This Sunday (2nd December) sees the handover of First Manchester's bus business in Wigan to Stagecoach. This is the conclusion of a reported £12 million acquisition by Stagecoach which could see a shake-up to regional links in the area.
Although no initial changes are planned at the time of the handover, speculative rumours at this stage include a fast express service between Wigan and Manchester and the possible extension of the express X34 Leigh – Manchester service to St Helens.
As someone who commutes between St Helens and Leigh, this would be a very welcome service in terms of getting to/from work and also at other times for leisure purposes in Manchester as connections between bus and rail between St Helens and Manchester can be hap-hazard (for example buses at St Helens Junction Station usually miss each train by around 3 minutes).
Across the country, cuts are being made to some vital bus services as local transport is feeling the budgetary squeeze, it is a hopeful sign of some improvement on the horizon.
In the time I have been at Stephensons Leigh Office, I have regularly been told by drivers of the current St Helens - Leigh service, that there have been plans for reductions or possible withdrawal in the pipeline (which thankfully hasn't come to pass).
For more information on the changeover visit stagecoachbus.com
By Stephen McCulley