Credit: Manchester City Council/Supplied
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Many people settle way down for Christmas, refusing to leave the house or be taken away from the telly – and we don’t blame those that do. But others actually need to get around during the festive period, whether it’s for work, seeing family and friends, or just avoiding the festivities altogether, and that’s where we need to know about the public transport in Manchester you can rely on over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Manchester’s public transport can be… interesting, at the best of times. It was recently revealed that the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly route is the second busiest in the UK over the festive period – so whether you’re reliant on the trams, trains or buses, we’ve sorted a handy guide of how to get around on these most festive – and unreliable – of days.
Credit: TfGM Greater Manchester trams at Christmas Trams on Christmas Eve
Trams will run every 15 minutes from 6am on the following services:
- Altrincham – Piccadilly (extends to Etihad Campus after peak)
- Bury – Piccadilly
- Ashton-under-Lyne – Eccles (via MediaCityUK, outside peak only)
- Rochdale Town Centre – East Didsbury (via Exchange Square)
- Manchester Airport – Victoria (via Market Street)
- The Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield
Between 7am and 6.30pm, trams will also run every 15 minutes on the following services:
- Altrincham – Bury (via Market Street)
- East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton (via Exchange Square)
- MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus
Last trams will depart Manchester city centre after 8pm, with trams arriving at terminus stops around 9pm. Check the last tram times before travelling.
Trams on Christmas Day
There is no Metrolink tram service in Greater Manchester on Christmas Day.
Greater Manchester trains at Christmas 
Credit: TfGM Trains on Christmas Eve
Weekday service, but most trains will stop running or run to an amended timetable from 7pm onwards. Check times before travelling.
Trains on Christmas Day
As with the trams, there is no train service in Greater Manchester on Christmas Day – plus Boxing Day (26 December).
Greater Manchester buses at Christmas 
Credit: TfGM Buses on Christmas Eve
Bee Network routes will run to a normal weekday timetable. They will generally continue running until normal weekday finishing times, except some routes will finish slightly earlier and routes with night buses will finish around midnight.
Other operators will run to a Monday to Friday, Saturday or modified Saturday timetable, with buses stopping running from 6pm onwards. Check your bus timetable over the Christmas period.
Buses on Christmas Day
Bus 43 will run to a special timetable – no other buses will run.
Local Link and Ring & Ride services Local Link
Christmas Eve: Normal service, but finishing by 9pm.
Christmas Day: No service.
Ring & Ride
Christmas Eve: 8am to 8pm.
Christmas Day: No service.