Trafford will get a series of improvements to local buses, including a new night service to link local towns with the city centre and boost the night-time economy.
Later this year the 263 will connect Altrincham, Sale and Stretford with Manchester city centre around the clock on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The 263 at other times will see frequency and performance improvements.
Also planned are more regular buses on the 255 service between Partington and Manchester city centre, with the frequency increasing from every 30 to 20 minutes.
In addition, there will be later journeys for the 132, with more capacity to support staff journeys from the Trafford Centre.
The moves are part of widespread improvements coming to bus services in every part of Greater Manchester, as the Bee Network continues to power the city-region’s rapid economic growth.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, revealed 36 service changes, the most significant and wide-ranging upgrades to the Bee Network since bus franchising was completed on time and on budget in January last year.
It comes after the Mayor’s major funding update on plans to deliver a decade of good growth in Greater Manchester, backed by at least £500 million of investment from the National Wealth Fund, taking the GM Good Growth Fund to almost £2 billion.
The interventions announced today, subject to final costing and approval, are planned to be implemented during the 2026/27 financial year.
Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Aidan Williams, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome these improvements to buses in Trafford. They will make a big difference to a lot of people, whether travelling to and from work or places of education, or visiting loved ones, keeping important appointments and going out and about for leisure and fun.”
Travelling by bus continues to be affordable in Greater Manchester with the £2 single cap, and the £5 day ticket, remaining in place for the remainder of 2026, while young people between the ages of 16 and 18 continue to benefit from free travel through Our Pass, and those aged between 18 and 21 can access half-price bus travel.
By lifting restrictions on pre-9.30am travel for older and disabled people, and introducing free travel for children in temporary accommodation, bus travel is becoming more accessible than ever before.