Major announcement as 24-hour buses to be launched in Greater Manchester on two routes

The launch of 24-hour buses seven days a week in Greater Manchester has been announced by transport bosses.

Transport for Greater Manchester said a trial period would begin on September 1. Bosses said the buses would support the region's night-time economy and those who work in it - from hospitality staff to health staff and logistics workers.

Night buses will run on the V1 and the 36, connecting Manchester with Leigh and Bolton via Salford. The trial will see services run at least every hour, providing 24-hour connectivity. The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said if the trial goes well, they'll look to expand night buses into other areas of Greater Manchester.

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TfGM said the two routes have been chosen due to their proximity to key night-time economy employment sites like hotels, bars and clubs, hospitals and round-the-clock distribution centres. Figures show some 358,000 people work in jobs or businesses predominately at night in Greater Manchester.

The routes also serve areas with high numbers of people less likely to own a car and more likely to use public transport, including students, said TfGM.

Safety, said TfGM, would be 'of paramount importance' on night bus services. Bosses said a team of Travelsafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs) has already been rolled out on the Bee Network - and numbers will be extended to support the pilot.

Mr Burnham said: "I'm really excited by Greater Manchester’s potential as an engine of growth, but it will only be fully realised if we have the transport infrastructure in place to get people to and from our thriving employment centres whatever the time of day