On Trains & Buses

Using Public Transport During the 2024/5 Festive Season in Greater Manchester

Posted on December 16, 2024

Reading time: 3 minutes.

As the holiday season approaches, planning your travel on Greater Manchester’s public transport network becomes crucial to ensure smooth travel. Whether you rely on trams, buses, trains, or local links, understanding the festive timetable changes can save you time and effort.

Trams: Schedule Adjustments for the Holidays

During the festive period, trams across Greater Manchester will see varied schedules. Here’s a breakdown:

• Christmas Eve (Tuesday, 24 December): Services begin at 6am but wrap up earlier. The last trams will arrive at terminus stops around 9pm. It’s advisable to check the journey planner for precise details.

• Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December): There will be no tram services available on this day.

• Boxing Day to New Year’s Day (26 December - 1 January): Key routes like Altrincham to Etihad Campus and Manchester Airport to Victoria will operate, but peak services on some routes will not. Boxing Day services kick off at 7am, running every 15 minutes until midnight, with Manchester Piccadilly station closed but accessible via Fairfield Street to the Metrolink stop.

• Changes on New Year’s Eve (31 December): Services operate every 12 minutes till 1am, with modifications in the late evening to accommodate the City Council’s fireworks at St Peter’s Square. Again, checking the journey planner is recommended for the last tram times.

• New Year’s Day (1 January): Services resume at 7am, maintaining a 15-minute frequency throughout the day.

By 2 January, normal tram services resume.

Buses: Modified Services to Keep You Moving

Bus services also experience significant timetable changes through the festive period:

• Monday, 23 December: Standard services will run, with some routes on a modified timetable.

• Christmas Eve (24 December): Runs mostly on a weekday schedule, with many services ceasing operations from 6pm, although some Bee Network routes continue until 9pm.

• Christmas Day (25 December): With the exception of Stagecoach’s service 43, there are no other bus services running.

• Boxing Day (26 December): A curated list of routes will run, catering to essential travel needs.

• New Year’s Eve (31 December): Similar to Christmas Eve, services will cease running from 6pm, but some Bee Network routes and special late-night services are available until 4am on select routes.

By 2 January, bus services generally return to normal, with some routes still on a modified timetable until 4 January.

Free Bus, Local Link, and Ring & Ride: Special Holiday Schedules

The Free Bus in the City Centre operates daily except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with alterations on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Local Link and Ring & Ride services will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day but run on normal schedules otherwise, with early finish times on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Trains: Plan Ahead for Amended Timetables

Train travellers should be aware of limited services during the holiday season:

• On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, services will operate until early evening, with reduced frequency and select services winding down earlier than usual.

• No train services will operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

• From Friday, 27 December, expect amended timetables with potential delays or diversions, especially for routes impacted by engineering works between Leeds and York over the weekend.

Regular scheduling resumes across train services by 2 January.

Customer Contact Centres and Ticket Offices: Operating Hours

For inquiries and support, the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, while other days have varied hours.

Information and ticket offices maintain reduced hours on key dates, with closures on Christmas and Boxing Day.

Conclusion

Preparing for changes in public transport schedules during the festive season can make a significant difference in your travel experience. By noting the specific adjustments in trams, buses, free bus services, trains, and customer support operations, Greater Manchester’s residents and visitors can better plan their journeys and enjoy a stress-free holiday period. Stay informed by frequently checking schedules on official websites and using journey planners to ensure you’re on the right track during this busy time.