First Manchester, Rosso and Go North West announce timetable changes

Local bus operators First Manchester, Rosso and Go North West are moving its services to new timetables this weekend.

First Manchester is moving all services to a special timetable from Monday 30 March to ensure key workers, including health service and emergency workers, can get to and from their places of work and those who need to can still collect medical prescriptions or do their essential shopping. 

Services will operate to Sunday timetables but will start at the usual morning times on weekdays and Saturdays.  

Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: “With much of the UK effectively ordered to stay at home for at least the next few weeks, we have made the decision to move to a special timetable to support those who still need to get to and from work and get out to shops and pharmacies.

“Please bear with us as given the fast-changing nature of the situation it will be difficult to keep all our communication channels updated with the latest information.”

Revised temporary timetables will be introduced on Rosso’s network from this Sunday 29 March – and following their introduction, the operator says it anticipates being able to continue with a similar level of service for up to a month, while continuing to keep all services under review.

Rosso CEO Alex Hornby said: “On a personal note, I remain extremely grateful to our drivers on the front line as well as all those behind the scenes for all their incredible efforts in helping our region at this critical time. We have all been humbled by the many messages of support as we do all we possibly can to keep our buses on the road, protect our colleagues and keep our key workers moving.

“I’d like to thank our customers, obviously, too for their understanding while these unique circumstances continue – and to remind everyone that travel is only for those who really need it most. Most of our bus routes are running, just less often than usual, as we focus our resources on providing essential travel.

“We will remain here to take key workers to work, for their children to travel to school, and to help people without cars to reach shops and medical services for essentials.”

Go North West will reduce its services from Sunday 29 March, following a reduction in the number of passengers:

17 Manchester - Rochdale will run every hour through the daytimes and evenings, with buses timed to coordinate with the 18. The two weekday journeys on the 17A will still run.

18 Langley - MRI will run every hour through the daytimes and evenings, with buses timed to coordinate with the 17. Buses will run every 30 mins between MRI and Shudehill, with these buses connecting with the 17 to and from the north of the city

41 Middleton - Sale will run every hour daily, including evenings. Buses will run up to every 30 mins between NMGH and MRI

X63 Heywood - Manchester The X63 will unfortunately no longer run for the time being.

The announcements come after the government outlined strict new measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus, including advice that people should leave home only to exercise once a day, travel to and from work where "absolutely necessary", shop for essential items and to fulfil any medical or care needs.

Customers are advised to visit the operators’ websites to view full details of the new services:

• www.firstgroup.com/greater-manchester
• www.transdevbus.co.uk/rosso/services
• www.gonorthwest.co.uk/news-service-updates/coronavirus/