Manchester City FC will be trialling a new large-scale bus network to help fans travel across the region on matchdays - including one of the services going to the borough.

The network of services will be operated and managed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the trial will start ahead of the Chelsea match at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, February 17.

The service will then continue to operate at every home match until the end of the season.

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It it hoped that by connecting fans across the region through a direct and reliable mode of travel, the new bus network will create a low priced option for fans, making travelling to matches more efficient and sustainable.

The bus network will see 17 different routes operating across 60 stops, covering 340 miles and including Radcliffe in one of the services.

The routes have been selected after analysis of fan data, which identified areas with limited existing travel options, or those with a dense population of season ticket holders.

One bus will operate per route, and there will be space for an average of 80 fans per bus.

Existing services and private bus hire systems will not be impacted by the trial and are expected to continue as usual.

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Danny Wilson, managing director of Manchester City operations, said: “We want all our fans to have an amazing experience when they come to the Etihad Stadium, and we know that travelling to and from a match can play a key part in achieving this.

“That’s why we are investing in a partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester to trial a sustainable and reliable mode of transport that will improve travel arrangements for many of our fans.

“The introduction of this trial follows a detailed analysis of fan travel arrangements which has helped us to identify areas with limited travel options, and develop a bespoke, large-scale operation tailored to our fans.”

This forms part of the wider work between the club and TfGM to improve travel options for fans, with other developments made recently including the introduction of extra capacity double trams on a matchday which operate every six minutes.

Two large bike racks have also been added to the Etihad Campus which can store a total of 240 bicycles.

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Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham added: “This is an exciting trial that will give Manchester City FC fans another option for getting to and from matches at the Etihad in an affordable, convenient, safe and sustainable way.

“This month we have already introduced a new six-minute Metrolink service between the city centre and Etihad Campus – and this new partnership between TfGM and Manchester City Football Club demonstrates a wider vision for helping people travel to one of the city’s most iconic sporting venues.

“This is what the Bee Network and our plans for public transport in Greater Manchester are all about, giving people good options for the journeys they need to make – including when going to cheer on the Treble winners!”