Greater Manchester Mayor announces latest Bee Network improvements

Two years on from the city-region’s first buses coming under local control, more major Bee Network improvements have been announced by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Andy Burnham and Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt unveiled a further raft of changes to improve bus services for people and communities across the city-region. They include more frequent buses, cheaper travel and new round-the-clock services.

Since the first buses were brought under local control in September 2023, the Bee Network has changed the way people get around. Buses are more regular, more punctual and fares are more affordable. ‘Tap and go’ ticketing has made it even easier to switch between bus and tram with more than 10 million contactless bus journeys being made by over one million customers on buses since March, and meanwhile new bus routes have been introduced to better connect people to homes, jobs, education and wider opportunity.

As a result, more people are choosing public transport. On buses brought under local control in September 2023, journeys are up 12% year on year, with a 14% increase on services that joined the Bee Network in March 2024. It puts Greater Manchester well on its way to achieving the overall goal of boosting bus passenger numbers by 30% by 2030 and for 50% of all journeys in the region to be made by public transport, walking or cycling by 2040.

Building on service improvements already delivered and further changes already announced, the Mayor announced on 1st September:

• Two new night buses and a commitment to extend existing night (or 24 hour) services into next year
• Half price bus travel for 18-21 year olds
• Making the Our Pass available in the Bee Network app for free travel for 16 to 18 year-olds
• New Express Mode feature in Apple Pay
• New and improved cross-boundary bus connections between Greater Manchester and Cheshire
• More frequent buses on the most popular routes in Bolton and Leigh
• A further trial of round-the-clock bus travel for older and disabled passengers

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“Our region has the fastest growing economy in the UK, and the Bee Network will continue to play a vital role as we look to build on our plans set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy to make the next 10 years the best decade for our region since the Victorian era.

“While the Bee Network is already delivering a much improved service compared to the non-franchised system it replaced, with more punctual, frequent, affordable and cleaner buses, we are always looking at how we can improve the experience for everyone travelling with us, and to encourage people to use the bus more often.

“These proposals include enhanced and expanded bus routes, more night buses and half price bus travel for our young people, alongside commitments to revisit free round-the-clock travel for people using concessionary passes, with a second trial in November this year.

“We are still only two years into this journey and these latest announcements underline our commitment to providing the best possible public transport system to support the people, communities and businesses which are helping to grow Greater Manchester’s economy.”

Transport investment will be fundamental to sustaining Greater Manchester’s rate of economic growth, which has outstripped the UK’s average in the past decade, and in June the Government pledged £2.5 billion towards helping the region unlock the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport network.

This includes a thousand new EV buses to form a 100% electric fleet alongside trams already powered by renewable energy and e-bikes for hire; the integration of eight local rail lines with the Bee Network which will see improved accessibility and capped fares; and major infrastructure projects including Metrolink extensions and stops and new modern interchanges to support the wider delivery of thousands of new homes, skilled jobs and green growth.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:

“Public transport is one of seven key areas underpinning our future vision and plan for a thriving Greater Manchester. Over the next decade we will continue to invest in the Bee Network to transform how people get around and provide the high standards of service the people and businesses of our region rightly expect.

“The service changes announced today will bring immediate and wide-ranging benefits to communities across Greater Manchester, whether it’s more night buses to support the night-time economy, improved connections between our region and neighbouring areas, or cutting the cost of travel for our young people.

“The Bee Network – embracing bus, tram active travel and, soon, rail – has already achieved so much since the launch of bus franchising two years ago, and we are focused on continuous improvement to support economic growth, greater productivity and access to new homes, jobs and wider opportunity for all.”