GMCA/TfGM Franchise Contracts – Tranche 3 Awards

28 March 2024

Greater Manchester Combined Authority awards Tranche 3 bus contracts

Following today’s announcement by Transport for Greater Manchester that  Greater Manchester Combined Authority has awarded Tranche 3 contracts, Diamond Bus North West are pleased to announce that it has been selected to operate 3 Small Franchises in the third tranche of franchise awards.

Rotala subsidiary, Diamond Bus North West, has been awarded three 5-year contracts by Greater Manchester Combined Authority to operate the Tameside B, Stockport and Trafford Small Franchises in the Tranche 3 area.

The three contracts involve the operation of 16 local bus services in the Tameside, Stockport and Trafford areas, requiring approximately 50 colleagues and 25 buses.

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

Under the Franchise framework, we look forward to welcoming new colleagues from the outgoing operators under TUPE. These will be supplemented by additional members of staff who will recruited and trained in advance of commencement of operations in January 2025.

Bob Dunn, Executive Director Diamond Bus North West commented: “we are pleased to have been awarded 3 further franchises within Greater Manchester. These franchise contracts will operate alongside the previous eight awarded in tranche one and tranche two. We are looking forward to meeting our new customers and colleagues early next year.”