PEOPLE heading for Bolton General Hospital are set to benefit from improved bus services starting on Monday.

Stagecoach Ribble is extending its half-hourly Monday to Saturday B8 service from Andrew Lane, Bank Top, Astley Bridge and Blackburn road to the hospital.

In addition, services B5, from Bromley Cross, and B7, from Egerton, will offer direct services between Blackburn Road and the hospital on Monday to Saturday evenings with the last bus from the hospital to Blackburn Road leaving at 8.25pm. Stagecoach Ribble service 521, which provides direct links from Westhoughton, Blackrod, Horwich, Lostock, Little Lever and Moses Gate, to the hospital will operate along an improved route. Serving Blackrod Village it will run via New Street, Church Street and Black Horse street, the service will also revert to operating directly along Plodder Lane to make journeys faster.

The Horwich based Blue Bus and Coach Company are also including services to the hospital on their timetables from Monday.

Hourly journeys on Blue Bus 575 will be extended to the hospital giving direct links from Chorley New Road, Heaton, Lostock, Horwich, Blackrod, Scot Lane End, Aspull and Wigan.

Circular services 525 and 527 will also provide links to the hospital during the daytime from Mondays to Saturdays benefiting residents in Halliwell, Sharples, Astley Bridge, Thicketford Road and Ainsworth Lane.

Services from Little Hulton and Walkden will be improved from Monday when Blue Bus service 6A is re-routed via the hospital.

Many of these bus services are subsidised by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

Further improvements to hospital services will be introduced on September 23 and 30 and will include direct buses from Leigh, Atherton, St Helens Road and Withins.

Full details of local buses, train and tram services are available from GMPTE's Enquiry Unit on (0161) 228 7811, between 8am and 8pm seven days a week. Minicom is available on this number if required. Requests for timetables can be made on 0161 242 6040 (open 24 hours).

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