TRANSPORT chiefs are pleading with bus operators to make sure local people have a merry - but safe - Christmas.

They say they want people to go out and have a drink to mark the festive season, without having to worry about the cost of a taxi home.

And this week members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) voted to hold operators to contracts which means they must run some services on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Coun Geoff Brierley, chairman of the PTA's transport network committee, explained that traditionally operators did not run services on either of the Eves - but that should change this year.

He said: "December 11 sees the local launch of the national Don't Drink and Drive Campaign, and we hope that our local bus operators will join us by providing alternative means of transport for people to use."

He went on: "As a result of deregulation the control the authority has over bus services, including those at Christmas and New Year, is limited.

"We are doing what we can to ensure the travelling public has the services it needs over the holiday period." Coun Brierley said they hoped bus operators would go beyond the services they had contracts for by putting on extra buses on Christmas and New Year's Eve. "Should the operators decide against this step for commercial reasons, then it will be up to them to justify that decision to the people."

He said it was "reasonable" to expect operators to provide a service.

The new contracts will mean that around ten per cent of late evening services will run on Christmas and New Year's Eve; in the past, virtually all services have finished around 7pm. Operators will also be running a Saturday-style service around Christmas, meaning many services will start later than usual. The dates affected are December 23, 24, 27, 30 and 31, and January 2 and 3.

"We are continuing to talk to operators with a view to good overall levels of service being provided on these days, including those for people who need them to get into work early," said Coun Brierley.

He said that in future years contracts would be negotiated to ensure more services on Christmas and New Years Eve.

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