Greater Manchester 'Bee Network' launches first phase next week.

 

This month (24 September) will see the launch of the first franchised routes of the Bee Network bus system in Greater Manchester. The plan is for the whole of the Greater Manchester bus network to be franchised and phased in by January 2025. The Bee Network app is also to be launched this month and should be joined up in a London-style contactless fares system by January 2025.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "It's not 'big bang' - but in Wigan, Bolton, and bits of Salford and Bury, it will be very transformational."

The zero emission yellow buses of the Bee Network, are all electric. A year ago, Andy Burnham, introduced a £2 flat fare for buses across the region and has pledged to guarantee this until September 2024. Although the £2 bus fare cap is a step in the right direction, it is still expensive and higher than the bus fare cap in London of £1.75.

Under the TfL 'hopper' system, your standard bus fare in London, is transferable to other buses and trams within one hour of touching in. Although Burnham, has talked of introducing a London-style bus system in Greater Manchester, bus fares are not as yet transferrable and are much higher than in the capital, where the bus network was never deregulated.

Another thing that needs looking at urgently, is the frequency of bus services in Greater Manchester, during UK bank holidays and over the Christmas period. The Mayor of Greater Manchester isn't going to get people out of cars and onto buses, when everything in running on a limited Sunday service every time there's a bank holiday or you can't get a bus over the Christmas period to go to the boxing day sales or to socialise. It's a case of stop at home, Shanks's pony, or get a taxi, if you don't possess your own car.

Another issue is late night bus and tram services in Greater Manchester and what should be made available to the traveling public.