday. Services will run at least every 30 minutes for weekday early mornings and evenings, and Sundays.

All new buses will have low floors to make it easier for people to get on and off.

By introducing vehicle location technology, we will be able to make services run more efficiently and reliably. The technology will also allow for new passenger information displays to be provided at stops and stations giving up-to-the-minute information on bus services. Improving passenger information in this way is crucial to building greater confidence - and more use - of public transport.