It was the cut that left residents feeling trapped - and businesses fearful for the future. But now the V2 bus - which links Atherton to Manchester, is set to return.
The guided busway service was credited with attracting more commuters to the borough of Wigan, the furthest of Greater Manchester's authorities from the centre, when it began running over six years ago.
Cafes, bars and shops all benefitted from the increased connectivity. But, after demand plummeted in lockdown the service was slashed - and even after lockdown ended, wasn't fully restored.
Now, transport bosses have revealed that the service will return to a full-time schedule, a major announcement for locals. The news on the V2 - which travels directly from Atherton town centre to the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) via the Leigh Guided Busway - came as Transport for Greater Manchester promoted their launch of the Bee Network, coming September 24.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk