More buses to Trafford Centre ahead of Christmas

Changes to Wigan's bus services will be introduced on 27 October

More bus services to popular shopping parks including the Trafford Centre and Middlebrook will be made available in the run up to Christmas.

The hourly 615 services between Wigan and Middlebrook retail park will be restored on 27 October - four years after it was scrapped – thanks to public demand.

It will be the first bus route added to the new locally-controlled Bee Network, which started its rollout across Greater Manchester in September 2023.

The frequency of the 132 service between Wigan and the Trafford Centre will also be doubled, with buses running every 30 minutes instead of hourly.

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said the restoration of the 615 service was an “important milestone” as officials tried to boost the number of bus journeys.

He said the new services were “boosting access to jobs, retail and leisure opportunities – which is especially welcome in the lead-up to Christmas”.

“The only way we can grow the Bee Network, improve services and keep fares low is if more people use it, so I’d encourage everyone to get onboard and enjoy our cleaner, cheaper and more reliable bus service.”

More night buses have also been operating in the area since September, as part of a pilot scheme to improve workers’ safety and the local economy.

Buses returned under local control across Greater Manchester in September 2023 - following the deregulation and privatisation of bus firms in 1985 – in an effort to improve services and lower fares.

The Bee Network has been rolled out in stages across the region, with the final services due to come under public control on 5 January 2025.