Bee Network integrates all city buses, sets sights on commuter trains
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hailed a “historic moment” for regional transport after completing work to bring all outstanding local bus services under local control.
The move will see ticket prices standardised and capped at £2 per journey and the simplification of bus travel for the network’s users.
By the end of March 2025, more than half of Bee Network buses will be new and 75% of the fleet will have been upgraded within the past four years.
The first phase was delivered on time and on budget, while passenger numbers increased by 5% over the past 12 months, according to the GMCA.
With all 1,600 buses across 577 routes now integrated, the first phase of the Bee Network – and Burnham’s vision of a London-style transport system for Greater Manchester – is complete.
Burnham said: “The Bee Network is integral to the overall success of the city-region and Greater Manchester’s strategy to support a growing population by building 175,000 new homes and creating 100,000 new jobs.
“Greater Manchester is currently the growth success story of the UK. We have an £80bn economy, a growing population and world-leading business, and our rate of growth is outstripping that of the South East.
“But we will only be able to reach our full potential and make life better for all our residents, with a world-class public transport system.”
Phase two of the Bee Network – the integration of eight commuter rail lines – will now begin.
The rail lines will be part of the network by 2028. These are: https://www.
1. Wigan via Atherton
2. Wigan via Bolton
3. Wigan via Golborne
4. Manchester Airport
5. Alderley Edge and Buxton via Stockport
6. Glossop, Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge
7. Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge
8. Rochdale
Read more about plans to expand the Bee Network
The second phase will also deliver the first new train stations to the city-region in more than 20 years, including in Golborne and Cheadle.
Heidi Alexander, secretary of state for transport, said: “Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is a trailblazer in delivering better bus services for passengers and we want local authorities across the country to look at it as a shining example of what can be achieved through local control.
“For too long, too many people have suffered from unreliable and infrequent services.”
She added: “People across Greater Manchester now have buses they can depend on. With our Bus Services Bill and £1bn in support for services across the country, we will help ensure that similar success reaches across the country.”
In line with improvements in bus services, Greater Manchester’s Metrolink has seen passenger numbers rise around 20% over the past year with November 2024’s 4.28m journeys being the network’s busiest ever month in its 33-year history.
Other steps have also been taken to better services – changes to routes, improvements to punctuality, and the reduction of ticket prices by 15% – have all contributed to the Bee Network’s success, the GMCA said.
There’s absolutely no hanging around in Manchester/GMCA towers is there! One task completed, onto the next without hesitation. Kudos to Andy Burnham and his team – will go down in history as some of Manchester’s best leaders and politicians (already a highly-coveted leaderboard with the likes of Howard Bernstein).
By Anonymous
Who thinks High peak will ask to merge with Tameside or Stockport? The GMCA clearly thinks they are part of GM’s travel to work footprint.
By Rich X
How about Mr Burnham takes control of Manchester Airport as well because that airport is a even bigger embarrassment than the buses were.
By Bob Best
Odds on the bus services to get much much worse
By Anonymous
What a fantastic achievement. I can’t imagine having to deal with the amount of resistance and challenges that were overcome to get to this point. Now onto phase two!
By Andee
Well done Andy and Co. Let’s declare independence now from the failing horror show,that is this Labour government. The least we have to do with that sinking ship the better. Swallow your pride Merseyside and join us.
By Elephant
Whilst this is a major achievement I think now would be an opportune time to review the routing/numbering/frequency of bus services to make the network fit for the 21st Century.
By UnaPlanner
It is a significant milestone and far more difficult than it should have been, but the fact we are making so much of simply getting buses under local control says something I think about where we are as a country in terms of our ambition around transport and infrastructure investment. Hopefully this is but the first chapter in a decade of substantive improvements to both the capacity and quality of public transport in GM.
By Anonymous
@Bob Best, indeed, I book my holidays and trips home to Ireland from LBA now if I can
By Anonymous
The easy part has been done. Lets see if they can actually run a decent service
By Council Tax Payer
Massive congratulations to all involved! The resistance from those with vested interests was immense. All the best for phase 2!
By Mancunian
Now comes the difficult bit. Managing it
By Anonymous
@UnaPlanner indeed, network review sorely needed. Outside of school routes it’s all set up for a different era of Manchester.
By Anonymous
Great news! All successful European cities seem to have excellent local transport systems. Despite some negative comments from the usual suspects, for the good of Greater Manchester and it’s people I hope it’s a great success.
By Anonymous
Funny isn’t it how, once you take the biggest polluters off the grid [old buses, not cars or even wood burners], air quality magically improves.
By Clean Air Actor
Road network generally in MCR is a gridlock nightmare.
By Growth
What about extending the train network down along the lines to Crewe and Stoke to include Chehsire.
By OJ
A good start. Now we need to find ways to reduce the amount of private vehicles in the city. Otherwise the buses will be stuck in all the gridlock
By Levelling Up Manager
Still think its a shame the buses aren’t orange – the GM Buses colour.
By Anonymous
Could Manchester’s success story as mentioned in the article have been aided by the fact it does not have a congestion/ULEZ scheme in place ???
By Anonymous