A bus company which opened its new head office in Bolton last year has been awarded three new contacts, which could see new staff hired.

The new contracts were handed out to Diamond Bus North West, headquartered on Silverwell Street, just off Bradshawgate in Bolton town centre.

The comes amid the Tranche Three contracts awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and will see the firm run bus services in parts of Tameside, Stockport and Trafford.

Diamond Bus North West chief executive Bob Dunn said: “We are pleased to have been awarded three further franchises within Greater Manchester.

“These franchise contracts will operate alongside the previous eight awarded in tranche one and tranche two.

The Bolton News: Diamond has been awarded new bus franchise contractsDiamond has been awarded new bus franchise contracts (Image: Diamond Bus)

“We are looking forward to meeting our new customers and colleagues early next year.”

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority runs bus contracts all over the city region and has recently launched the publicly run Bee Network system.

The new contracts come after a significant period for the company, which cut the ribbon on its Bolton headquarters only months ago.

The Silverwell Street building had been vacant for some years having been first been used as a solicitors’ office before its revival by Diamond North West in November.

The new head office has been designed to help train bus drivers from all over the country and also includes built in accommodation for four people at a time.  

The company also hoped that this could help spearhead the wider revival of the area around Silverwell Street.

The latest announcement means that Diamond Bus North West, a subsidiary of Rotola, will now operate the three five year small franchises contracts across the three areas.

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The three contracts involve the operation of 16  bus services in the Tameside, Stockport and Trafford areas, needing around 50 workers and 25 buses.

The services will operate from Diamond’s existing depot in Eccles.

The company says that under the franchise framework, they are also looking forward to staff joining them from outgoing operators TUPE.

They will be supported by newer members of staff who Mr Dunn and his colleagues say will recruited and trained before the new operations start in January next year.