Greater Manchester targeting 50 million more bus journeys per year

A new Bus Strategy for Greater Manchester is to be put before city-region leaders that lays out the ambition of increasing annual bus journeys by 30% by 2030.

With bus services coming under greater public control in parts of the city-region from September 2023, the city-region is hoping that the combined benefits of capped fares and better public transport infrastructure can increase annual passenger numbers from 2022/23 levels by 50 million by the end of the decade.

As well as capped fares already in place across Greater Manchester, the city-region aims to deliver a more reliable and user-friendly bus network, to ensure making journeys by bus is no longer seen as a ‘choice of last resort’. Among plans for the city-region’s buses set out in the new Bus Strategy are investment in 70 km of on-street improvements for the most strategic and high frequency routes. Key orbital and radial routes in the city-region are to be served by buses every 12 minutes, with 90% of Greater Manchester’s population within 400 metres of a twice-hourly service. Plans to provide people with more travel options at night are also being looked explored to support those working in the night-time economy.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester says the new Bus Strategy sets out a vision ‘built on affordable fares, high quality services, swift and reliable connections, and clear democratic and customer accountability’. He said:

“Bus franchising will allow us to reimagine the role of buses within a wider integrated transport system and – over time – reshape this critical part of our infrastructure to serve the modern city region.

“More people using our better buses will help reduce congestion and air pollution, support economic growth, create access to opportunities, improve residents’ health and reduce social exclusion: vital elements in building the greener, fairer, and more prosperous Greater Manchester of the future.

“In 1824, the UK’s first bus service took to the streets of Greater Manchester, sparking a public transport revolution. Two hundred years later, our city region is again leading the way outside London, as we use the vision set out in this plan to build a bus system for everyone, of which Greater Manchester can be proud.”

Buses can deliver significant benefits for the environment, health, traffic congestion and the economy.  Congestion currently costs Greater Manchester businesses £1.3bn per year – and a quarter of car users would consider switching to buses if they were quicker and more reliable, figures from The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), show.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester said:

“Safe, reliable and affordable buses are at the heart of the integrated Bee Network – bringing together buses, Metrolink, trains and active travel into one joined-up system. This will transform public transport for the people and businesses of this fast-growing region and provide an attractive alternative option to using the car.

“This strategy shows how we will continuously improve all aspects of Greater Manchester’s buses, opening up opportunities for new jobs, homes, education and businesses and helping make our region fairer and more sustainable.

“It is a very exciting time for passengers and all the hard-working staff who keep the bus service moving. Our message to Greater Manchester is – please ‘Get on Board’ and help us keep the improvements to your bus services coming.”

The Bus Strategy will be considered by the Bee Network Committee and GMCA at the end of this month (July 27 and 28), with proposals for a new, longer-term method of funding to provide more certainty and stability and deliver improvements, are now being drawn up. These proposals will be shared with government and opposition parties during party conferences in the autumn.