Work is set to begin on a new travel hub in Tyldesley that will enable easier access to the Bee Network.
The new hub will triple the current capacity of park and ride facilities in Tyldesley for those using the Leigh Guided Busway, with new electric vehicle (EV) chargers, cycle storage and parcel lockers to be installed at the Astley Street stop.
CCTV and lighting will also be installed, whilst a new office for Busway staff will allow for more of an on-site presence.
The new travel hub will also add an extra 99 parking bays at the site in an effort to address concerns from residents and local traders regarding on-street parking within the town centre.
Creation of the site follows the recent introduction of night bus services on the V1 route from Manchester Royal Infirmary to Leigh via the Guided Busway, which has boosted its typical daily use.
First launched almost a decade ago, the Leigh Guided Busway is estimated to have reduced the number of car journeys on local roads by over 600,000 a year since 2017, with up to 25% of its passengers having switched to travelling by bus. Since the Bee Network’s launch in 2023, the bus route has experienced a 13.8% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers.
The new travel hub will add an extra 99 parking bays at the site in an effort to address concerns from residents and local traders regarding on-street parking within the town centre.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:The Guided Busway has been a huge success story for public transport in Greater Manchester – and now the Bee Network is making it even better.
We’ve listened to residents and businesses who have expressed concerns about parking in Tyldesley, in part due to the popularity of the V1 and V2.
Expanding park and ride facilities here will ease pressure on parking in the area and help get even more passengers on the Busway and the wider Bee Network.
In total, 148 parking spaces will be made available at the Tyldesley travel hub, including 18 with access to EV chargers, 10 accessible bays and cycle shelters for up to 16 bikes, with a new pick-up and drop-off area also set to be created at the existing park and ride facility.
The current park and ride system will remain open until work on the new facility is finished, with no disruption planned for services on the Guided Busway while work, which is set to begin on Monday 30 March and be completed by late October, takes place.
