Free Walking Events For Businesses

Most of us are well aware of the difference that walking can make to your physical health and mental wellbeing.

Employers are also recognising that encouraging and supporting their employees to be more physically active, can also lead to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are working with one of their partners, AECOM, to offer free lunchtime led-walks for organisations in Greater Manchester.

The walks form part of a ‘walking event’ which will also include travel advisors on hand to provide employees with information on walking routes, journey planning and walking health and wellbeing benefits.

Free goodies are generally available as an added incentive for employees to attend (eg pedometers, umbrellas etc). If you have more than one location/office/building within Greater Manchester, it is possible to deliver a led walk event per site.  

The 30 minute brisk, circular walk will be organised and led by a local walking guide. Themes of the walk range from historical walks, architectural walks, nature walks and others depending on the area around your workplace.

If you think your company would benefit from this support, or you work in an HR or health and wellbeing role and would be interested in more details, or would even like to know how to get your company involved in the walking festival, please e-mail:  walking.works@tfgm.com.

Remembrance Sunday Tram Service Changes

On Remembrance Sunday (13th November), there will be a number of brief changes to tram services for the event at St Peter’s Square in Manchester city centre.

The Remembrance Day parade will begin on Peter Street and finish next to the Cenotaph in St Peter’s Square, where there will be a two-minute silence at 11am, followed by a service and wreath laying.

Trams will stop running through St Peter’s Square at approximately 10.45am whilst the service takes place. It is expected that tram services will resume shortly after 11.30am.

During this time, tram services will run as follows:

• East Didsbury and Altrincham trams will terminate at Deansgate-Castlefield
• Eccles trams will terminate at either Cornbrook or Deansgate-Castlefield
• Ashton trams will terminate at Piccadilly
• Bury trams will terminate at the Etihad Campus and Rochdale/Oldham trams will terminate at Exchange Square as per normal Sunday services.

There will be a number of Remembrance Sunday events taking place around the region. For more information, please visit your local council website.

Metrolink customers can find out more about service changes at www.metrolink.co.uk or by calling Customer Services on 0161 205 2000.

Follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for live travel updates.

Run In The Dark - Road Closures around MediaCityUK and Salford Quays

On Wednesday 16th November, Run in the Dark Manchester is returning to MediaCityUK for a fourth year running. The event will see over a thousand runners taking on a fast and flat route to run 5k or 10k to raise funds for The Mark Pollock Trust.

As a result of the event there will be a number of temporary closures planned for roads in the area. These are as follows:

Full closures (with emergency access only) of the following roads between 19:00 and 22:00 on Wednesday 16th November.

-          Full closure of Trafford Wharf Road from the ITV studios to Trafford Road.

-          Full closure of Wharf End.

-          No access onto Trafford Wharf Road from Warren Bruce Road.

-          Managed access only into Warren Bruce Road from Trafford Wharf Road.

-          No access out of Elevator Road onto Trafford Wharf Road.

-          No access out of Waterside onto Trafford Wharf Road.

-          No access out of Sir Alex Ferguson Way onto Trafford Wharf Road.

-          The Quays Road will have a one way lane closure on the approach to the Lowry plaza. There will be a full diversion in place.

-          The Promenade on the Trafford side.

-          The Promenade on the Salford side.

The roads and locations around the route are expected to be more congested than normal, and event organisers asked that those who are using the highways on the evening take extra care.

There is still time to join in the annual event and help The Mark Pollock Trust in their quest to fast-track a cure for paralysis. Simply visit the website to register your place before 1pm on Tuesday 15th November: www.runinthedark.org

To join in the #RunInTheDark conversation, follow us on Twitter: @TheRunInTheDark or on Facebook: ‘Run In The Dark’

 Route Map:

About Run in the Dark:

-          This is a global event, at 8pm local time, each destination will set off on 5 or 10km runs.

-          The series will begin in Auckland, New Zealand and end in San Francisco, USA.

-          The event began in Dublin, Ireland in 2011.

-          The Manchester event takes participants around MediaCityUK on a 5km route (5km entrants = 1 lap / 10km entrants = 2 laps)

First Bus - Ten Trip Ticket

Did you know that First Bus now offer 10 single journeys stored in your phone ready to use whenever you need them

No need to carry cash, buy your bus ticket direct to your mobile

10 Trip ticket for £20 - That's just £2 per journey

Whether you travel twice a week or twice a month you have your tickets ready to use, perfect if you work part time or only need to make occasional journeys

Don't forget to use the First Bus free Travel app too - know exactly when your bus is due with the Next Bus real time information

Once on board, you can relax and enjoy the FREE WiFi whilst First Bus get you to your destination

For further details please visit the First Bus website by clicking here. 

Manchester Christmas lights switch-on

Thousands of people are expected to visit Manchester city centre on Friday 4 November for the Christmas Lights switch-on.

The switch-on party, predicted to attract 15,000 people to Albert Square, officially launches six weeks of festive celebrations and attractions in the city.

People travelling around Manchester city centre at the time are advised to plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination.

Buses, trams and trains are expected to be busier than usual in the afternoon and into the evening, and additional services will be running to cater for demand.

A number of road closures will be in place for the event, running from 3.45pm until 10pm, which will lead to diversions to the following bus services: 26, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 14, 191, 197, V1, V2, X34 and X39.

Metrolink Trafford Park Line Extension Update

As you may be aware, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is proposing a Metrolink extension through Trafford Park. The Secretary of State for Transport has granted TfGM legal powers to build the new 5.5km line under a Transport and Works Act order. The delivery of the line will provide a major public transport boost for the area, offering fast, frequent transport links for thousands of workers in the area and better connecting people to business, leisure and retail opportunities.

Please click here to open a letter from TfGM with information regarding the extension.