Bus stops dreamt up by legendary designer Peter Saville are offering commuters free WiFi and mobile charging points.
The connected stops are in central Manchester, near the main Piccadilly rail station.
Transport chiefs hope they will lure more drivers onto public transport, the Manchester Evening News reports .
Madchester designer Peter Saville, the creator of much of Factory Records’ distinctive artwork, worked with design firm Aurel Design Urbain, bus group RATP and ad firm JCDecaux to create the ‘super shelters’, which have a dark wood ceiling.
Saville is consultant creative director to the city of Manchester.
We reported earlier this year how Manchester is set for a smart connected network where single tickets will be used to book journeys across a range of transport types.
Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM committee, said: “This is a really exciting and unique scheme for Manchester as this pilot shelter is the first of its kind in the UK.
“One of our key aims is to provide an improved public transport network that encourages more people to choose sustainable and more environmentally friendly ways to travel – especially in the city centre.
“Research indicates that improved public transport environments – with technology built in – encourage more people to use them and that’s what we’re testing out here.
”We’ll be asking people who use this bus stop for their views over the coming weeks and more new services and facilities could be trialled here.”
“The shelter’s modular design means it can be adapted to fit other sites in Greater Manchester and offer different services if required.”
The stops are being funded by the Department for Transport and could be rolled out across Greater Manchester.
They have the potential to generate revenue for transport authorities through digital advertising.