greater manchester bus travel

Forgot your password? Register

Have a First Bus App account?

We're sorry but you’ll need to register separately for a web account at the moment.

• Your Shopping Cart
• Oldham services to join the Bee Network
• We’re getting ready to join the Bee Network in Greater Manchester!
• Giving back to the community
• Help & Support
• Lost property
• Private Hire

First Bus Greater Manchester Landing Page

The Bee Network

From Sunday 24 March 2024, First Manchester will operate services in Rochdale and Bury as part of the phase two rollout of franchised bus services by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

We’ll also be delivering services to six schools in the region. These are: St Monica’s High School in Prestwich, Co-op Academy and Co-op Academy North in Blackley, St Cuthbert’s School in Rochdale, Waterhead Academy in Oldham and St Matthew RC High School in Moston. There will be no changes to the service numbers of buses used on the routes. 

Our absolute priority will be to deliver a reliable service in partnership with TfGM with a best-in-class, customer-first approach to support journeys.

Our depot operations

Buses in the distinctive Bee Network yellow livery will operate from our Rochdale depot on Corporation Road, where we are investing £750,000 with a focus on enhanced engineering facilities, including a new double height workshop bay for vehicle repair and maintenance. The yard area will also be improved to provide better space for operations.

The depot will manage more than 30 routes in the Rochdale and Bury area together with six school services using a fleet of over 60 buses and capacity to expand this to 90 vehicles.

Service 590  Halifax – Todmorden – Rochdale

Please note this service into Greater Manchester will not be part of the Bee Network as it is operated from the First Bus depot in Halifax and will continue as normal.  The timetable can be viewed  here

Bee Network 4+

Transport for greater manchester.

• #51 in Travel
• 1.8 • 500 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Say yellow to the Bee Network app, brought to you by Transport for Greater Manchester. You can find your nearest stop, get live departure times, track your bus, plan a journey and buy and use tram tickets. Use the Bee Network app to: • Track bus live locations • Find your nearest stops and departure times, save your favourites for quick access • Plan your journey on public transport or by active travel • Buy and display tram, bus and multi modal tickets • View active, purchased and expired tickets • Rate your journey BUS TRACKING View the live locations of buses on a map and track them along the route to your stop. You can also see the locations of subsequent buses and where they are currently are on the route. LIVE TRAVEL UPDATES Get live departure times for bus, tram and train. Find your nearest stop, select it as a ‘favourite’ and stay updated. JOURNEY PLANNING You can plan public transport journeys on buses, trams and trains as well as active travel via cycling, cycle hire and walking. Filter results by travel mode or step-free access. Park and ride options are provided when available. We will let you know the right ticket for your journey and either give you the option to buy it in the app or provide you with pricing information and instructions for other retail channels. BUY, SAVE AND DISPLAY TICKETS FROM THE APP You can buy selected bus and tram tickets on the Bee Network app, including our new Bee AnyBus+Tram tickets and use the app to display or scan your ticket when boarding or for inspection. You can now pay easily with Apple Pay and Google Pay as well as the option to save your payment details, to make it quicker and easier when you’re buying your tickets. RATE YOUR JOURNEY Let us know about your bus and tram journeys in Greater Manchester. We will use your feedback to shape the Bee Network. For further information go to beenetwork.com Please note that you must have a valid ticket to travel on public transport otherwise you are liable for a Penalty Fare. If you are using the app to buy and display tickets for travel, make sure your phone has enough battery to display your ticket for the duration of your journey. Bee Network: Powered by Transport for Greater Manchester. Every journey. Every day.

Version 1.1.2

We’ve made a variety of performance, accessibility, and stability improvements.

Ratings and Reviews

500 Ratings

Stop misleading about live departure times

I can see the potential here but please stop pretending the bus times are live as they are just preplanned timetables and the 511 timetable is 20 minutes out. If your bus is only every hour it might as well not exist if you don't know when it's going to be due. I feel sorry for any tourists using this app when it says "due now" and they have to wait another half an hour in the rain. It's currently an embarrassment to the region. It would really help if the politicians pushing this actually tried using it so they could see the problems and get it sorted instead of preplanned photo ops on a nice sunny day. The Diamond bus app had live bus positions so you could see where your bus was and when to set off. At the moment the app is redundant as TFGM website's bus timetables are more accurate. I really hope live bus info makes it into the app soon so that the public can get behind it and use public transport more easily. I've started getting taxis now because I never know when my bus is due.

Developer Response ,

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully you'll be pleased to learn that latest version of the app has live tracking for bus services which will allow you to see where buses are as they approach the stop. We hope that this improves your experience.

Lacks a lot of features

The live departure information for buses is completely unreliable and inaccurate. A bus can regularly be shown as being due in a few minutes only for it to never turn up and disappear from the departure list. Meaning that commuters are told they will have to wait 5 mins but in reality be still waiting 30 mins later and still have no clue when their bus will turn up. If the app was honest in the first place about the wait time then alternative travel arrangements could be made or people could wait a bit longer before setting off to the bus stop as opposed to standing on main roads breathing in toxic for a long time. Secondly, journey times are made longer in peak times due to the lack of single bus tickets available for purchase on the app. Resultantly, every person has to take longer going through the contactless/cash payment process and printing unnecessary paper tickets out. Single £2 tickets are the most cost effective way for 95% of commuters rather than £5 day tickets. It would also be advisable to mention these options in your marketing material a lot more prominently rather than deliberately ommitting the £2 singles for some unknown reason.

Needs improvement

Used it today; some feedback. The “live” updates feature is bugged, showed the eta of the bus and not the actual time it was due to arrive. Doesn’t show the live location of buses either, this was made available in the superseded stagecoach app. There’s limited information regarding service updates and no news feed to show it. This information is available on the TfGM website however. There’s also no route planning facility. There’s no cycle path routes either which is part of the bee network but not part of this app. Doesn’t show any provisions or amenities at stations in an easily digestible way. It lacks ease of use, feels very public procurement rather than user first design. Ticketing was useful though, this feature was the only one of remarks. Overall 2/5, useful but needs drastic improvement for a seamless user experience.

Thanks for your feedback. We have a number of features planned to improve the app in coming months and as the Bee Network evolves. This week we have released a new version of the app (v 1.0.6) that includes a link to service status information when you select a tram stop. Journey planning on the app will be added in the coming months. We are also looking at how we can better integrate cycle and walking into the app. Thanks again.

App Privacy

The developer, Transport for Greater Manchester , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Get all of your passes, tickets, cards, and more in one place.

You might also like.

Go North West

Diamond Bus

Northern train tickets & times

TransPennine Express

Manchester Metro

Stagecoach Bus: Plan>Track>Buy

For more information on buses click on http://tfgm.com/buses/

What is the reason for creating this mapping tool?

This tool has been created to primarily assist employees and contractors at TfGM and our bus operator and AGMA partners to, amongst other things, quickly understand the detail of the local public transport network in any area of Greater Manchester (GM), plan services, understand the accessibility of sites planned for development, co-ordinate activity around temporary traffic diversions and manage the impacts of road works and severe weather on bus services.

Who is allowed to use this mapping tool?

The tool is available on a public website and, as such, is accessible to anyone. However, it should not be promoted for direct use by the general public for obtaining passenger information, primarily because it has not been built with such users in mind.

What does the tool do?

The tool displays four types of information:

     • Bus service routes and bus stations and stops

     • Local Link Areas and associated destinations

     • Rail and Metrolink lines and stations

     • Population data with socio-demographic classifications (Acorn), journey times to key centres (from Accession) and Greater Manchester Accessibility Levels (GMAL) for unit postcodes and the cells of a 100m square grid covering GM

What is GMAL?

GMAL is a measure of the accessibility of a location by all types of public transport. It is a measure that takes into account both the proximity of the bus stops, tram halts and train stations and the frequency of services using the stops/halts/stations. In addition, 2.5 is added to the score if the location lies within a Local Link Area. It shows how public transport accessibility varies across Greater Manchester. As you might expect it is often highest (most accessible) in town centres where there are many bus services, often with a rail station nearby, and lowest (least accessible) in rural areas which are likely to be served by lower frequency bus services. Eight levels are recognised in the colour coding employed by the tool:

To learn more about how GMAL is calculated click here.

Can you provide me more detail on the postcode and 100m grid information?

Four types of data are associated with unit postcodes and grid cells:

   1. Socio-demographic data:

   Total population broken down by:

     • Wealthy achievers

     • Comfortably off

     • Urban prosperity

     • Moderate means

     • Hard pressed

     • Unclassified

This information is taken from the Acorn dataset. For information on Acorn click here.

   2. Public transport journey times in minutes to a set of key destinations:

     • Altrincham

     • Ashton-under-Lyne

     • Bolton

     • Bury

     • Manchester Airport

     • Manchester Market Street

     • Manchester Oxford Road

     • Manchester Spinningfields

     • Oldham

     • Rochdale

     • Stockport

     • Trafford Centre

     • Wigan

This information is taken from runs of TfGM’s Accession Model. For information on Accession click here.

   3. GMAL scores for:

     • Bus

     • Rail

     • Metrolink

     • Local Link (a postcode or grid cell in a Local Link Area has a score of 2.5)

     • The sum of the above scores

   4. Nearby Services contributing to the GMAL score for each postcode and grid cell:

     • Bus stops, services and service scores contributing to the GMAL bus score

     • Metrolink stations and service scores contributing to the GMAL Metrolink score

     • Rail stations and service scores contributing to the GMAL rail score

What can I do with GMAL?

With GMAL it is easy for service planners, and others concerned with social exclusion, to identify areas where accessibility by public transport is poor. A priori, these are areas of concern if they are associated with relatively large numbers of people with low incomes. You can use the socio-demographic data (Acorn) in combination with the GMAL scores to check where this is the case for specific localised areas.

Land use planners can use GMAL to easily identify areas where the public transport accessibility is relatively high, and hence which might give rise to a higher public transport mode share of trips generated by new developments if they were permitted in that area. The creation of the grid data was developed with this application in mind since areas favoured for development are not always covered by existing postcodes.

In addition, TfGM is currently sponsoring research into the relationship between public transport accessibility and trip rates by public transport for different socio-economic groups. In the future it may be possible to apply this research to discover areas of market opportunity for improving public transport services to meet potential demand.

What are Local Link Areas?

Local Link is Demand Responsive Transport which is financially supported by TfGM to serve areas or offer links which cannot be provided by conventional public transport.

Generally speaking a Local Link Area is a defined geographical area within which an affordable taxi-like door to door service is offered. Most Local Links serve facilities outside the Local Link Area boundary. Typically these link passengers to work, hospitals or shops. In addition, Local Link Areas have defined hours and days of operation. These can be complex and difficult to summarise. Further information on the precise conditions of operation for individual Local Link Areas can be found in the leaflets available from the TfGM website. Hyperlinks are provided to these leaflets.

For the purposes of this tool a Local Link Area is considered as analogous to a bus service, the difference being that a bus service route is displayed as a line whereas a Local Link Area is displayed as a (pink) polygon. Just as a bus service has days of operation and hours of operation, i.e. hours within which it has at least one journey, so does a Local Link Area. Hence, just as it is possible to select multiple bus routes for display that meet day(s) of operation and hour(s) of operation criteria so it is possible to select multiple Local Link Areas. Alternatively, you can select individual bus service routes and individual Local Link Areas for display.

How does the tool work?

The tool has two principal modes of operation. It can be used to look at:

   1. A ‘network’ of services. In this mode you can choose to look at services and Local Link Areas by day (Mon-Fri, Sat etc.) and by hour of operation (any one of 24 hours or all day). In addition, bus services can be further filtered by type (general, night etc.) by funding source (commercial or tendered) and by operator. Hence, by making appropriate selections under the Display tab in the ‘Multiple bus routes and Local Link Areas selection’ it is possible, for example, to view the network of all commercial services run by Stagecoach on Saturdays between 08:00 and 09:00 or the tendered network on weekdays between 10:00 and 11:00. The default map view shows the routes of all services which run Monday to Friday.

   2. The route of an individual service or extent of a Local Link Area. In this mode you can look at the route of an individual service by selecting a service identifier under the Display tab in the ‘Bus route’ subsection of the ‘Individual selection’ section. Here services are identified by their service ‘number’, e.g. 192 or X25 and any suffix, such as the 192M. Once these have been selected the remaining selection criteria (Day of week, Direction and Variation) will default to standard values. However, you can amend these values by clicking on the corresponding drop down lists to select a different service identifier. Similarly, you can look at the extent of a Local link Area by selecting its name in the ‘Local Link Area’ subsection of the ‘Individual selection’ section.

In either mode a variety of additional information can be shown using the ‘Display options’ section. Here you can switch between the display of:

     • Multiple or individual routes and Local Link Areas (note that selecting an individual route/Local Link Area in the ‘Individual selection’ section at the bottom of the Display tab automatically toggles the Multiple/Individual display option to Individual)

     • Toggle the display of bus route(s) and the display and labelling of bus stations and stops

     • Toggle the display of Local Link Areas and the display and labelling of their ‘other places served’

     • Toggle the display of rail and Metrolink lines and the display and labelling of stations

     • Toggle the display of either postcode or grid GMAL

Once you have selected the required options click the ‘Refresh display’ button.

Is there more information available than I can see on the map?

Additional information about objects displayed on the map can be obtained in one of two ways

   1. Where you have selected multiple bus services, using the criteria listed in the ‘Multiple bus routes and Local Link Areas selection’ section, e.g. all Monday to Friday services with a departure in the hour 08:00-08:59 that are tendered and operated by Stagecoach, the resulting set of service IDs and associated operator, contract and frequency information can be exported to Excel by clicking on the ‘Save ID CSV’ button.

   2. By clicking on the map with the information tool further information about the underlying object(s) will be shown under the Information tab. For example, if you have elected to display bus routes, bus stops, grid GMALs and Local Link Areas and you click on a bus route which is in a Local Link Area then the information tab will give additional information about:

     • The service(s) which run along the road at that point

     • The grid GMAL(s) around that point

     • The Local Link Area(s) around that point

   Furthermore, on the Information tab a series of ‘Save … CSV’ buttons will be enabled. There are six such buttons:

     • Save GMAL CSV – exports GMAL scores, socio-demographic data and journey times to key destinations for the postcode(s) or grid cell(s) selected by the Information tool click

     • Save Link CSV – exports service IDs and frequency information for all services which meet the current selection criteria and which use the road selected by the Information tool click

     • Save Stop CSV – exports bus stop information, including all services using the stop(s) selected by the Information tool click

     • Save Bus Freq CSV – exports information on the bus stops/services contributing to the GMAL score for the postcode(s) or grid cell(s) selected by the Information tool click

     • Save Rail Freq CSV – exports information on the rail stations/services contributing to the GMAL score for the postcode(s) or grid cell(s) selected by the Information tool click

     • Save Metro Freq CSV – exports information on the Metrolink stations/services contributing to the GMAL score for each of the grid cell(s) selected by the Information tool click

Can I get hold of the data used by the tool?

If you are an employee of TfGM, you can get access to the MapInfo files for this data through the intranet, by going to Help & Resources > Knowledge Hubs > Maps Hub and then either following the links to MapInfo Workspaces > ‘Find a stop or station’ or MapInfo Datasets > Transport Network > Bus > Bus routes (new ‘ITN’ version).

If you are a contractor of TfGM, a public sector organisation with an Ordnance Survey license, or a community group / voluntary sector organisation then we may be able to provide you this data for free. To understand your requirements and explore these types of opportunity further, please contact [email protected] .

How is the bus mapping data collected?

The data is derived from the bus timetable data which TfGM hold. This is the same data that is used to populate TfGM bus timetables at bus stops and used for the North West Journey Planner. The main difference is that the data for this tool is collected on a ‘snapshot’ basis, and as such is not guaranteed to reflect the current situation, only the situation as of the date displayed in the top-left of the screen.

How often is the data updated?

Updates to the bus routes will be delivered within four weeks of the following future service change dates:

~ the April date is set to one week after Easter Sunday

+ the September date is flexible to coincide with the start of school and university terms

GMAL information is recalculated every time the bus routes are updated. The associated socio-demographic data from the Acorn dataset is updated annually in December.

How accurate is the information?

Bus timetable data is mapped to the road network by TfGM, using a process with a high degree of quality checks involved. Therefore the accuracy is only affected by the accuracy of the timetable data used (which is as accurate as all other information available in this respect across Greater Manchester) and the accuracy of our mapping process. Our own assessment of the accuracy of our mapping process would suggest an accuracy of 99%. But if you spot anything, which you think is inaccurate from your own local knowledge, then please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] .

Are there plans for a version which could be used by the public?

A trial version designed for use by the public is scheduled for launch in spring 2013. If you have any ideas for how this data could be used directly by members of the public, please contact [email protected] .

How do I display a network of bus services?

Click on the Display tab and make appropriate selections in the ‘Multiple routes and Local Link Areas selection’ section. Then click on the ‘Select and Display’ button in the same section. The routes, and any Local Link Areas if selected for display, meeting the criteria will be displayed in the map window.

How do I display the route of a particular bus service?

Click on the Display tab and, in the ‘Bus route’ sub section of the ‘Individual selection’ section, use the drop down lists to enter a service number and suffix. The remaining selection criteria (Day of week, Direction and Variation) will default to standard values. You can overwrite these values if required. To complete the process click the ‘Select and Display’ button. The route will be displayed in the map window. The scale will automatically adjust so that you can see the entire route.

How do I display a particular Local Link Area?

Click on the Display tab and, in the ‘Local Link Area’ subsection of the ‘Individual selection’ section, use the drop down list to select a Local Link Area. To complete the process click the ‘Select and Display’ button. The area will be displayed in the map window. The scale will automatically adjust so that you can see its full extent. Note that you can display a single route and a single Local Link Area simultaneously by selecting both before displaying them. You may have to adjust the zoom level on the map to see them both in the map window

How do I discover which bus services/Local Link Areas operate in an area I am interested in looking at?

How do I print a map of a bus route or routes?

What is the definition of a Tendered service?

A tendered service is any service which is being financially supported by TfGM and consequently has an associated contract, referenced by a Contract number. Note that just because a service has an associated contract does not mean that the entire length of the route is tendered. In some cases only a short section of the route, for example a loop through a housing estate, will be tendered and the rest of the route will be run on a commercial basis. Unfortunately, without reference to the contract it is not possible to tell whether any part of a Tendered service is run on a commercial basis. Contract numbers for services can be found in the csv file which can be output under the Information tab.

How can I identify which services are schools services?

How do I view the bus stations and stops?

To add bus stops to the map window click on the Display tab and in the ‘Display Options’ section click in the Stations/stops Show check box such that a tick is displayed. If you want to label the station/stop with its identifier you should also click in the Stations/stops Label check box. What you then see in the map window depends on the other display options you have selected. If you are displaying more than one service, that is you are viewing the default map or have clicked on the Select and Display button from the ‘Multiple bus routes and Local Link Areas selection‘ section, then you will see all stations/stops, optionally labelled with the stop identifier. The labels are subject to zoom layering and are only visible at larger scales. Bus stations are always represented by a black TfGM logo. If you are displaying a single service, that is you have clicked on the Select and Display button from the ‘Individual selection’ section then only those stops used by the selected service will be displayed. Stops which are timing points are displayed as a green symbol. Other stops are displayed as a brown symbol. Whether or not a station/stop is a timing point the stops are labelled with their sequence number along the route plus the station/stop identifier. The labels are subject to zoom layering. Note that the sequence numbers may have gaps because stops which are only passing places, hail and ride stops and stops outside GM are excluded.

Is any other bus stop information available?

     • Stop identifier

     • Stop location in terms of the main road and side road descriptions

     • Advertising space (Y or N)

     • Shelter type

     • Kerb height (mm)

     • SMS reference

     • A list of all the services (disaggregated to service number and suffix level) which call at the stop

The same information is output to the csv file generated when you click on the ‘Save Stop CSV’ button at the bottom of the Information tab. If the map is sufficiently ‘zoomed out’ then clicking on a stop may select more than one stop and a link. In this case you will see information for the stops and the link under the Information tab.

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Family Friendly

Restaurants, buy the visit manchester pass.

Discover Manchester with the Visit Manchester Pass - Entry into 13 of Manchester's top attractions plus over 30 discounts and offers.

Metrolink tram in St Peter's Square

How to get around manchester.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the official public transport body for the city. Its Bee Network website has a wealth of information and a number of journey planning tools to take the stress out of travelling. It includes:

• Bus services across Greater Manchester helping you get out and about.
• The Metrolink network, which is one of the most successful light railway systems in the UK. With frequent services there’s no need to worry about a timetable, just head to your nearest stop and the next tram won’t be far away. Metrolink can transport you to popular venues and attractions across the region and, if you’re planning on sightseeing, Travelcards offer unlimited travel across the network. Please be sure to purchase a ticket from the on-stop ticket machines before boarding or tap in and out at the contactless terminals.
• In addition to the inter-city links, the rail network connects you to the neighbouring towns and districts of Greater Manchester including Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan.

Within the city centre,  free bus  (formerly Metroshuttle) provides a free ‘hop on, hop off’ service linking all of the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. There are  services which operate on circular routes.

Manchester is a bike-friendly city with many marked cycle lanes and dedicated routes throughout the city centre and beyond.

Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester  cycling website  for everything you need to know about cycling in Greater Manchester, from maps and route planning to local events and news. 

You can also hire bikes from various locations across the city.

Manchester is easily explored on foot, with a city centre that you can navigate within 30 minutes.  City Hosts  are dotted around the centre to guide you with directions, public transport information and details on events taking place.

Download  one of our maps  to help guide you around the region.

Ratings Powered by

Greater Manchester sets ambition for 50 million more bus journeys per year to drive public transport revolution

Jul 20, 2023 | Transport

A new Bus Strategy – to be presented to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) at the end of the month – sets out an ambition for a 30% increase in bus patronage by 2030.

The change will be driven by affordable fares, a more user-friendly network, and better infrastructure – for example additional bus lanes – to provide more reliable bus journeys.

The strategy will aim to provide more frequent services – at least every 12 minutes on key orbital and radial routes and a twice hourly service within 400m of 90% of the population. as well as on-street bus improvements planned across 70km of high frequency, strategic bus routes across Greater Manchester by 2030.

Buses can deliver significant benefits for the environment, health, traffic congestion and the economy. However, they are not currently delivering to their full potential – with bus travel being seen as a ‘choice of last resort’ and car use rising.

For the first time in almost 40 years routes will be planned and fares set at local level, with buses being integrated into the flagship ‘Bee Network’ transport system when Greater Manchester becomes the first area to bring buses back under local control from September.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester says the new Bus Strategy sets out a vision ‘built on affordable fares, high quality services, swift and reliable connections, and clear democratic and customer accountability’.

Andy Burnham, Mayor or Greater Manchester said, “Bus franchising will allow us to reimagine the role of buses within a wider integrated transport system and – over time – reshape this critical part of our infrastructure to serve the modern city region.” adding “More people using our better buses will help reduce congestion and air pollution, support economic growth, create access to opportunities, improve residents’ health and reduce social exclusion: vital elements in building the greener, fairer, and more prosperous Greater Manchester of the future. “In 1824, the UK’s first bus service took to the streets of Greater Manchester, sparking a public transport revolution. Two hundred years later, our city region is again leading the way outside London, as we use the vision set out in this plan to build a bus system for everyone, of which Greater Manchester can be proud.”

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester said: “ Safe, reliable and affordable buses are at the heart of the integrated Bee Network – bringing together buses, Metrolink, trains and active travel into one joined-up system. This will transform public transport for the people and businesses of this fast-growing region and provide an attractive alternative option to using the car. “This strategy shows how we will continuously improve all aspects of Greater Manchester’s buses, opening up opportunities for new jobs, homes, education and businesses and helping make our region fairer and more sustainable. “It is a very exciting time for passengers and all the hard-working staff who keep the bus service moving. Our message to Greater Manchester is – please ‘Get on Board’ and help us keep the improvements to your bus services coming.”

Recent Posts

Co-op live and tfgm encourage use of public transport ahead of opening events, manchester city submit plan for nearly 11,000 solar panels on its training ground, recycle for greater manchester community fund makes £220,000 available for groups passionate about reducing waste and increasing recycling.

• Manchester launches new energy retrofit project
• Wigan landfill could become solar powerhouse

Other Greener Greater Manchester News

Co-op Live, the new world-class venue for Manchester, opens at the Etihad Campus later this month –  and gig-goers are...

Manchester City football club are planning to install more than 10,000 solar panels at their training ground in a move...

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has made £220,000 available for its Recycle for Greater Manchester...

Marketing Manchester Ltd Lee House 90 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester M1 5JW Registered in England No: 3323710 VAT No: 727102071

Terms And Conditions Contact Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement Accessibility Privacy Policy

Travelcards for bus, train and tram across Greater Manchester. Available for 1, 7 and 28 days with an annual option also available.

Just click ‘Find a Travelcard’ for more information.

Recommended

About us | Advertise with us | Contact us

Greater Manchester unveils ambitious Bus Strategy for a greener, inclusive future

• Odnoklassniki
• Facebook Messenger
• LiveJournal

Posted: 21 July 2023 | Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

Greater Manchester sets out an ambitious Bus Strategy to increase patronage, focusing on affordability, improved infrastructure, as well as inclusivity for a greener, fairer and more prosperous transit future.

Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester

A new Bus Strategy is set to be presented to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with the aim of achieving a 30% increase in bus patronage by 2030. The strategy intends to achieve this by focusing on affordable fares, a more user-friendly network and improved infrastructure, such as additional bus lanes, to ensure more reliable bus journeys.

Currently, buses are not fully utilised, and car usage is rising, leading to congestion, environmental issues and economic challenges. To address this, the Bus Strategy proposes local planning and fare setting for routes, integrating buses into the flagship ‘Bee Network’ transport system, as Greater Manchester regains local control of buses from September 2023.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “In 1824, the UK’s first bus service took to the streets of Greater Manchester, sparking a public transport revolution. Two hundred years later, our city region is again leading the way outside London, as we use the vision set out in this plan to build a bus system for everyone, of which Greater Manchester can be proud.”

The strategy emphasises accessibility and inclusion, ensuring the bus system is open to everyone, regardless of background or location. Electric buses will be introduced, equipped with wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcements, as well as anti-slip flooring. Accessibility improvements will also include creating more accessible stops and installing Real Time Customer Information displays at 300 stops.

Greater Manchester introduces cheaper and integrated Bee Network fares

The plan recognises the importance of affordable fares for deprived communities, promoting inclusivity and access to opportunities. Lower fares have already contributed to a 12% increase in bus patronage. The strategy aims to make bus travel more attractive by increasing service frequency and providing more travel options at night.

The proposed infrastructure improvements include enhancing 70km of high-frequency, strategic bus routes by 2030, which will result in improved reliability and quicker journeys. Customer feedback will be vital in holding bus operators accountable for their services, and the Bee Network app and Customer Contact Centre will provide avenues for rating their experiences.

An environmentally friendly and cleaner bus network is another key focus of the strategy, supporting Greater Manchester’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2038 . Encouraging more people to use buses will also help reduce congestion and enhance conditions for all road users.

The Bus Strategy will be considered by the Bee Network Committee and GMCA at the end of July 2023. However, securing funding will be crucial for realising Greater Manchester’s transport ambitions. Proposals for a new, longer-term funding method are being developed to provide stability and deliver the necessary improvements, and these will be presented to the government and opposition parties during the upcoming party conferences in the autumn.

If you liked this, you may also be interested in: 

▶ Greater Manchester commits to Vision Zero road safety

▶ Stagecoach Manchester secures franchise contracts for city region’s Bee Network

Related topics Accessibility , Journey Planning , Mobility Services , Passenger Experience , Public Transport , Sustainable Urban Transport

Related modes Bus & Coach

Related countries United Kingdom

Related organisations Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) , Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)

Related people Andy Burnham

Revolutionising mobility: Exploring the future of microtransit

London’s ambitious journey to a greener future: The history of the Ultra Low Emission Zone

By Leah Hockley - Intelligent Transport

Dublin Bus announces completion of charging infrastructure for green fleet

By Intelligent Transport

nextbike to launch second Romanian service in Buzău

ITS UK Early Careers’ Essay Competition launches

By Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

© Russell Publishing Limited , 2010-2024. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Website design and development by e-Motive Media Limited .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For our other types of cookies "Advertising & Targeting", "Analytics" and "Performance", these help us analyse and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these different types of cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can adjust the available sliders to 'Enabled' or 'Disabled', then click 'Save and Accept'. View our Cookie Policy page.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Performance cookies are includes cookies that deliver enhanced functionalities of the website, such as caching. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Analytics cookies collect information about your use of the content, and in combination with previously collected information, are used to measure, understand, and report on your usage of this website.

Advertising and targeting cookies help us provide our visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns.

Our Pass - Travel Pass for 16-18 year olds

  Our Pass gives 16-18 year olds  free bus travel*  across Greater Manchester

Our Pass opportunities Our Pass is not just a bus travel card – cardholders will have access to lots of opportunities, experiences and benefits.

How to apply You must be a Greater Manchester resident and be aged at least 16 and under 18. Your pass is valid until 31 August after your 18th birthday. Apply online at  ourpass.co.uk  you will need proof of your age and address, a photo and a credit/debit card to pay the £10 administration fee.

Who to contact

Last updated.

Last updated: 07/02/2024

Send details by text

This will send details from this page, to your mobile phone using our SMS service. You will not be charged for this message.

• Our Pass FAQ's

Are you able to provide us with feedback about your experience of using Help & Support Manchester?

Feedback form.

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve your experience of using Help & Support Manchester in the future.

1 being very easy, 4 being very difficult

If you have noticed outdated information, or a service is no longer running, please let us know using the 'is this information correct?' button on the service entry.

Bee Network's second phase has launched TODAY with buses in new areas across Greater Manchester

Y ellow buses will now be seen buzzing through Oldham, Rochdale, Salford , Bury and north Manchester following the launch of the Bee Network’s second phase.

Greater Manchester’s vision for an integrated, accessible and affordable ‘London-style’ transport system has already been introduced into Wigan , Bolton and parts of Bury and Salford. The Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was joined by council leaders at Oldham Interchange this morning as he announced “another historic moment” for the city-region.

Mr Burnham announced: “I caught an early service from Middleton this morning - the update I can give is that the Bee Network has landed, and it has landed pretty well.

READ MORE: Transformative plans outside Rochdale railway station take major step forward

“We have had a few delays at the Oldham depot over the launch which were only minor, nothing major, which are teething problems you would expect.

“We are really proud of the team as they’ve done a phenomenal job over the weekend and we’re grateful to our partners.

“Over half of GM buses are back under public control after four decades of deregulation and I’m sure for people in Oldham, this is a big difference as the buses here were quite old and not the best. Now they’ve got the best.

“The journey I took from Middleton to Media City was the one I took when I was first elected as mayor, and this time it was cheaper, it was under £5. Everything that we’re trying to do is make things more affordable to people.”

He highlighted that anyone left out of pocket by the change to Tranche 2 will be able to apply for the compensation scheme. At the launch, a bus user interrupted the speeches asking why her service was over 30 minutes delayed - which later turned out to be due to the breakdown of a 409 bus, rather than a systematic fault, according to Mr Burnham’s team.

The event heard that recent data has shown services continue to be more reliable than before bus franchising and are outperforming services elsewhere in Greater Manchester. Between January 1 and March 19, 74.30 per cent of Bee Network buses were on time, compared to 67.62 pc of commercial services and 62.75 pc for the same period last year prior to franchising.

More changes were announced for further down the line with a new “flatter and fairer” fee structure as of January 2025. This would include a £20 weekly bus pass and an £80 monthly pass as well as concession for youths.

For Oldham the key benefit of this comes in the form of better bus stock, according to council leader Arooj Shah. She explained that Oldham’s bus stock had become old and tired and was overdue this public transport improvement.

Coun Shah said: “This is going to be huge, we have many areas that have houses with two or three cars who say they do that because we don’t have reliable transport. Once we prove to people this is more economically viable, people will use this route.

“The really exciting thing for us in Oldham is that we had a bus fleet that was really old, which meant from a public health perspective, people were breathing in polluted air. These are electrified buses now which means the air will be safer to breathe, which is a win win.”

The town hall boss added that these buses will help bring people from residential to key areas where they already have public transport infrastructure, such as the tram network. Greater frequency for “less profitable” routes that go from more residential areas is something that Rochdale ’s council leader Neil Emmott is thrilled about - given his borough has some particularly rural spots.

Coun Emmott said: “I am working with Andy to make sure some of the services reduced and lost during deregulation will be restored or improved. We’re a mixed borough because we have urban areas and rural areas, particularly in the Pennines as well as Heywood and Middleton. So I am hoping working alongside Andy we can bring some of those back, if not all of them, and those reduced brought into greater frequency.

“The one I’m pushing for in my ward is the 167 route which goes from Norden, through Bamford then Heywood then Birch Village to Rhodes then to Manchester. Some of those have lost their links into the city centre as well as Heywood for shopping etc. I know many places have lost bus services over the years so we will be pushing for them as well.”

From April 7, 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.

Alongside physical bus routes returning, improvements are being made to the Bee Network app, which now has bus tracking for passengers to use. The new app has been downloaded over 315,000 times, and over 1.6 million journeys have been completed using app tickets.

In addition to this, are the active travel schemes that aid safer pedestrian and cycle access to public transport infrastructure. This was described as the “glue that binds everything together” by GM’s active travel commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey.

According to TfGM, since 2020 more than 109km of new walking and cycling routes, including new junctions and crossings to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians, has been delivered. Greater Manchester’s Starling Bank Bikes provides an estimated 200,000 residents with access to bikes, and there are now more than 76,000 active users who have completed in excess of 650,000 rides covering 1.6m kilometres.

Dame Storey said: "Oldham is an excellent example of a local authority that is benefitting from the integration of the Bee Network to support the existing local work being done to enable people to walk, wheel or cycle for some or all of their journey. The regeneration of the town centre and connections being made to local schemes like Positive Steps and Positive Cycles demonstrate what can be achieved with a joined-up vision.

“This is fundamental to the success of the Bee Network.”

Glastonbury 2024 tickets - how to get coach packages as first resale takes place

Only a very limited number of tickets will be available in the resale

• 06:39, 18 APR 2024
• Updated 18:06, 18 APR 2024

Glastonbury fans have one last chance to buy a ticket for the 2024 festival this week - but only a very limited number of tickets will be available.

In the main sale in November, ticket holders had to pay a £75 deposit before then securing their ticket by paying the full balance during the first week of April. Any of those tickets that went unsold are now going back on sale, giving hopeful festival fans one last change to secure entry to the much-loved event.

Before general admission tickets go on sale later this week, festival-goers will first be given a chance to get a hold of a coach package for Glastonbury 2024, which takes place from June 26 to 30 at Worthy Farm in Somerset.

Read more: Glastonbury Festival 2024: National Express adds new coach locations including in Greater Manchester

Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Sza will headline this year's festival, while Shania Twain will play the legends slot on Sunday. Also taking to the Pyramid Stage will be LCD Soundsystem, Little Simz and Burna Boy, while the Other Stage will see performances from The National, Avril Lavigne, Camila Cabello and The Last Dinner Party.

A very limited number of coach tickets - which include a festival ticket as well as coach travel - will be made available from 6pm today (April 18). According to organisers, more than 300 coaches will be running at this year's event.

The tickets will not be available to everyone however, as you must have already pre-registered for tickets prior to the resale. Registrations closed yesterday and will not reopen until after the resale.

Here's what you need to know if you're looking to purchase tickets in the coach resale.

When is the resale of coach tickets?

The resale takes place at 6pm on Thursday evening (April 18). The tickets are expected to be snapped up in a matter on minutes so you will need to be quick.

You can only purchase the tickets through SeeTickets here.

How much are coach tickets?

If you are purchasing a coach ticket you will need to pay for your festival ticket - which is £355 plus a £5 booking fee - and your coach travel at the same time.

The cost of your coach travel will depend on whether you are purchasing a one-way journey or a return, and where in the country you are travelling from.

The cheapest journey available is a single ticket from Bath or Bristol, priced at £24, while the most expensive option is a return ticket from Edinburgh, which will set you back £151, on top of your festival ticket. You can find a full list of prices on the Glastonbury website here.

How many tickets can you buy in the resale?

For the coach resale, customers are limited to just two tickets per transaction. Glastonbury organisers say this is to reflect the limited number of seats available per coach.

If you are booking for another person you will need their registration number and postcode to be able to get them a ticket. You can only book coach packages from one destination per transaction.

How many tickets will be available in the resale?

It is not clear how many tickets will be available in the resale, but the number will be very limited, organiser Emily Eavis has hinted. After the ticket balance window closed earlier this month, she said the festival had seen the "highest percentage of ticket balances paid ever", suggesting there will be fewer tickets than usual up for grabs in this resale.

Do I have to travel on the coach if I book a coach ticket?

In short, yes.

Organisers have warned people to only book a travel ticket that is feasible for them, rather than just going for whatever is available.

This is because booking cannot be transferred and you will only be able to get your festival entrance ticket if you are travelling on the correct coach. Coach tickets will be sent out as an e-ticket, and then your festival entry ticket will be handed to you on the coach you are going on.

This is why it's important that you travel on your chosen coach only as it will interfere with your festival entry. It is also important to note that when you book your ticket and coach ticket that it can only be done from one travel destination in a single transaction.

How do you book coach tickets?

Tickets are notoriously hard to get hold of as demand is far higher than the number of tickets available. Because of this, Glastonbury has issued a useful explanation around how the sale works, and some advice for the best way to handle the resale.

It states that only a limited number of people will be given access to the booking site at any one time. While you are waiting to access the booking site, you will be held at a page that will automatically refresh every 20 seconds until there is space on the booking page. You can increase your chances of getting on the booking page by refreshing the page manually - but hitting refresh too often could get you booted out.

Once you're on the booking site, you will be asked to enter the registration number and registered postcode for the lead booker and anyone else you want to buy tickets for. On the next page, you will be able to see the details you have provided and check they are correct.

You will then be asked to choose a departure town for your coach travel. Some locations will also allow you to select a departure time. Then, once you reach the payment page, you will have five minutes to submit your payment information.

Glastonbury warns that you may be unable to book a ticket if you make a mistake or take too long, so it's important to check your details carefully. It states: "Your registration numbers will be locked for up to 10 minutes if your details are entered incorrectly, an attempt to book is already held against your registration number, or your five minutes on the booking page ends. If the transaction fails and tickets are still available, your registration number will be released to give you the chance to try again."

It adds that if the page "hangs" and you can’t get any further, you should try "pressing back once" before continuing with the booking and if that doesn’t help, you can try closing your browser and starting again.

Tickets can be purchased here for as long as they are available...

• Glastonbury Festival
• Most Recent

• Tickets and passes

Travel pass for older people

Free travel for older people.

If you qualify for a state pension, you could be eligible for free travel across the country as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

Do you qualify?

To get a travel pass for older people you must:

• live in Greater Manchester, (if you live outside Greater Manchester, apply for a pass in your own area but you cannot add tram and train travel within Greater Manchester to passes issued by other areas); and
• qualify for a state pension. It doesn't matter if you are taking your pension or still working.

The age you qualify for a state pension isn't the same for everyone. You may need to be up to 66 to qualify depending on when you were born. If you're not sure, check your state pension age .

Costs and benefits

The pass is free, and lasts for five years.

Within Greater Manchester:

• Travel for free on all buses within Greater Manchester between 9.30am and midnight, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.
• You can also choose to pay £10 to add tram and train to your pass, for a year’s unlimited off-peak travel on Metrolink and trains within Greater Manchester. You can then travel on Metrolink trams and in trains after 9.30am on Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends and public holidays.
• If you travel outside of these times you must pay the full adult fare.

Throughout England:

• Travel for free on all local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

How to use the pass

You must always remember to:

• touch in at the card reader when boarding buses
• touch in and touch out at a yellow smart reader on tram stops, for Metrolink
• touch in and out at train station ticket barriers, where they are in place

Please show your card, when asked, to any Transport for Greater Manchester or transport operator official during your journey.

Smart readers on tram stops now accept contactless cards and devices for travel. Please move your concessionary pass away from your payment cards when you use a smart reader.

For example, if you keep your pass in a wallet or purse, remove it before you touch-in and touch-out. This will make sure you’re not charged on a contactless card you didn’t intend to use.

Apply by post

Download an application form or get one from an Information and Ticket Office.

If you are eligible complete the relevant form and attach:

• A passport sized colour photograph of yourself
• Proof of age – a copy of either your birth certificate, medical card, passport or driving licence
• Proof of your address – a copy of either a utility bill, local council tax bill or a Department for Work and Pensions letter from within the last 12 months

You can take your form and proof to an Information and Ticket office (Travelshop) who can check it.

You can also post your documents to the address on the application form.

Your pass will be sent to you in the post within 10 working days.

Please do not send original documents .

Renew your pass

At least two weeks before your travel pass expires, we will send you a new pass, provided it has been in use.

If you use your card often then we will send you a new one two weeks before your travel pass runs out.

If you have not used your pass in the last 12 months, you will not be issued a new card and will need to contact us to request a new card after it’s expired. If you need a pass, please call our Concessionary Travel team on 0161 244 1000.

Please note: when using your pass, you must touch-in on buses and use the validators to touch-in and out on Metrolink or when using the trains.

If you don’t then your card will show as inactive.

Updating your address

You need to let us know if you change your address. There may be a £10 charge if a card is sent to an old address.

If you feel your appearance has changed since your last renewal, please send us a new photo. This can be done via post or can also be emailed to us.

If you no longer need your pass or have any other questions please call our Concessionary Travel team on 0161 244 1000.

If you need a replacement pass

It costs £10 to replace a lost, damaged or stolen pass.

To order a replacement pass you can:

• Call us on 0161 244 1000 to make a card payment (7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm at weekends).
• Visit an Information and Ticket office (Travelshop) to order and pay for a replacement pass.

Travel included with Co-op Live tickets

Co-op Live ticket holders can travel on the tram and new city centre shuttle buses.

Say yellow to the Bee Network

Buses in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester joined the Bee Network on 24 March.

New sponsor: Starling Bank Bikes

We’re delighted to welcome Starling Bank on board as the new sponsors of our bike hire scheme.

Manchester City Matchday Buses

We've teamed up with Manchester City to launch a large-scale bus trial helping fans from across Greater Manchester and nearby areas to travel to and from the Etihad Stadium on a matchday.

Rate your journey

We want to hear your views to help us deliver a better Bee Network for Greater Manchester.

Planned engineering works on Metrolink

Visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works could affect your journeys.

• News and media
• Commercial opportunities
• Procurement
• Privacy policy
• Accessibility statement
• Modern slavery statement
• Help and contact us
• Where to find us
• Safe and secure travel