Greater Manchester takes receipt of first Bee Network electric buses

Greater Manchester’s first Bee Network electric buses have been handed over by Scottish manufacturer, Alexander Dennis, on 2nd June, as the city-region prepares to see its transport network begin to come under greater public control later this year.

The new electric buses will be fully inclusive, with two wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems and anti-slip flooring. Assembled over several months, each of the electric buses is 10.8 metres long and powered from 382kWh batteries, meaning they have no tailpipe emissions.

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, visited Larbert in Scotland to take receipt of the first of five new electric buses built by Alexander Dennis for the city-region’s Bee Network integrated transport system. The buses will be amongst 50 new electric double-deck vehicles that will enter service in Wigan, Bolton and parts of Salford and Bury, with bus franchising to reach Stockport by January 2025.

Transformed bus services are a key part of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network plan for a more accessible and integrated network, bringing together local trams and buses with the largest walking, wheeling and cycling network anywhere in the UK. Detail of plans to bring some local train services into the network is also set to be announced later this summer following the city-region’s enhanced devolution deal.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“By bringing buses under local control and investing in new vehicles, routes, and services, we will start to transform how people get around Greater Manchester.

“Key to that is a world-class fleet of modern, accessible, and environmentally friendly buses – which is what these are.

“It was great to see the first ones off the production line and I can’t wait to see them full of passengers when the first services come under local control from September.

“The contract with Alexander Dennis is a brilliant example of the far-reaching benefits the work we are doing to improve public transport in Greater Manchester has to the UK economy. Through our supply chains we are helping to secure skilled jobs and training and I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with the young apprentices, who look to have a great career ahead of them.”