Transdev pull out all the stops to rescue Red Express

Transdev have announced that the critical Bus route Red Express has been rescued and essentially improved with a faster route during rush hour.

• New times, including faster rush hour buses, from 26 Jan
• Irwell Line 481 and 483 to remain the same as now, with no changes
• All fares remain frozen including weekly travel from £15

Transdev/Rosso have announced that with newly elected MPs and local authority partners, a rescue package was launched for Red Express to keep fast, direct buses between Accrington, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Manchester.

I spoke with Transdev CEO Alex Hornby last year with regards to the news at the time that the Red Express was to cease to run.

This is fantastic news for Ramsbottom especially given the obvious congestion on our roads and goals being set by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham outlining Greater Manchester to be carbon-neutral by 2038.

The new fast morning rush hour journeys will arrive into Manchester, Chorlton Street, at 7.40am and 8.10am, picking up at all the usual stops in Accrington, Haslingden, Helmshore, Edenfield and Ramsbottom, then running non-stop into Manchester. The new fast afternoon rush hour journeys will leave Manchester, Chorlton Street at 4.35pm and 5.15pm running non-stop to Ramsbottom then continuing along the rest of the route as normal.

This also means that the previously advertised changes to Irwell Line will now not happen. Irwell Line will continue to use the same times and route as before – which you can see here.

Transdev