Buses and trams across Greater Manchester deep cleaned amid bed bug concerns

Specialist contractors will carry out a deep clean of Greater Manchester’s buses and trams amid concerns of a possible bed bug invasion.

It comes after the French capital saw an infestation hit hotels and public transport during Paris Fashion Week, with social media users posting clips of the little critters on beds and upholstery on public transport.

As the uninvited guests spread across Paris, it wasn’t long before TikTok videos emerged showing the creepy crawlies taking a ride on the London Underground.

One clip shows one of the small brown creatures crawling up a passenger’s leg while using the Victoria Tube Line.

Fears grew that the insects – which hide in upholstery and come out at night to bite people and feed on human blood – had travelled to London.

However, Transport for London has said it is ‘not aware of any confirmed sightings of bedbugs’ on its transport network and is continuously monitoring the situation as it ‘takes all possible precautionary measures’.

Claims of bed bug sightings and social media clips have sparked further concerns that these flesh-biting pests may spread up North to Greater Manchester.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed it regularly conducts deep cleans of upholstery on its transport network using ‘specialist tools’ and said it has not been made aware of any issues.

Despite this, one social media user posted a photo on Twitter of a brown bug crawling up one of the windows on their First Bus travelling towards Oldham, on Monday October 9th.

The passenger wrote: “hey @FirstBusnews your 59 to Oldham Mumps has bedbugs I suggest you do something about this quickly lol.”

First bus company wrote in response: “This is really concerning to see, and we do apologise for this.” The bus company then asked the person for further information so it was able to assist.

TfGM say they have not been made aware of any specific sightings so far.

Chief operating officer for TfGM, Alex Cropper said: “We have recently sought assurances from our Metrolink and bus operators on this and they have reassured us that their cleaning teams or subcontractors regularly deep clean the upholstery on all vehicles using specialist tools.

“These deep cleans will identify any concerns and there are specialist contractors lined up should there be any suspected outbreaks, with teams also being briefed should they spot anything in-between the deep cleans.”