Safe and secure travel

Oldham commuters can now flag trouble on buses or trams without speaking aloud, using a new LiveChat that puts them straight through to a Greater Manchester Police call handler. The tool, part of the TravelSafe partnership, is meant for the moments when calling 999 feels too loud or too risky.

The same system applies on trains, but rail passengers are asked to ring the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016. Whether on tram or train, the advice is identical: report odd photos of security kit, unattended bags or anyone lurking where staff usually stand.

Behind the scenes, more than 15,000 staff and officer hours are clocked each week on patrol across Greater Manchester's buses and Metrolink. Control rooms watch 3,800 CCTV feeds round the clock, and every tram carries its own cameras. Each of the 99 tram stops has two emergency call points that connect to a real voice, even when no uniform is in sight.

Passengers are being reminded to keep bags within reach and to stop blocking aisles with luggage. The request is simple: stay alert, don't assume someone else will act, and use the quiet digital routes if speaking up feels unsafe.