Residents will be able to find out more about plans to invest up to £3bn in Greater Manchester's public transport system, including key projects across the borough, on condition of the proposed introduction of a weekday, peak time only, congestion charge in 2013.

The displays, which will have officers on hand to explain specifics, open in Market Place on Saturday (10am to 5pm) and Sunday (10.30am to 4.30pm).

They give visitors the chance to find out more about the proposed public transport investment, ask questions about how a congestion charge might affect them and give their views.

However, anti-congestion charge campaigners have vowed to attend both events, and will distribute leaflets detailing why they oppose the controversial measure.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive say they are working hard to ensure "everybody is given the full picture" of the funding package.

There will even be a Big Brother-style Diary Room and a giant TIF map to help people understand the impact of TIF on their journeys.

For Wigan this includes safety and passenger facility area upgrades and refurbishment of bus and rail stations; longer and more frequent trains, the re-opening of Golborne station, rail park and ride at Atherton, more late night buses, more yellow school buses and the long-awaited link between North Western and Wallgate stations.

They claim that after TIF "90%" of Wigan residents would be within a five minute walk of bus services that on weekdays would run "at least every 20 minutes" during the day and every half-hour on early weekday mornings and evenings, plus weekends.

A spokesman for TIF said: "We would encourage people to visit the exhibition to find out the facts about the package.
"Informing as many people as possible through the exhibition gives us an opportunity to start a dialogue with residents. We hope as many people as possible will visit us and give us the opportunity to answer their questions."

The exhibition, which was in Ashton last weekend, is visiting venues across the county during 14 weeks of formal consultation into the TIF bid. Each of the 10 local authorities will host at least four exhibitions.

Responses to the consultation will enable the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) to confirm details of the TIF proposals, including the exact location of the inner ring, precise position of the charging points around the outer ring and discounts for specific groups of drivers.

A full report on the consultation findings will be published and made available at libraries and at www.gmfuturetransport.co.uk
A summary will be sent to those who request it. A list of dates for the exhibition is at www.gmfuturetransport.com