Commissioners approve bus-rail link
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DESPITE opposition from the Taxi Owners' Association, a new bus link between Manchester's Victoria and Piccadilly railway stations is to be introduced by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, formerly Selnec, on July 1.
At a public sitting in Manchester last week the North Western Traffic Commissioners decided to grant the Executive's application to operate the circular service on a 2p flat fare basis. The Taxi Owners' Association had lodged an objection to the application on the grounds that if the new service were introduced an existing congestion problem could be worsened. But after taking a lunch-time trip to assess the congestion situation, the Commissioners gave the service the go ahead.
Representing the Executive, Mr D. Brown, barrister, told the Commissioners that the new service would provide a convenient and speedy service between shopping areas and the stations. He said it would encourage the use of public transport in the city's centre.
It was said that the proposed service, which would be called Centre Line, would be operated from 7am to 7 pm and would be continuous throughout peak periods and operated every five minutes at other times. A subsidy would be needed because revenue would amount to £29,000 while operating costs would run to £80,000.
The service will be operated by the 22 Seddon midibuses described in CM, May 17.