You are in > manchester.com  > News > School children 'unaffected by banned buses'

General Manchester news

School children 'unaffected by banned buses'

03/01/2007

Pupils going back to school after the Christmas break will not be affected by the decision to take 74 buses off the road.

The local transport authority has provided replacement bus services to schools in Greater Manchester after jointly-operated GM Buses and UK North was banned from the roads because of safety fears over the performance of its drivers.

An investigation into the joint operator followed an incident where a sign writer died in a collision with a UK North bus on Oxford Road in November.

Councillor Roger Jones, from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "There are about 500 existing contracts with bus companies serving schools across Greater Manchester and only 17 were served by UK North and GM Buses.

"We have a contract with various companies to provide cover for schools in the event of an emergency and this should ensure pupils are taken to and from school as normal."

The north-west's traffic commissioner Beverley Bell is set to decide on the future of GM Buses and UK North, which has been banned from providing services since December 22nd.



© Adfero Ltd