I got on Bolton's first night bus - here's how it went

At 11.45pm, the fully-electric 36 departed from Bolton Interchange to make history as the first new night bus service introduced since the Bee Network officially launched in Bolton, Wigan, and parts of Bury and Salford in September last year.

Prior to the change, the last 36 service from Bolton to Manchester would depart at 10.45pm, with one later service at 11.15pm terminating at Walkden – with passengers having to wait until 3.49am for the next service.

Now, however, things have changed. The new timetable – drawn up as part of a year-long trial – sees services carry on throughout the night.

Eight years ago – in 2016 – a previous night bus service from Bolton to Manchester was cancelled by then-operator First.

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Operator ‘proud’ to be part of new night buses

Speaking just before the bus left Bolton Interchange, Go North West managing director Nigel Featham said he was proud to be a part of the new night bus operation.

Nigel said: “We're really proud to be involved in it at Go North West - we're the operator of the buses, it's TfGM's network.

“The drivers are really up for it, the whole depot is up for it, obviously to be involved in something innovative, we've got tonnes and tonnes of people applying to do it - we're oversubscribed.

“It's really just... to be involved in something innovative and to see the Bee Network develop.”

Nigel Featham said he was proud to be a part of the new night bus launch (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

First person to buy ticket ‘happy with service’

At just before 11.45pm, the lucky man to buy the first ticket was unaware he was even getting a new service.

Olatunji told me he was "happy with the service" and would have taken an Uber had he been unable to get the bus – something leaders will be happy to hear, given efforts to reduce car use and bring people "back on board" in the city-region.

Olatunji bought the first ticket on the new night bus service (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Transport staff excited by new service

As well as regular passengers, also on board were six people who had helped make it happen. TfGM staff Zoe Langmead-Jones, Nick Fairclough, Mark Thomas, and Sam Knight were on board alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Yann Griffthis.

Yann said he was excited about the new service.

He added: “It's the start of Manchester moving into a 24-hour city period.

“We're supporting workers in the nighttime economy so it's exciting in that respect as well.”

Anti-clockwise from bottom left: Zoe Langmead-Jones, Nick Fairclough, Mark Thomas, Sam Knight, Yann Griffiths (GMCA) (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Journey slow, but it gets you there

The full journey from Bolton to Piccadilly Gardens was timetabled at 65 minutes – and we arrived pretty much on time.

Buses are not the most glamorous form of transport in the country. Despite being a shiny new yellow electric bus, the vehicle squeaked throughout the journey, and the route had lots of twists and turns.

After exactly an hour, we arrived at Salford Central station – something which would have taken just 15 minutes on the train from Bolton station.

But, the point is it’s the night, and the trains aren’t running.

An alternative trip using a cab company, such as Uber, would have cost far more than the £2 bus ticket I’d bought – a welcome lifeline for those who work at night or just fancy saving money on a night out.

We arrived at Piccadilly Gardens just two minutes behind schedule. For £2, how could I complain?

Bus driver prefers driving night service

I caught up with bus driver Dave Buckley after we arrived at Piccadilly Gardens, just before he set off for Bolton again.

The 49-year-old told me he had volunteered to drive the route – and that he actually prefers driving at night.

He said: “They asked on the blink, I volunteered because there’s less traffic and it’s just more relevant for me.”

Now, he’s hoping for the night services to be expanded.

Dave said: “I’m hoping for the 471 to be the next one, and then the 37 or something like that, and then it just interlocks all the counties, really, like Rochdale, Bury, into Bolton and then Manchester.”

Driver Dave Buckley says he prefers driving the night bus (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Other services part of the trial

As well as the 36, the V1 service is also included in the trial of the new night buses, which will last one year.

The service connects Leigh with Bolton town centre and the Manchester Royal Infirmary – something transport bosses hope will benefit NHS night workers, among others who work in the nighttime economy.

Transport for Greater Manchester says around 135,000 residents are now within a five-minute walk of a night bus stop – with the city’s night-time economy advisor, Sacha Lord – who founded the Warehouse Project and Parklife Festival – calling the move "important".

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However, Greater Manchester still has a way to go to catch up with the capital.

In London, more than 100 bus routes run throughout the night, connecting not just the city centre, but suburban areas with one another – some of which run every 20 minutes or half-hour.

Greater Manchester’s city leaders have said they hope the two routes are just the first in a raft of night routes – with the aim to develop a "network" of services across Greater Manchester.

There are more than 70 stops on the route between Bolton and Manchester. Earlier this year, a transport expert told The Bolton News that cutting the number of bus stops in the city-region could help to increase punctuality.

Driving from Bolton to Manchester, by contrast, would take around half-an-hour – and a journey between the areas on the train takes around 20 minutes.

However, the bus certainly gets you there, and it will be welcome news to those who rely on public transport and those who would rather not spend money on expensive taxi fares.

Passengers can travel from Bolton to Manchester at a cost of just £2 for an adult or £1 for a child – the same price as every single bus journey in Greater Manchester.

The night bus as it prepared to leave Bolton Interchange (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

For those travelling in the early hours of the morning, day tickets purchased on the previous day remain valid until 3.59am.

After 11.45pm, hourly services continue to depart Bolton at 12.45am, 1.45am, and 2.45am, before the 3.49am service departs as under the old timetable.

In the other direction – from Manchester to Bolton – the last service under the old timetable left Piccadilly Gardens at 11.55pm from Monday to Saturday and at 11.45pm on Sundays – with services restarting at 5am on weekdays, 6am on Saturdays, and 7.25am on Sundays.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.