THERE have been a number of comments printed recently regarding the guided busway which I would like to address.

Vantage services are now providing passengers in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley with a premium travel experience through to Manchester city centre.

I’m delighted that the local community is now enjoying the benefits of this scheme.

The 4.5-mile guided busway offers an attractive, reliable and frequent public transport option improving access to employment, education, healthcare and retail opportunities, both locally and further afield.

I really encourage people to form their own opinions and give the guided busway a go – the ride quality and high-spec buses and stops are not to be missed and provide passengers with a journey experience seldom experienced outside of first-class rail travel.

Work is progressing well to enable dedicated cross-city bus services, with the final phase of major transformation work on Oxford Road now under way.

As these vital works to ‘future proof’ Greater Manchester’s transport network continue, busway services will temporarily terminate at the city centre’s Stevenson Square until the major engineering work on Oxford Road is complete.

Passengers can catch several connecting services to Oxford Road, including the 18 and 42, at Piccadilly Gardens – a short walk from Stevenson Square.

First Manchester has purchased enough new vehicles to successfully run the Vantage service and cater to demand.

Twenty new high quality low-emission hybrid buses with plush seating, free Wi-Fi, on-board 'next stop' audio and visual announcements and USB charging points are now running the service, with an additional two vehicles available as back-up.

Concerns have been expressed about local traffic being able to get from Tyldesley to the East Lancs Road in the morning peak due buses crossing Hough Lane and Sale Lane.

The traffic lights along the busway will only be on green for as long as it takes a bus to pass through – just seconds.

The time traffic lights are on red for general traffic will be much shorter than that of other standard road junctions which let multiple vehicles through in one go.

The guided busway offers real value for money with a premium service at everyday network prices.

A public inquiry in 2002 demonstrated a business case for a guided busway but not a train or tram route.

A rail link would cost more to build, take longer to construct and require ongoing public subsidy. It wouldn’t deliver additional benefits for passengers or for the Greater Manchester economy.

The significant investment in the busway offers a modern and innovative transport link into the local area and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to providing reliable transport options to communities and businesses in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley.

I’m confident that this scheme will continue to deliver many benefits, as well as supporting the growth of Greater Manchester’s economy.

I thank the residents living along the route for their continued patience throughout the delivery of the project.

Peter Boulton

Head of programme management services

Transport for Greater Manchester