Manchester's First Bee Branded Bus Enters Service

It’s only 6 months until Greater Manchester's transport network is changed forever - buses are set to come under local control and get the amazing Bee Network yellow branding! Today, the first co-branded bus was unveiled and it’ll enter service in Bolton today on the number 8 route to Manchester city centre.

Diamond Bus North West

Diamond along with Go North West will be leading the change in Wigan and Bolton and parts of Salford and Bury. Both operators will transform their buses into the iconic yellow colour, with more and more appearing on the roads as we get closer to the 24th September, when full franchising begins.

In preparation for the big change, 50 brand new electric Bee Network buses will enter service on the first day, as well as new Euro VI buses. Come March 2024, 50 more electric buses will join the network when the second part of the franchising scheme starts.

The reveal of the new yellow co-branded bus comes as an order is placed for a further 170 electric buses that will operate in and around Stockport by 2024.

The buses will be jointly funded by Stagecoach and local and national government, with Stagecoach’s £37.2m investment match-funded by £35.7m from Greater Manchester’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund and a local contribution of £12.5m.

All of the 270 new electric buses will be fully accessible, with wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems and anti-slip flooring.

Transport for Greater Manchester

Welcoming the early introduction of Bee Network co-branded vehicles and the order for the new electric buses, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said:

“Today is a significant day on our journey towards the Bee Network – marking six months until we start to bring buses back under public control for the first time in decades.

“To get ready for the change – and I hope start to build some excitement – we’re working with Diamond and other operators to introduce co-branded Bee Network buses onto those services that will be amongst the first to come back under local control. 

“I am also delighted to announce that by working closely with Stagecoach we will have another 170 brilliant new buses running on our network from next year, with a brand new, world-class electric bus depot. 

“This is very much the start of our journey that will ultimately deliver a greener, integrated and more inclusive transport system that will transform how people travel around our city-region.”

To support the roll out of a new fleet of world-class, environmentally friendly buses, Greater Manchester has been awarded £7.5m from the Department of Levelling-Up Housing and Communities to buy land for a leading, state-of-the-art electronic bus depot.

A potential site at Central Park has been identified that would hold 250 electric buses and provide new, highly skilled jobs now and in the future. It would also support ongoing regeneration and help to deliver on Greater Manchester’s ambition for a zero-emission bus fleet by 2032.

TfGM is also looking to take control of existing bus depots by buying or leasing them, before refurbishing and transforming them into modern, high-tech, sustainable facilities.

And to help passengers make seamless journeys, a new Bee Network app will enable customers to buy tram and bus tickets and access real time information on services. With punctuality and reliability, as well as levels of complaints, impacting what operators get paid, the app will also enable passengers to rate their service and give feedback to the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre. In time the app will include walking and cycling routes and enable people to easily access and use Greater Manchester’s cycle hire scheme.

Transport Commissioner, Vernon Everitt, said:

“This preparation of the bus fleet for franchised operation in six months’ time marks a further significant step towards the integrated Bee Network and transformation of public transport and active travel in our growing city-region.

“From September we’ll also have dozens of new, state-of-the-art buses serving passengers in Wigan, Bolton and parts of Salford and Bury. These will be the first of many across Greater Manchester that will, alongside the new lower fares – which are already increasing ridership – and improvements to travel information, improve bus travel for everyone who lives and works here.

“All buses will be operating under franchised arrangements by January 2025, which will for the first time enable effective planning of the network alongside Metrolink and active travel facilities. Under the recently announced Trailblazer deal, we will then work towards integration of local rail services into the Bee Network by 2030.”

While the colour of buses is changing – helping customers get used to the new look of the Bee Network fleet – buses will otherwise remain as they are, and no further changes will take place until September. Until then passengers should continue to contact their operator in the usual way.