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Joey Stoate
A new report has found that Great Manchester’s Bee Network is beginning to influence travel trends across the region.
The report, ‘Delivering Better Bus Services for Greater Manchester’, details the network’s inception and offers statistical evidence of the scheme’s successes, which was first launched in September 2023.
The report has found that since the introduction of the Bee Network, bus journeys across the region have increased by 14% year on year, with punctuality regularly exceeding Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) target of 80% (compared to 66% pre-franchising) within the first franchising area.
In March 2025, on-time punctuality across the entire network rose to 75.8%, an increase of 4.2% from 71.6% in March 2024, with roughly 84% of residents now living within a five-minute walk of a half hourly service (up from 78% in November 2022).
The network has also introduced a slew of new offerings both technological and economical, with a tap and go system across both its bus and tram services akin to that of Transport for London’s (TfL) current model, as well as keeping single fare prices locked at 2 GBP, with day tickets available at 5 GBP, both of which have been kept at a consistent price since September 2022.
An increased focus on safety has also seen the introduction of 113 TravelSafe Support & Enforcement Officers, who provide a presence onboard Bee Network services, as wel as at bus interchanges and Metrolink stops.
With 75% of Bee Network buses less than four years old, 17% of the fleet now utilises zero-emission buses, an increase of over 15% compared to pre-franchising (which sat below 2%). Extra buses have also been added in both Wigan and Bolton, with a further 20 now in operation in Oldham and North Manchester during peak hours.
Changes have thus far been applied to around 75 routes to provide earlier, later or more frequent services, with a new Bee Network service connecting Wigan and Bolton and serving Middlebrook shopping centre also having been established. In addition, a new pilot has been launched to trial 24/7 bus services, reinstating nighttime connectivity to the north-west of Greater Manchester.
The Government recently confirmed a funding boost of 2.5 billion GBP for the next phase of the Bee Network, which is planned to be utilised to bring rail offerings into the network, further expand Metrolink and offer a fully-integrated, zero-emission public transport system by 2030.
Greater Manchester is a growth success story with an £80 billion economy, a growing population and world-leading businesses. Enabling this is the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport and active travel network.
While it is still early days, since buses were brought back under local control – on time and on budget – there has been a 14% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers, buses are more punctual, fares are more affordable and we have introduced hugely popular ‘tap and go’ payment with millions of journeys being made using it.
This is a network being run in a way which puts people first and I want to thank the staff of our operators and TfGM for everything they are doing to make it a success. We know that we are still at the beginning of our journey and we are committed to continuous improvement to support the people, communities and businesses of Greater Manchester in growing our economy.
TfGM has stated that the coming months will see plans developed to both grow the network and provide further service improvements for those getting on board, including area-based Network Reviews to shape routes and implement service changes, as well as improvements based on community feedback. Development of Network Reviews for Bolton and Wigan are set to be implemented in autumn 2026.
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