Metroshuttle

Not to be confused with Manchester Metrolink.

Metroshuttle

A Metroshuttle bus in Manchester city centre
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Manchester, Greater Manchester (GMPTE HQ) Oldham, Greater Manchester (First Manchester HQ) Bolton, Greater Manchester (Maytree Travel HQ) Manchester/Stockport, Greater Manchester (Stagecoach Manchester HQ)
Locale	Greater Manchester
Service area	Manchester city centre, Salford, Bolton and Stockport
Service type	Zero-Fare Bus
Fleet	Optare Versa, Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
Operator	First Manchester, Maytree Travel and Stagecoach Manchester
Web site	Metroshuttle website

Metroshuttle is a free bus system that operates in Manchester city centre and Bolton and Stockport town centres, all in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester's Metroshuttle consists of three routes (numbered 1, 2 and 3) that traverse the city centre, linking the city's major thoroughfares and stations with its main commercial, financial and cultural districts. The Bolton Metroshuttle (numbered 500) links Bolton Bus Station, Bolton railway station with the town's shops and attractions. The Stockport Metroshuttle (numbered 300) is the re-branded Stockport Shuttle bus,^[1] which links Stockport Bus Station, Stockport railway station and the Tesco Extra store with the town's shops and attractions.

Manchester

History

Manchester's Metroshuttle first began operating in September 2002 and replaced the previous Centreline city centre operation. First Manchester was chosen by GMPTE to operate the service and still operates it currently. Two routes were introduced, numbers 1 and 2. The service was extremely successful. Number 3 was introduced in September 2005 and links additional areas of the City centre.

Partnership

Manchester's Metroshuttle is a partnership between GMPTE, Manchester City Council, National Car Parks and the property developer Allied London.^[2] The service is completely zero-fare (free) and does not require any tickets or passes. The service is also partially supported by advertising. First Manchester provides a publicity contribution. The free service costs approximately £1.2million each year source: Buses Magazine

Routes

The Manchester Metroshuttle network consists of three services, each operated by First Manchester. The services were originally operated using a dedicated fleet of 18 Optare Solo minibuses with route branding applied for all services, Route 1 (orange), Route 2 (green), Route 3 (purple). Some Solos feature a "Metroshuttle spare" livery, consisting of silver-grey in place of the route colours. The buses were replaced by 20 new Optare Versa vehicles, which were built in 2010 at the Optare factory near Leeds, which were designed to be bigger and more eco-friendly than the previous vehicles, as the buses are electric hybrids. The buses were originally scheduled for a September 2010 introduction^[3] but were finally brought into service in November 2010^{[4] [5]}. Most Metroshuttle bus stops also share the same route colour of the appropriate bus stopping there.

Metroshutle Route One	Metroshutle Route Two	Metroshutle Route Three
Piccadilly Rail Station Piccadilly/Chatham St - for Piccadilly Gardens Charlotte St/Portland St - for Chorlton Street Coach Station Charlotte St/Mosley St - for City Art Gallery and Chinatown King Street - for Albert Square and Manchester Town Hall John Dalton Street - for John Rylands Library Bridge Street* Gartside Street* Spinningfields* Deansgate/John Rylands Library* King Street West Barton Arcade - for House of Fraser and St Annes Square St Marys Gate - for Harvey Nichols, Marks and Spencer and Triangle Cross Street - for Manchester Arndale King Street York Street - for Piccadilly Gardens and Mosley Street Piccadilly Plaza Central Coach Station Chorlton Street Piccadilly Rail Station Operator: First Manchester Times: 0700-1800 Monday-Saturday, every 6 minutes 1800-1900 (or 1800-2100 November and December only) Monday-Saturday, every 10 minutes 1000-1800 Sunday, every 10 minutes	Shudehill Interchange - for The Printworks Manchester Victoria - for Victoria Train Station, Urbis and MEN Arena Manchester Cathedral Barton Arcade - for House of Fraser and St Annes Square John Rylands Library - for Spinningfields The Great Northern Warehouse - for Manchester Central (Conference Centre) and Great Northern Leisure & Shopping Castlefield - for Beetham Tower Deansgate Station - for Castlefield Gallery, Deansgate Locks and Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station Medlock St/Grand Island Medlock St/Mancunian Way Hulme Street - for University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University Oxford Road - for BBC Manchester Manchester Oxford Road Station - for Cornerhouse and Palace Theatre Whitworth St West The Haçienda - for Bridgewater Hall Deansgate Station Liverpool Road for Castlefield Arena Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester - for Museum of Science and Industry and Air & Space Museum Lower Byron St - for Granada TV and Manchester Opera House Spinningfields Deansgate/John Rylands Library King Street West Barton Arcade - for St Annes Square St Mary's Gate Corporation Street - for Manchester Arndale, Urbis, Printworks and Victoria Station Shudehill Interchange Operator: First Manchester Times: 0700-1900 Monday-Saturday, every 10 minutes 1000-1800 Sunday, every 10 minutes	Piccadilly Rail Station Piccadilly/Chatham St - for Piccadilly Gardens Charlotte St/Portland St - for Chorlton Street Coach Station Portland St/CUBE Oxford Street/St Peter's Square - for Manchester Central Library Peter Street - for Great Northern and Manchester Central (Conference Centre) Quay Street/Opera House Quay Street/Granada TV New Quay Street - for MANCAT Salford Central Railway Station Gartside Street Spinningfields - for John Rylands Library Peter Street Mount Street - for Central Library and St Peter's Square Albert Square Town Hall City Art Gallery - for Chinatown Princess Street Whitworth Street - for Palace Theatre, City College and Chorlton Street Coach Station Piccadilly Rail Station Operator: First Manchester Times: 0700-1900 Monday-Saturday, every 10 minutes No service on Sundays

* denotes peak hours only

Bolton

History

Bolton's Metroshuttle first began operating on 17 November 2008 and follows a similar operation to Manchester's Metroshuttle and is running on a 12-month trial. Bluebird was chosen by GMITA to operate the service. ^[6]. The company ran the service until 25 January 2010, when local company Maytree Travel took over the operation of the service.^[7]. The service has been re-routed on two occasions, the first to serve the Sainsbury's supermarket in the town, and then again in January 2011, when the service was given a 12 month contract extension^[8] and re-routed to serve the university. This route change saw the service reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes^[9].

Partnership

Bolton's Metroshuttle is a partnership between GMPTA and Bolton Council. The service is completely zero-fare (free) and does not require any tickets or passes. The free service will cost approximately £200,000 per year.^[10]

Route

Bolton's Metroshuttle originally consisted of two 25-seater Enviro200 single decker buses, with black and red route branding,^[11] although this has changed following Maytree Travel taking over the service, who replaced it with a blue branding.^[12] The service starts on Newport Street, outside Bolton Interchange, before running anti-clockwise around the town centre using existing stops within the town centre before returning to Newport Street.

Route 500

Newport Street - for Bolton Interchange / Train Station Sainsbury's Superstore Bradshawgate #1 - for Bolton College Bradshawgate #2 - for Crompton Place Shopping Centre Deansgate Bridge Street - for Market Place Shopping Centre St George's Road Knowsley Street - for Market Place Shopping Centre Black Horse Street stop CC - for Bolton Bus Station , Market and Octagon Theatre Deane Road - for university Derby Street - for Morrisons Black Horse Street Newport Street - for Morrisons Newport Street - for Bolton Interchange Operator: Maytree Travel Times: 0900-1700 Monday-Saturday, every 15 minutes

Stockport

History

Stockport's Metroshuttle first began operating during Christmas 2007 as a complementary shuttle designed to help ferry the elderly and disabled around Stockport more easily. It was reintroduced on November 29, 2008 as permanent fixture. Branded the Stockport Shuttle Bus it was operated by Solutions SK on behalf of Stockport Council,^[13] before operations switched to Freshfield Coaches the following month, after it was revealed that SolutionsSK had been operating the service with a freight licence.^[14] The service was re-branded in August 2009 to form part of the Metroshuttle network, and was given a new livery to mark the change. Prior to this, the fleet (consisting of Optare Solos) were unpainted and fairly run down, even lacking roll blinds. The fleet was replaced with new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 darts, fitted with digital displays.^[15] In 2010, the operator of the service changed, with Oldham-based company Swan's Travel taking over the service ^[16] on a short-term basis, before being replaced by Bluebird in October 2010.^[17]. Bluebird ran the service until March 2011, when the service was taken over by Stagecoach Manchester^[18], who run the majority of services in Stockport.

Route

Stockport's Metroshuttle runs in two loops around Stockport town centre and use existing stops, as well as dedicated stops in areas where other services do not operate within the town centre. The service starts from Stockport Bus Station and runs to Stockport railway station via the Grand Central Leisure Complex before returning to the bus station then via Mersey Square, Bridgefield Street, Warren Street (for Sainsbury's and Asda), Great Portland Street to Tesco before returning via Knightsbridge, Warren Street (for Sainsbury's and Asda again), Millgate, Churchgate, Little Underbank and Great Underbank to Stockport Bus Station.

Route 300

Stockport Bus Station (Stand H (Monday-Saturday) or Stand T (Sundays)) - for Hat Museum St Peter's Square High Street Piccadilly - for Magistrates Court Edward Street - for Stockport Town Hall Stockport railway station - for railway station and Grand Central Leisure Complex Exchange Street - for Garick Theatre Stockport Bus Station (Stand P) Mersey Square - for Merseyway Shopping Centre Bridgefield Street Princes Street Warren Street - for Sainsbury's and Asda Great Portwood Street - for Peel Centre and retail park Tesco Extra Great Portwood Street - for Peel Centre and retail park Knightsbridge Bridge Street Warren Street - for Sainsbury's and Asda Churchgate - for Staircase House and Stockport Market Wellington Street Lower Hillgate Great Underbank Chestergate - for Air Raid Shelter Stockport Bus Station (stand H or T) Operator: Stagecoach Manchester Times: 0800-1800 Monday-Saturday, every 12 minutes 1030-1700 Sunday, every 12 minutes

Future

Following the success of Metroshuttle in Manchester, GMPTA have been studying the feasibility of introducing Metroshuttle routes in other towns in Greater Manchester, to provide a high-quality town centre bus service that links key public transport nodes and car parks with the main retail, commercial, leisure and cultural destinations within town centres.^[19]

Other towns like Bury, Oldham and Wigan had been mentioned to gain routes,^[20] however, the chances of this happening were reduced following the rejection of the Manchester Congestion Charge in December 2008.

See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

References

1. ^ "New look for Stockport shuttle bus". GMPTE. http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=6119187?submenuheader=3. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
2. ^ "Metroshuttle set for expansion". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1055975_metroshuttle_set_for_expansion. Retrieved 17 November 2008. 
3. ^ "Metroshuttle hybrids to launch in September". Manchester Transport. http://manchestertransport.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/metroshuttle-hybrids-to-launch-in-september/. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
4. ^ "Metroshuttle free city centre bus service goes electric-hybrid". Manchester Transport. http://manchestertransport.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/metroshuttle-free-city-centre-bus-service-goes-electric-hybrid/. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
5. ^ "Freedom of the city with Manchester Metroshuttle". GMPTE. http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9005445. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
6. ^ "Bolton Metroshuttle takes off, Stockport's due by Christmas". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/11/bolton-metroshuttle-takes-off-stockports-due-by-christmas.html. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
7. ^ "Extended run for Bolton's free bus service". GMPTE. http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9001361?submenuheader=3. Retrieved 26 January 2010. 
8. ^ "One year’s extension for free shuttle buses". Bolton News. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/8821148.One_year___s_extension_for_free_shuttle_buses/. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
9. ^ "Forthcoming Changes to Bus Network - 7 January 2011". GMITA. http://www.gmita.gov.uk/download/3286/item_13_changes_to_the_bus_network. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
10. ^ "Free Metroshuttle takes off in Bolton". Bolton News. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/3852442.Free_Metroshuttle_takes_off_in_Bolton/. Retrieved 17 November 2008. 
11. ^ "Another look at the Bolton Metroshuttle". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/11/another-look-at-the-bolton-metroshuttle.html. Retrieved 19 November 2008. 
12. ^ "Take shuttle bus around town for another year". Bolton News. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4871368.Take_shuttle_bus_around_town_for_another_year/. Retrieved 26 January 2010. 
13. ^ "Bolton Metroshuttle takes off, Stockport's due by Christmas". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/11/bolton-metroshuttle-takes-off-stockports-due-by-christmas.html. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
14. ^ "Stockport's Metroshuttle mistake leads to operator switch". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/12/stockports-metroshuttle-mistake-leads-to-operator-switch.html. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
15. ^ "Stockport town centre shuttle gets Metroshuttle branding". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2009/08/stockport-twon-centre-shuttle-gets-metroshuttle-branding.html. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
16. ^ "Stockport Metroshuttle service extended". Transport Action Group - Manchester. http://www.tag-mcr.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1208%3Astockport-metroshuttle-service-extended&Itemid=64. Retrieved 24 August 2010. 
17. ^ "Notices and Proceedings - North West - Publication Number 2575". VOSA. http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/archive/N&P%202575%20-%2029th%20October%202010.pdf. Retrieved 27 October 2010. 
18. ^ "GMPTE - Buses - Latest Changes". GMPTE. http://www.gmpte.com/buses/service_changes.cfm. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
19. ^ "GMPTA Policy Priorities for 2008 / 09" (PDF). GMPTA. http://www.gmpta.gov.uk/uploads/agendas/1/126/Reports/Item%2012.%20GMPTA%20Policy%20Priorities%202008.09%20(1%20August%202008).pdf. Retrieved 17 November 2008. 
20. ^ "Metroshuttle set for expansion". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1055975_metroshuttle_set_for_expansion. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 

External links

• Bolton, Manchester and Stockport Metroshuttle Information page (GMPTE)
• Bolton Metroshuttle Route Map (GMPTE)
• Manchester Metroshuttle Route Map (GMPTE)
• Stockport Metroshuttle Route Map (GMPTE)