Travel by Bus

Travel Guide

“The Shuttle bus has been a great help in allowing me to participate in extracurricular activities. Without the late bus service I would be unable to participate in any after-school activities. I really enjoy getting the shuttle as it is a great chance to socialise with different year groups before and after school”

Transport to and from the School is an important issue for our parents and pupils, the majority of whom live more than 5km away. The School has taken a proactive approach in this area; we are committed to providing sustainable travel and offering parents and pupils a range of transport options. Updated July 2014. All information correct at time of publication.

wgs.org Travel by Bus

City Centre Shuttle Bus This private, girls-only express shuttle bus was introduced in This new shuttle service, which has received very positive September 2013 in conjunction with Manchester High School feedback from pupils and parents, is subsidised by the School for Girls. Girls are picked up from the City Centre mainline to offer a cost-effective and flexible link for girls connecting stations in the morning and offered a choice of two departure with trains, trams and family lifts in the city centre. No times in the afternoon. The bus departs outside the front pre-booking is required and tickets are on a pay-as-you-go door of the School in the afternoon. basis currently at £1 per journey, with termly return tickets currently available at £100 or half termly at £50 per girl.

Public Service Buses used by the girls: First Services First took over the public routes, Route No. previously provided by Finglands, in March 2014. There are now two Sale Moor, Sale 41 main routes provided by First as shown below. Stockport via Heaton Moor 22 These services are primarily for Stockport via East Didsbury 42 school children. The services run at the beginning and end of the School day. Girls may purchase a ticket Northenden 41, 43, 141 each day or can buy a prepayment card. West Didsbury 41, 43, 143 Services that are currently available: East Didsbury 42, 142, X57 Route No. Gatley 44 St Margaret’s, Hale, Hale Barns, Northenden & W Didsbury 141, 241* Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme X57 Davenport, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle & E Didsbury 158 Further details on timetables and routes are available from Transport for Greater Manchester at www.tfgm.com All three services collect girls at the end of the School day from Victoria Road (near the Sports Hall). The 241 service drops girls off at the same place in the morning whereas the 141/158 services drop off on Wilmslow Road. *Supervisor on board for Junior School children.

Further details on timetables and routes are available from First on 0161 225 3333 or www.firstgroup.com

Private services arranged directly with the companies

Bullocks McCarthy’s Maynes Finglands Privately run service Privately run service Privately run service Private service to and from to Knutsford. to Macclesfield, Prestbury, to Stockton Heath, Prestwich and Cheetham Hill. Contact: 0161 428 5265 Alderley Edge and Handforth. Warrington and Lymm. Contact: 0161 224 3341 Contact: 01625 425060 Contact: 01925 445588 [email protected] Belle Vue

From September 2014, Belle Vue Coaches NEW PRIVATE SERVICE are operating a private ‘Worsley Shuttle’ Travel from Ashton (former FOR SEPTEMBER 2014 which will run a combined 146/148 route for girls coming from Worsley and Urmston. 145 route) and Middleton Please contact Belle Vue Coaches on 0161 (former 147 route) 947 9477 for more information. Privately run services will NOT operate The service will cover from these areas as most parents have the following areas: decided to use public transport (train, Worsley, Monton, Eccles, tram or public bus) to connect with Old Trafford, Urmston, Davyhulme, the City Centre Shuttle Bus Woodsend, Stretford & Chorlton Late Services

City Centre Shuttle Bus From September 2013 Withington Girls’ School and This service is open to any pupil at either School and Manchester High School for Girls have been running a new currently costs just £1 per journey. Alternatively, a termly City Centre Shuttle service connecting both Schools with the or half-termly ticket can be purchased from the School. major travel links into Manchester. Whether your daughter travels into Manchester by train or The bus operates 5 days a week – Monday to Friday – and tram, or you work in the city centre and would find it more there are two departure times in the afternoon. The 5.15pm convenient to drop your daughter off at one of Manchester’s departure time fits in with after-school activities. mainline stations, this could be the perfect service for you. For more information on the Shuttle service please email [email protected] or call 0161 224 1077

Victoria Station bus Morning Service After School Service 5.15pm Service departs from the layby opposite Hanover Street. • Victoria Station 8.07 • WGS 3.55 • WGS 5.15 • Piccadilly Station 8.20 • MHSG 4.00 • MHSG 5.20 Piccadilly Station bus • MHSG 8.35 • Oxford Rd Station 4.15 • Oxford Rd Station 5.35 departs from the bus • WGS 8.40 • Piccadilly Station 4.25 • Piccadilly Station 5.45 stop on Fairfield Street. • Victoria Station 4.40 • Victoria Station 6.00

“I am so pleased that Withington have introduced a shuttle bus to Piccadilly Station. The bus parks right outside school, it leaves on time and my daughter can keep contact with her friends at Manchester High. The best bit is that she can now catch the train home. It’s quicker and cheaper than driving and she even manages to do a bit of homework on the way!” Mother of Alice, Year 10, from Glossop Late 158/141 Bus McCarthy’s Bus Serving South Manchester, an additional new late bus - combining McCarthy’s provide a well-established private coach service to Finglands bus services 158 and 141 - has been introduced in Macclesfield, Prestbury, Alderley Edge and Handforth. A late service partnership with Manchester High School for Girls, leaving School at is available for all girls booked on this route – from Monday to Friday 5.15pm, travelling from MHSG and stopping at Didsbury, John Lewis, – at a small additional cost. This provides girls with the flexibility of Cheadle before going on to Hale and Bowdon. either taking the coach home at the end of school or using the late This service runs four nights a week, Monday to Thursday, and has service at 5.15pm when they have after-school activities. Please been set up to facilitate girls’ participation in after-school activities. contact McCarthy’s on 01625 425060 for further information.

Updated July 2014. All information correct at time of publication. wgs.org Travel by Bicycle Travel by Car

A small number of pupils and a regular group of staff cycle to A number of parents choose to drop their daughters off on school each day. We are able to provide covered cycle storage their way to work in the morning and use a bus service in the and were fortunate to obtain a grant of matched funding from afternoon. We are able to help parents who wish to car-share, Sustrans providing additional storage. either in the morning or the afternoon.

groups before and after school”Jennifer, Year 10, from Whitefield

“I have recently started getting the Roy McCarthy late bus. It has enabled me to participate in more after-school activities and also allows me to see teachers or catch up on work after school which is more important now that I am in Year 11. It is a reliable service which allows me to be dropped off near my home and I can also get it with a lot of my friends”

Isabelle - Year 11 - from Wilmslow

More Information

For any further enquiries please contact: The Bursar, Mrs Sharon Senn on 0161 249 3469 or [email protected] The School Secretary, Mrs Ann Easton on 0161 224 1077 or [email protected] The Deputy Head, Mrs Sarah Haslam on 0161 224 1077 or [email protected]

Withington Girls’ School, Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL Tel : 0161 224 1077 Fax : 0161 248 5377 Email: [email protected] Web: wgs.org Registered Charity No. 526632