A 'LIFELINE' night bus service operating between Manchester and Bolton should be brought back, campaigners have argued.

Passengers have been protesting against First and Transport for Greater Manchester's decision to axe the number 8 and 36 post-midnight services which operate between Bolton and Manchester in April.

Bus users say the changes has left commuters who work in the late night city centre economy, such as bars and pubs, without a vital service.

At a public meeting of the Bolton Bus Users Forum at Bolton Central Library's lecture theatre, residents were keen to address the issue with First bus representative Dwayne Wells.

Bolton teacher Heather Jones, aged 46, said improvements to transport services were an insult for passengers who suffered due to the cut night service.

She said: "I live in Salford and work in Bolton. The cuts to the night bus services have effected so many people."

Peter Fairchild, aged 73 from Bolton, added: "The night bus is a lifeline for people in Bolton. Is it something which is going to be forgotten about or can it be brought back?"

Meanwhile Highfield resident Wayne Marsh, aged 53, argued that if First cut down the running times of services operating every five minutes to 15 minutes, the company could save money which could be put towards the cost of a post-midnight service.

Chairing the meeting, Bolton Bus Forum member Kevin Walsh said an apparent lack of consultation regarding the closure had upset passengers.

He said: "We can understand if it was not sustainable, the main issue is the consultation. A lot of people didn't even realise they were travelling on its last route.

"There are a lot of people in Bolton who work in Manchester's night time economy, the cost of getting back in the taxi could be their wages for the night, making it pointless.

"I can imagine monthly or weekly bus passes might have quite a big impact on operating costs, but if everybody had to pay £5 that could make it more sustainable and I think a lot of people would be willing to do that."

Mr Wells, commercial development manager for First UK Bus in Greater Manchester, said the main financial impact had come from keeping the bus depot opening over the course of the night — with staffing, heating and electricity to take into account — giving it a higher running cost than a day service.

Cllr Stuart Haslam, a member of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) committee, added that the short six week cancellation notice for bus services would have also limited the time in which the operator had to consult with passengers and operators should look at a way of extending the notice.

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