The Bee Network's night buses have become so popular that a park-and-ride station in Wigan is set to more than triple in size. A planning application has been lodged with Wigan Council to expand the Tyldesley 'travel hub', which will see an additional 99 car parking spaces and electric vehicle charging points added for bus users.
The expansion will increase the park-and-ride capacity from 49 to 148 spaces, nearly tripling its size, with new spaces to be constructed on Astley Street, adjacent to the Leigh Guided Busway.
The Leigh Guided Busway, which opened in 2016, is a crucial link between Manchester and Leigh, one of the largest towns in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ without a railway station. Its success has been acknowledged by Mayor Andy Burnham, who highlighted the need for expansion following the popularity of a night bus trial last year.
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"Park and Rides play a vital role within the Bee Network by encouraging more people to use our integrated public transport system, while also reducing congestion on our roads and improving air quality," he said.
"The success of the Leigh Guided Busway, including the trial of night buses, has seen demand for parking increase at Tyldesley Park and Ride. This expansion will improve access to bus services and provide the capacity needed to encourage more people to travel more sustainably."
The project aims to bolster safety for night-time passengers by enhancing pedestrian access to the guided busway and adding new street lighting and CCTV to promote a sense of security.
Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt added: "With more than three times the current parking capacity, this new provision will improve access to public transport and help to alleviate the existing parking pressures in Tyldesley town centre."
If the application receives the green light, construction is slated to commence in early 2026 and conclude by summer.
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