Getting around Greater Manchester couldn't be easier! Whether you're going by bus, train, tram or taxi you can find all the information you need right here...

If you've got any comments about the transport details, or any other useful travel tips, please get in touch with us - we'd love to hear from you!

rachel@aam.org.uk
0161 234 2970

If you're just using one form of transport to make your journey we recommend one of the specialist websites we've listed below (such as National Express if you're getting the coach). However, if you are using several forms of public transport, try GMPTE or Traveline.

GMPTE (Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive) is theofficial public transport body forGreater Manchester. Their websitehas a wealth of information to help you plan your journey, including details of Park & Ride services, accessible transport,bus service maps, and a journey planner.

For service information call: 0871 200 22 33 (10p per minute from landlines). Open Monday-Friday between 7am-8pm and 8am-8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
http://www.gmpte.com/

The Traveline website provides journey planning information about all public transport services (buses, coaches, trains, ferries, trams, metro and underground) throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Enquiries can be made for journeys between any two stops in the country but many regions can also plan to and from postcodes and addresses.

Traveline informationis also available nationally by phone on 0870 608 2608. Minicom users call 0870 241 2216.

Lines are open between 8am-8pm every day except 25 December (some centres also close on 26 December and 1 January).

A new traveline-txt service has also started for mobile phone users, which provides details of the next few departures from a specific stop and sends them to your mobile phone as an SMS text message. It's not available in all areas of the country yet, but coverage is increasing week by week.
http://www.traveline.org.uk/

If you just want to make a local journey and be collected from home without the cost of a taxi, why not try Local Link?

Local Link is a service run by GMPTE which allows passengers living in the areas where the service has been introduced to ring and book a journey, door to door, within the local area. Anyone living in the area can use the service, as there are no age or disability restrictions on users, such as apply to Ring & Ride services.Prices are similar to the cost of a bus fare and you canuse the service Monday- Saturday between 9am-5pm.

To find out if your area has this service and details of the cost etc, please go to www.gmpte.com/ and click onthe Door to Door Transport link on the left hand menu.

GMPTE have timetables available for all bus services running in Greater Manchester. These can be downloaded from their website, obtained from local Travelshops (which are listed on the website), through the Journey Planner or you can request them by phone on 0871 200 22 33.
http://www.gmpte.com/

Metrolink trams operate throughout Greater Manchester. It is afast and frequent service, running 7 days a week, 364 days of the year.

One doorhas flat-level access for pushchairs and wheelchairs (make sure you stand on the appropriate part of the platform - look out for the sign onplatforms and tramdoors).

Some of the stations have stairs and lifts rather than ramp access. It is worth checking in advance if these are working. Call Customer Services on 0161 205 2000 (lines are manned from 7am-11pm Monday to Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday).

The website has information on each of the stations so you can find out more before you travel, and plan your journey with a route map.
www.metrolink.co.uk

The metroshuttle free city centre buses are a great way to get round the city centre. There are three different circular routes that provide links to all of main areas in the city centre, including the railway stations, several NCP car parks and many of the bus and tram stops.

The services are very regular with a bus every 5 minutes on Service 1 (orange), every 10 minutes on Service 2 (green) and every 10 minutes on Service 3 (purple).

All of the metroshuttle buses have low floors and wide doors for easy access.

Download your route map here or visit the GMPTE Website�for more information.

You'll find information on thebest train stations to use for our Greater Manchester organisations featured on the venues page, but we thought that a little extra information on the train stations in Manchester city centre might be helpful.

There are 3 central train stations in Manchester: Piccadilly is the largest; and Oxford Road and Victoria stations are also central. Deansgate Station is a small station just on the outskirts of the centre and some trains from Piccadilly stop at both Oxford Road and Deansgate stations. Victoria isn't on the same route as Piccadilly and Oxford Road though - it is a completely separate track. Victoria is linked to Piccadilly by the Metrolink tram service, so it's not hard to get from one to the other. It's quite a long walk!

The National Rail Enquiries website �provides a guide to UK national rail services. Use it to find out train timesand fares,plan your journey and book online.
You can also call on 08457 48 49 50
Textphone: 0845 60 50 600
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

The Trainline website also offers timetables and on-line ticket booking for train operators in mainland UK. You need to register an account to buy tickets. Please note that additional fees and charges (postage and booking)�have�recently been added to all purchases�made through this website.
�http://www.thetrainline.com/

National Express is the UK's largest scheduled coach travel company,with over 1000 different destinations across the UK.

They offer coach cards for cheap family travel - currentlyyou can choose from:
* Family 2 plus 2 - Two adults pay full fare with two children travelling for free. The card costs 16 for one year
* Family 1 plus1 - One adult pays full fare with one child travelling for free. The card costs 8 for one year

There are also special price offers for early bookings, which are worth looking into.

Go to the website to find out where your nearest coach station is, which routes run the new wheelchair-accessible coaches and book tickets online.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/
Call on 08705 808 080
Textphone 0121 455 0086
Disabled Persons Travel Helpline 0121 423 8479.