Free bus is a zero-fare bus system that operates in Greater Manchester. The system was first introduced in Manchester city centre in 2002, with currently two routes linking the city's major thoroughfares and stations with its main commercial, financial and cultural districts.
Manchester City Centre
History
Transport across the Greater Manchester conurbation historically suffered from poor north–south connections due to the fact that Manchester's main railway stations, Piccadilly and Victoria, were built in the 1840s on peripheral locations outside Manchester city centre. In the 1960s and 1970s, the public transport authority SELNEC evaluated a number of proposals to connect Manchester's northern and southern rail terminals, including several types of monorail systems and metro-style systems. A scheme was promoted to build an underground rail link across Manchester city centre, known as the Picc-Vic tunnel, but this failed to attract the necessary government funding and the project was cancelled in 1977.
To address the problem of cross-city transit, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (SELNEC's successor) proposed a new circular shuttle bus service between Piccadilly and Victoria stations. (exhibition catalogue) The new Centreline bus service was initially opposed by the Taxi Owners' Association, but was approved by the North Western Traffic Commissioner. Centreline was first operated using a fleet of Seddon Pennine IV midibuses, noted for their diminutive appearance. GMPTE also introduced an experimental battery-electric bus onto Centreline, the Lucas Electric Bus, which was based on the Seddon chassis and body. This was Greater Manchester's second electric bus, the first being SELNEC's experimental Silent Rider, but it was eventually taken out of service. Operated under the Greater Manchester Transport brand, Centreline came into operation on 1 July 1974. Passengers were charged a flat fare of 2p for each journey.
Centreline continued to provide inter-station transit links for several years. After bus deregulation, the service was operated by GM Buses. In 1992, the new Metrolink light rail system began operating across Manchester city centre, providing an electric tram link between the mainline stations, although Centreline continued to operate. In 2002, the Centreline name disappeared from Manchester streets as the service was rebranded as Metroshuttle. First Manchester was chosen by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to operate the service and has retained the contract. Two routes were introduced, numbered 1 and 2. The service was extremely successful. Route 3 was introduced in September 2005 and links additional areas of the city centre.
From 28 October 2018, due to declining passenger numbers, the service was reduced to 2 routes, and rebranded as free bus. Both routes were taken over by Go North West on 2 June 2019 with part of the First Greater Manchester business.First Manchester are selling 160 buses and their Cheetham Hill depot for £11.2 million Manchester Evening News 19 February 2019Timetables Go North West
Partnership Manchester's Metroshuttle is a partnership between TfGM, Manchester City Council, National Car Parks and the property developer Allied London. The service is zero-fare (free) and does not require any tickets or passes. Allied London own the Spinningfields mixed-use development and all three routes serve this site. The service is also partially supported by advertising. First Greater Manchester provides a publicity contribution. The free service costs approximately £1.2 million each year.Buses magazine
Routes
2002–2018 Metroshuttle was a partnership between Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester City Council, National Car Parks and the property developer Allied London.Metroshuttle set for expansion Manchester Evening News 18 April 2010 The service is zero-fare (free) and does not require any tickets or passes.
The Manchester Metroshuttle network consisted of three services, each operated by First Greater 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 carried a generic livery, consisting of silver-grey in place of the route colours allowing them to be used on any route. In November 2010, 20 electric hybrids Optare Versas replaced the Solos.Freedom of the city with Manchester Metroshuttle 2 November 2010 In July 2014, three electric Optare Versas were introduced.Free city centre Metroshuttle goes electric Optare 31 July 2014 Metroshuttle bus stops also share the same route colour of the appropriate bus stopping there.
Metroshuttle route 1 and route 2 began operating in September 2002 and replaced the previous Centreline city centre operation. Allied London owned the Spinningfields mixed-use development that was served by the route. Metroshuttle route 3 began operating in September 2005, linking additional areas of the city.
2018–2024 The new 2018 service has merged route 3 to routes 1 & 2, and require 10 buses to operate both routes, and operated by Go North West. From 28 October 2018 to 2024, free bus operated the following routes:
Route 1: Piccadilly station - Piccadilly Gardens - Market Street - Spinningfields - St Peter's Square - Chorlton Street coach station - Piccadilly station Route 2: Piccadilly station - Oxford Road station - Deansgate - Victoria station - Shudehill Interchange - the Northern Quarter - Piccadilly station
At peak hours (Monday to Friday, 06:30 – 09:10 and 16:00 – 18:30), route 2 additionally ran via Salford Central station.
Both services operated every 10 minutes during the day, every 15 minutes after 18:30, and every 12 minutes on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
2024 The new 2024 routes require a maximum of 4 buses per route, both routes are operated by Stagecoach Manchester as part of the second trenche of Bee Network. On non-bank holiday weekdays and Saturday evenings, only a single bus per route will be in half hourly operation. 1 Free Bus 2 Free BusCircular route Piccadilly Rail Station Piccadilly Gardens (Stop EX) 200m Charlotte Street (Stop CU) 200m Hart Street (Stop SM) Palace Theatre Oxford Road Rail Station (Stop E) Gloucester Street Deansgate Rail Station (Stop C) Deansgate Rail Station (Stop A) 100m Barton Street (Stop WO) Science and Industry Museum Lower Byrom Street Manchester Crown Court 300m St Mary's Parsonage (Stop WF) Cheapside (Stop CO) George Street 150m
Chorlton Street Coach Station (Stop EV) Shena Simon Campus (Stop EU) Minshull Street Piccadilly Rail Station
Operator: Stagecoach Manchester Garage: Queens Road Monday–Friday: 07:00–19:00 every 10 minutes, 19:00–23:30 every 30 minutes Saturday: 07:00–08:00 every 30 minutes, 08:00–09:00 every 15 minutes, 09:00–19:00 every 10 minutes, 19:00–23:30 every 30 minutes Sunday: 10:00–18:00 every 10 minutesCircular route Piccadilly Rail Station Piccadilly Gardens (Stop EX) 200m Chinatown Charlotte Street (Stop CR) 200m Cheapside (Stop CL) Parsonage (Stop NC) Printworks (Stop NK) Shudehill Interchange (Stand H) Turner Street (Stop NZ) 150m Tib Street (Stop CC) 150m Piccadilly Gardens (Stop S) 150m Chorlton Street Coach Station (Stop EV) Shena Simon Campus (Stop EU) Minshull Street Piccadilly Rail Station
Operator: Stagecoach Manchester Garage: Queens Road Monday–Friday: 07:00–19:00 every 10 minutes, 19:00–23:15 every 30 minutes Saturday: 07:00–08:00 every 30 minutes, 08:00–09:00 every 15 minutes, 09:00–19:00 every 10 minutes, 19:00–23:15 every 30 minutes Sunday: 10:00–18:00 every 10 minutes
Bolton History Bolton's Metroshuttle first began operating on 17 November 2008 and follows a similar operation to Manchester's Metroshuttle on a 12-month trial. Bluebird Bus & Coach was chosen by TfGM to operate the service. The company ran the service until 25 January 2010, when Maytree Travel took over the operation of the service. The service has been re-routed on three 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 and re-routed to serve the university and the adjoining Bolton One leisure and health centre. This route change saw the service reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes.
In November 2012, it was announced that the contract for the service had been extended for another year and that South Lancs Travel had been successful in winning the tender for the Bolton Metroshuttle. The company took over the operation of the service from 31 December 2012 and uses Optare Versa diesel hybrid vehicles purchased by Transport for Greater Manchester. The route was again amended, with the University/Bolton One section of route removed. This saw the frequency increase to every 12 minutes.
Following a further contract extension the tender for the Bolton Metroshuttle was won by Cumfybus who took over the service in 2013. The Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) vehicles transferred from Diamond North West to Cumfybus's Bolton depot.
On 4 September 2017 Bolton's new transport Interchange on Great Moor Street opened and all services transferred from the old Moor Lane Bus Station. This saw many local bus services being subjected to route changes. The Bolton Metroshuttle was amended to serve a newly installed stop outside Bolton Market which would now be the first stop after departing the interchange. The frequency was reduced to every 15 minutes to allow for this extra routing.
After the latest tender process the Bolton Metroshuttle has been operated by Vision Bus since 3 January 2018.
The Service was Discontinued in 10th April 2021.
Partnership Bolton's Metroshuttle is a partnership between TfGM 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.
Route Bolton's Metroshuttle originally consisted of two 25-seater Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single decker buses, with black and red route branding, although this changed following Maytree Travel taking over the service, who replaced it with a blue branding. In 2012 Transport for Greater Manchester provided two Optare Versa diesel-electric hybrid vehicles in a blue version of the Metroshuttle branding similar to the livery of the vehicles provided for the Manchester and Stockport Metroshuttle services.
The service starts at Stand F at Bolton Interchange, before serving Bolton Market (next to the old Moor Lane Bus station) and looping back to the train station and running anti-clockwise around the town centre using existing stops within the town centre before returning to the Interchange.
Route 500Bolton Interchange Bolton Market Newport Street - For Bolton Railway Station Sainsbury's Superstore Bradshawgate - for Crompton Place Shopping Centre Deansgate Bridge Street – for Market Place Shopping Centre and The Light Cinema Bath Street - for NCP Multi-storey Car Park Knowsley Street – for Market Place Shopping Centre Deansgate (West) - for Bolton Town Hall, Albert Halls and Central Post Office Black Horse Street stop CC – for Bolton Market and Octagon Theatre Bolton Interchange
Operator: Vision Bus Times: 09:00–17:00 Monday-Saturday, every 15 minutes
Stockport History