Manchester City Football Club has announced the trial of matchday buses helping fans from across Greater Manchester to travel to and from the Etihad Stadium. The network of dedicated services will be operated and managed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) and aims to connect fans across the region through a direct, reliable and low-priced mode of travel.
The trial will start ahead of the Chelsea match on February 17 and the service will then continue to operate at every home match taking place at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the season. In total, the bus network will see 17 different routes operating across 60 stops and cover a combined total of more than 340 miles.
The matchday bus routes have been carefully selected following a detailed analysis of Manchester City fan data which identified areas with limited existing travel options, or those with a dense population of Season Ticket Members. All of the buses used in the trial will be fully accessible for wheelchair users and have low floors to make it easier for fans who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters or those with small children and pushchairs.
Commenting on the introduction of the bus network, Danny Wilson, Managing Director of Manchester City Operations, said: “We want all our fans to have an amazing experience when they come to the Etihad Stadium, and we know that travelling to and from a match can play a key part in achieving this.
“That’s why we are investing in a partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester to trial a sustainable and reliable mode of transport that will improve travel arrangements for many of our fans.
“The introduction of this trial follows a detailed analysis of fan travel arrangements which has helped us to identify areas with limited travel options, and develop a bespoke, large-scale operation tailored to our fans.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “This is an exciting trial that will give Manchester City FC fans another option for getting to and from matches at the Etihad in an affordable, convenient, safe and sustainable way.”
The trial of matchday buses for Manchester City fans follows on from the introduction of extra capacity double trams on a matchday which operate every six minutes.
Where will the Manchester City matchday buses stop?
The Manchester City matchday buses will stop at the following places, with some areas having several stops.
Abraham Moss
Altrincham
Ashton Upon Mersey
Audenshaw
Blackley
Boothstown
Bramhall
Bredbury
Broadway
Brooklands
Chadderton
Cheadle
Cheadle Hulme
Dane Bank
Denton
Didsbury
Disley
Dukinfield
East Lancs Road
Etihad Stadium
Failsworth
Flixton
Gee Cross
Great Moor
Hale
Haughton Green
Heald Green
Heaton Chapel
High Lane
Hollinwood
Hyde
Lostock
Macclesfield
Marple
Middleton
New Mills
Northenden
Offerton
Oldham
Radcliffe
Reddish
Romiley
Rose Hill Marple
Royton
Sale Moor
Sale West
Shaw
Stalybridge
Stockport
Timperley
Tytherington
Urmston
West Didsbury
Withington
Wythenshawe
How much is it to travel on the Manchester City matchday buses?
Tickets in Zone 1 will be priced at £6 for a return, while those in Zone 2 will be provided at £8. These Zones have been decided in line with the Metrolink’s zoning system. Tickets cannot be pre-booked, meaning they must be purchased on the bus via card or cash payments.
One bus will operate per route, and there will be space for an average of 80 fans per bus. Spaces will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis.
Existing services and private bus hire systems will not be impacted by the trial of Manchester City matchday buses and are expected to continue as usual. You can find full details of the bus routes, ticket fares and timetables here.