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Manchester resident completes 700-mile bus journey

16/04/2008

A 61-year-old Greater Manchester resident has returned from a 700-mile trip across England that did not cost her a penny.

Manju Ghosh, from Bolton, tested Manchester's new national free bus pass by travelling from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Land's End using only local buses.

She completed the journey in ten days, having hopped on 37 buses in 15 counties. Without the pass the journey would have cost more than £120.

The national bus passes, issued by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), allow the over-60s and eligible disabled people to travel for free on local bus services in England.

Ms Ghosh said: "Travelling by bus is great because you can just sit back and relax. We didn't have any problems at all - the buses were clean and modern and the drivers were all very friendly.

"I'd encourage everyone to use public transport when they can because it really is good."

Last December, the GMPTE withdraw public funding for the ML1 bus service that links the Metrolink with the Trafford Centre because of the success of commercial services operating between Stretford and the retail hub.