Bee Network hits 100 million bus journeys

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has surpassed 100 million bus journeys just weeks after remaining areas of the city-region saw their buses come under local control.

Bus franchises completed on 5th January, with the network also setting a new daily record for passenger numbers, with 602,000 journeys made on 30th January.

As the first area to franchise buses in 40 years, Greater Manchester is now able to set routes, fares and standards. It means the performance of Bee Network services are closely monitored – including the use of AI – and interventions made as part of a ‘continuous improvement’ approach to delivering a fully integrated, affordable and accessible network.

As a result, a further sixteen vehicles are being added to routes in parts of Greater Manchester to further boost the reliability and punctuality of services in Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and Bury – including those to key destinations such as the Trafford Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary and Royal Oldham Hospital.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“Getting more people on board will allow continue to keep fares low and invest in a reliable public transport network for everyone in Greater Manchester. Hitting 100 million journeys on locally-controlled buses is an incredible milestone for the Bee Network and it shows what we’re doing here is working.

 “We’re now gearing up to make one of the biggest changes our public transport network has ever seen. In March, we’ll unite bus and tram together in one joined-up payment system, just like London. With integrated tap-and-go payments, people will have more flexibility than ever before in how they get around the city-region, and will always pay the best daily or weekly fare.

“Keeping fares low and ensuring our buses are reliable is fundamental to the success of the Bee Network. We won’t stand still, we’ll always be looking to improve things – using data and feedback from passengers – to make our network the best it can be.”

Greater Manchester was the first place outside London to limit the cost of travel, with the introduction of the £2 ‘cap’ for a single adult journey (£1 for a child) in September 2022.

Introduced to help people with the rising cost of living, it reduced the average cost of travel for bus users by almost 20% and resulted in a 5% growth in patronage.

A national £2 fare cap scheme was subsequently introduced, and while that rose to £3 in January, Greater Manchester has retained the £2 cap for this year – subject to a mid-year review – due to the decisions it has taken around its bus network.

Improvements to affordability, reliability and punctuality are all part of a major drive to get more people using public transport by making it more attractive and convenient.

The next major milestone for the Bee Network comes in March, when passengers will be able to use contactless payments across both bus and tram journeys, with fares calculated to ensure they always pay the lowest amount for their trip.

 The move will see a maximum daily cap of £9.50 (£7.80 if starting a journey after 09.30) and weekly cap of £41 for unlimited bus and tram travel anywhere in Greater Manchester.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:

“This is a very significant milestone for the Bee Network as we deliver a low cost, high quality integrated public transport and active travel system for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester. The more people who use our buses and trams then the more we can invest in further improvements and in keeping fares low.

“We are committed to the continuous improvement of the Bee Network. Since gaining control of bus service we have already made changes to around 75 routes to provide earlier, later, more frequent and better-connected services, as well as introducing the first brand new Bee Network service and night buses. 

“Using CitySwift’s AI platform, we are using new tools to make public transport more reliable. We are also underway with broader network reviews in collaboration with local districts and communities to ensure that the Bee Network delivers in a way that works for them.”