With Christmas and New Year festivities in full swing, there are plenty of people travelling here, there and everywhere – and Manchester is no different. People in Greater Manchester are being encouraged to plan their festive journeys in advance, whether meeting up with loved ones or heading into the city centre this Christmas, as of course, travel disruption is likely.
Whilst buses and trams will keep moving around the city-region, some services changes are planned in between Christmas and New Year – Twixmas, if you like. Specific measures are also being put in place to help manage busier days in Manchester city centre, which means some Christmas travel disruption for those who need to get around.
Here’s the rundown of travel disruption in Manchester over the Christmas period:
This weekend (Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 December)
The city plays host to Peter Kay at the AO Arena, the final weekend of Manchester Christmas Markets and Manchester United‘s home game against Bournemouth. Whilst roads will be busy and public transport is a good choice for many, those needing to drive can take advantage of temporary pop-up Park and Ride spaces near Oxford Road on both Saturday and Sunday. Parking at the car park on Cecil Street will be free for customers who buy a ticket to travel by bus into the city centre from nearby Oxford Road.
Normal tram service will operate this weekend.
Monday 23 December
There will be changes to operating times across public transport and supporting services, including the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre and ticket offices, for the entire Christmas period.
Buses
Buses will generally run as normal except some routes will run to a modified weekday or Saturday timetable.
Metrolink Trams
Normal service will operate.
Trains
Normal service will operate.
Christmas Eve (Tuesday 24 December)
Buses
Generally a weekday service except some routes will run to a modified weekday or Saturday timetable. Some buses will stop running from 6pm onwards. Some Bee Network routes will continue running until around 9pm.
Metrolink Trams
Tram services will start at 6am but will end earlier than usual, with last trams arriving at terminus stops around 9pm.
Trains
Weekday service however, after around 7pm, train services will operate to an amended timetable at reduced frequency and will wind down earlier than normal. Customers are advised to check the timing of their last service operating on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December)
Buses
Stagecoach will run special daytime buses on service 43. No other buses will run.
Metrolink trams
No trams are operating.
Trains
No train services will run across Greater Manchester.
Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December)
Buses
With Manchester City playing at home against Everton on Boxing Day, TfGM will be enhancing its Match Day Buses. Due to popular demand and reduced services elsewhere, two buses on five routes will be running on the day.
Elsewhere, special buses will run on these services:
Arriva: 245, 247 and 320
Bee Network: 8, 10, 17, 18, 20, 22, 33, 36, 37, 52, 59, 67, 83, 84, 93, 97, 100, 118, 126, 132, 135, 156, 163, 182, 409, 471, 472, 474, 501, 507, 511, 516, 524, 534, 575, 582, 601, 603, 605, 607, 608, 609, 610, 632, 635, V1, V2 and X22
Stagecoach: 23, 42, 43, 50, 76, 85, 86, 101, 125, 192, 201, 203, 216, 219, 250, 256 and 330
The Burnley Bus Company: X43
Metrolink Trams
Tram services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. Manchester Piccadilly rail station will be closed on this day. Use the Fairfield Street entrance to access Piccadilly Metrolink stop.
Trams will operate on the following services:
- Altrincham – Etihad Campus
- Bury – Piccadilly
- East Didsbury – Rochdale Town Centre (via Exchange Square)
- Ashton-under-Lyne – Eccles (via MediaCityUK)
- Manchester Airport – Victoria
- The Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
The Altrincham – Bury, East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton, or MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus peak services will not operate – this applies until January 2, when normal service resumes.
Trains
No train services will run across Greater Manchester.
Friday 27 December
Buses
Modified weekday service on Stagecoach routes or Saturday service on most other routes including X22, with some earlier morning journeys. Weekday service on some routes. Stagecoach services commence from 4am onward and late night X43 journeys will not run.
Metrolink Trams
Tram services will start at 6am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. After midnight services will operate at least every 30 minutes until around 1am.
Trains
An amended timetable will operate from start of service, with some services starting later.
Saturday 28 December
Buses
Normal or modified Saturday service.
Metrolink Trams
Trams services will start at 6am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. After midnight services will operate at least every 30 minutes until around 1am.
Trains
Usual train timetables will run, with some services starting later. The line between Leeds and York will be closed and services will be cancelled or diverted due to engineering works.
Sunday 29 December
Buses
Normal or modified Sunday service.
Metrolink Trams
Services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight.
Trains
Usual train timetables will run, with some services starting later. The line between Leeds and York will be closed and services will be cancelled or diverted due to engineering works.
Monday 30 December
Buses
Modified weekday service on Stagecoach routes or Saturday service on most other routes including X22, with some earlier morning journeys. Weekday service on some routes.
Metrolink Trams
Services will start at 6am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. Additional trams will operate between Altrincham – Crumpsall for the Manchester United match.
Trains
An amended timetable will operate from start of service, with some services starting later.
New Year’s Eve (Tuesday 31 December)
With thousands of people expected to attend a spectacular firework display in St Peter’s Square, no trams will travel through St Peter’s Square after 8pm and service changes will be introduced on other Metrolink lines. Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes between St Peter’s Square and Deansgate-Castlefield between 8pm and 1am. Elsewhere, night buses on the 36 and V1 routes will also run on New Year’s Eve.
Buses
Modified weekday service on Stagecoach routes or Saturday service on most other routes, with some earlier morning journeys. Weekday service on some routes.
Some buses will stop running from 6pm onwards. Bee Network routes will continue running until normal Saturday finishing times. Night buses 36 and V1 will run. Special late night journeys will run until approximately 4am on these Stagecoach services: 42, 43, 86, 192 and 201.
Metrolink Trams
To allow for the City Council’s fireworks display at St Peter’s Square, an amended service pattern will start at 6am and run every 12 minutes until around 1am. Trams will operate on the following services:
- Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne (all day)
- Altrincham – Etihad Campus (until 8pm)/Deansgate-Castlefield (after 8pm)
- Eccles – Piccadilly (until 8pm)/Deansgate-Castlefield (after 8pm)
- Rochdale – East Didsbury (until 8pm)
- Rochdale – Victoria and East Didsbury – Cornbrook (after 8pm)
- Manchester Airport – Victoria (until 8pm)/Cornbrook (after 8pm)
- The Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (until 8pm, no service after 8pm)
Trains
Weekday service however, after around 7pm, train services will operate to an amended timetable at reduced frequency and will wind down earlier than normal. Customers are advised to check the timing of their last service operating on New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January)
Buses
Special buses will run on these services:
Arriva: 320.
Bee Network: 8, 10, 17, 18, 20, 22, 33, 36, 37, 52, 59, 67, 83, 84, 93, 97, 100, 118, 126, 132, 135, 156, 163, 182, 409, 471, 472, 474, 501, 507, 511, 516, 524, 534, 575, 582, 601, 603, 605, 607, 608, 609, 610, 632, 635, V1, V2 and X22.
Stagecoach: 42, 43, 86, 101, 192, 201, 203, 219 and 250.
Metrolink Trams
Tram services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight.
Trains
Normal weekday timetable however, some services will start later.
Thursday 2 January
Buses
Normal service resumes except some Stagecoach routes will run to a modified timetable until 4 January 2025.
Metrolink Trams
Normal tram service resumes.
Trains
Return to full normal timetables.
As always, do check before you travel around Greater Manchester in case of disruption this Christmas and New Year. The full festive timetable can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website.