Millions more trips will now be made on Bee Network buses every month after services in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Salford and north Manchester were brought under local control.
Two hundred years since Greater Manchester launched a first-of-a-kind horse bus service between Pendleton and Manchester in 1824, the city-region continues to lead the way in transforming public transport by pioneering the return of locally controlled bus services.
Passengers will benefit from new and better buses, more frequent, earlier, and later running services and better connections to first and last trams, improved customer information – with new features added to the Bee Network app including journey planning and bus tracking – and new TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs).
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We have a great and pioneering history when it comes to transport, as the birthplace of buses and the modern railway, so it’s fitting to once again be leading the way by bringing buses back under local control.
“This truly is another historic moment for Greater Manchester, and I am absolutely delighted to see the Bee Network rolled out to Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester.”
From 7 April five buses will be added to the V1/V2, 163, and 472/474 services and from 28 April a further 15 will be added to the 8, 10, 20/21/22, 501, 524, 575/576, 601-606, 607, 608/35, and 609 services. The changes will initially be on a 12-month trial basis, during which punctuality improvements and associated patronage/revenue growth will be monitored, measured and evaluated to inform a decision as to whether the arrangement is extended.
