Relief as life-line bus service is back

After years of campaigning, Atherton will finally get back its normal bus service to Manchester.

Since the coronavirus lockdown, the V2 - which runs along the Leigh Guided Busway towards Manchester - has controversially been on a part-time schedule due to low demand. Now, thanks to years of campaigning from residents, local businesses and councillors - it will return to its pre-pandemic schedule.

Although the decision made during the lockdown was accepted due to a lack of need for lots of public transport, it was never expected that the old schedule would not return.

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Nick Roberts, Transport for Greater Manchester's Head of Bus Services and Commercial Development, previously said the timetable had been slashed due to 'low demand' following on from the pandemic. When the official launch of the new Bee Network bus franchising system takes place on September 24, the V2 service from Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) will be reinstated ‘as soon as possible’.

As part of these plans, TfGM also announced the daytime frequency on the V1 and V2 services on the Leigh Guided Busway (LGB) will also be increased, with eight buses in each direction every hour. The idea behind bringing buses under local control is to make the system more efficient and effective than the current deregulated market.

Atherton representative and bus driver Coun Stuart Gerrard said: “Our combined persistence as a community has paid off. Our emails, surveys and petitions have paid off as it's been announced that the V2 will return to a full service once franchising commences and in time will be extended yet again to the MRI.

“We can't be complacent