Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester

Co-ordination of Public Transport in Greater Manchester

In 1969, the operations of the municipalities (except Wigan) within the area that is now the county of Greater Manchester were transferred to a new Passenger Transport Executive (SELNEC), a public body established to coordinate public transport in the area. In 1972, the operations of North Western within the SELNEC area were transferred to the Executive.

Municipal Undertakings in Greater Manchester

North Western and Lancashire United Transport

When the county of Greater Manchester was created following Local Government Reorganisation in 1974, SELNEC was renamed Greater Manchester Transport and the bus operations of Wigan Corporation were added. Two years later, in 1976, Lancashire United Transport became a subsidiary of the Executive and was fully integrated into the operation in 1981.

Greater Manchester Transport continued to operate the majority of bus services in the county until Deregulation in 1986, when its bus operations were transferred to GM Buses. The Executive was charged with the responsibility of promoting public transport and maintaining socially necessary services which would not be provided commercially. It subsidises concessionary travel and owns the bus stations, shelters and stops in Greater Manchester, as well as the Metrolink system.