TfGM launches first Bee Network night buses

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Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched night buses on two of the Bee Network’s busiest routes as part of a one-year trial of 24/7 services in the city-region.

A minimum of one bus per hour will run overnight on the 36 and V1 services between Manchester city centre, Salford, and Bolton (36) and Leigh (V1) as part of the trial, offering late-night revellers as well as workers in the city’s night time economy a cheap and sustainable way to get home. Night buses will also use the same capped bus fares as daytime services, and additional TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs) will be deployed to ensure the safety of passengers on night services.

The selected routes for the trial have been chosen due to their proximity to key night-time economy employment sites, such as hotels, bars and clubs, hospitals and distribution centres – 358,000 people working in jobs or businesses that are significantly active at night, accounting for around 33% of the Greater Mancunian workforce. They also serve areas where higher numbers of people are less likely to own a car and more likely to rely on public transport, and connect with taxi ranks and bike e-scooter hire points.

Should the trial be successful, it could pave the way for an expansion of 24/7 bus services across Greater Manchester once the Bee Network covers all routes in the city-region, including Stockport, from January 2025.

Andy Burnham (pictured), Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“Ensuring that everyone working in our night-time economy can access safe, reliable, around-the-clock public transport is hugely important as our thriving region continues to grow.

“We know that people have been crying out for better night transport, and it was clear to us that Greater Manchester can only realise its potential as a catalyst for growth if we have the right infrastructure to get people to and from employment centres whatever the time, day or night.

“Night buses will provide a lifeline to those working in this vitally important sector, which includes health and social care, bars and clubs, distribution centres, where shifts can go on into the night and early morning when public transport options are scarce and personal safety may be a concern.“

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:

“Providing late-night bus services was one of our ambitions when developing the Bee Network and it’s a core part of the overall plan to improve public transport in all parts of Greater Manchester. 

“Safe, reliable and affordable transport is essential to enabling Greater Manchester’s sustainable economic growth and higher productivity and our night-time economy plays a huge role in this. With hundreds of thousands of people working late and into the early hours, it’s only right that we offer better public transport options.“

Sacha Lord, Night-Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester said:

“Late night public transport is central to maintaining our position as a leading 24-hour European night-time economy. That is why I have made this a huge priority of mine since becoming Greater Manchester’s Night-Time Economy Adviser.

“Now that the Mayor has brought buses under local control, the Bee Network has given us the opportunity to deliver bespoke, timetabled services that work for our customers in a way that was not possible before franchising was introduced.

“From 1st September, the V1 and 36 bus services will provide 24-hour connectivity for around 135,000 people living within a five-minute walk. Late night workers will pay the same as those who work in the day and will finally have a cheap, sustainable and safe way to get home from their shift.

“I want to thank all colleagues from TfGM, GMCA and within our business community for getting us to this point and encourage all active at night – whether that be for work or leisure – to utilise these services so we can prove their viability and roll them out across the city-region.”