PROTESTS are being made by passengers over buses that come along in twos.

Cllr Bob Ronson says he has received numerous complaints from people that buses are travelling in convoy in Chorley New Road, Horwich.

Passengers complain that they wait for long periods of time - and then two buses are turning up at the same time.

The problem exists because the 575 service run by both Arriva and First are operated to a similar timetable.

It means two buses are sometimes scheduled for the same time.

But both companies say they are entitled to operate any timetable they want - and if it is the same as their competitor, that is their choice.

Cllr Ronson said: "I have calls about this on a regular basis and I have seen it myself.

"It is annoying that they come at the same time. I think buses need to be deregulated, but the private companies do not want that. I have spoken to the companies about this. It is no longer a public service, it is all about profit."

A spokesman for Arriva said: "As far as we are concerned, we are operating to timetable and we cannot comment on how another operator runs their business."

Simon Bennett, network director for First in Greater Manchester, said: "First's service 575 routes between Bolton and Horwich is an entirely commercial service attracting no public subsidy whatsoever and is operated entirely at our risk. It is provided in competition with another local operator.

"Services operate every 10 minutes, with six buses every hour. The competitor operates every 15 minutes, providing four buses per hour.

"With such a frequent service there will inevitably be times and points along the route where the two services will arrive at any one stop in close company. "

Bolton spokesperson for GMPTA, Councillor Nick Peel, said: "As we have no control over the bus network, situations such as this often come up and we can't do anything about it. It is clearly not what passengers want and it's very frustrating for us as we want to encourage people to use public transport.

"We are pressing the government to give local authorities more control over their local bus networks so that we can plan services more effectively."

Last year, two drivers from rival companies, First and Arriva, were involved in a confrontation at the bus station in Bolton over tensions on the 501 route, which goes from the town centre to Moss Bank Way and Farnworth.

Arriva drivers claimed they were being prevented from picking up customers at the bus stop because First have a bus permanently parked at the 501 stand.