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THE North West's first demand responsive Dial-aRide bus service has proved so successful since its inception ten weeks ago that it is now to be extended to cover a larger catchment area.
The service, which is not subsidized and is a joint venture by the Godfrey Abbott Group Ltd and the Greater Manchester PTE, started operations in Sale, Cheshire, in October.
Initially, seven vehicles were used to cover a 14.5 sq km (5.6 sq miles) area on the eastern side of the town. Using an extra three Bedford CFs fitted with Williams Deansgate 17-seater bodies the service is now to be extended to the whole of Sale and Ashton-on-Mersey.
Mr John Abbott, managing director of GAG, told CAI that since October the service had carried more than 25,000 passengers with average 'loading figures ol around 500 passengers a day.
The original catchmeni area, said Mr Abbott, had contained 20,000 residents. With the extension thit would be increased to 60,00C and take in an extra twc operating zones, raising the total to five.