Greater Manchester celebrates a historic shift as bus services return to public control
Greater Manchester: It’s finally happening! After four long decades, the people here are seeing a big change in their bus services.
Starting today, those bright yellow Bee Network buses are rolling out across the region. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has taken over the bus services in the southern half of the area.
This marks the end of a long journey that began back in September 2023, when they started with Wigan, Bolton, and parts of Bury and Salford. Six months later, they expanded to Rochdale, Oldham, and north Manchester.
Now, for the first time since 1986, every bus service in Greater Manchester is under public control. How cool is that?
The mayor, Andy Burnham, called it a huge achievement. He’s been pushing for this change since he took office in 2017, and it’s finally come to life.
He believes this will transform how people get around, making public transport more reliable and affordable. If you ditch your car, you’ll find it easier to hop on a bus.
In a couple of months, they’ll have 405 new buses on the Bee Network. Burnham is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the low fares they’re offering.
But there’s still work to do. They’re planning to launch a new ticket system in March that will let you easily switch between trams and buses while always getting the best fare.
Plus, the mayor wants to bring eight commuter train lines under public control by 2028, with some happening as soon as next year. Just like the buses, those trains will also be part of the new ticket system.
Of course, he’s warned that there might be some hiccups in the beginning, just like there were in the earlier phases. But it’s clear that Greater Manchester is on a new path, putting public transport back in the hands of the people.
Burnham shared his excitement on social media, thanking everyone who worked hard to make this change happen. It’s a big deal for the city!
