Greater Manchester’s bus services are now publicly run, marking a significant shift for passengers and the transport system
Greater Manchester: This morning, a major shift happened in the bus system. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) took over bus services in the southern part of the city. It’s the first time since the 1980s that buses are publicly run here.
You’ll now see yellow buses everywhere in Greater Manchester. They first popped up in Wigan and Bolton earlier this year. Sure, there might be a few hiccups in the next few days, just like when they started in those areas 16 months ago. But the key is to manage those issues smoothly.
So, what’s the deal with this change? Well, TfGM has wrapped up its final phase of taking over bus routes that were previously run by private companies. This whole bus franchising thing kicked off in September 2023, starting with Wigan, Bolton, and parts of Bury and Salford.
Now, half of the city’s buses are under public control, which hasn’t happened since 1986. The most noticeable change? The buses are all going to be Bee Network yellow. No more colorful liveries; it’s all about that bright yellow now.
While the routes will stay the same for now, they might change later as TfGM reviews the network. And guess what? The single fare is still £2 for adults, which is a bit different from the rest of England where prices are going up.
Andy Burnham, the mayor, kept the fare low because it’s funded differently than the national cap. Greater Manchester’s cap comes from a £640 million fund, which is set to last until March. They’re currently chatting with the government about extending that.
As for the Bee Network, it now covers all of Greater Manchester. The first phase started in Wigan and Bolton, then moved to Rochdale and Oldham. Now, it’s complete, covering Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and more.
This bus franchising has been in the works for years, especially since Burnham became mayor in 2017. He promised to finish this project, and he’s making it happen. The goal is to create a transport system similar to London’s, where you can easily switch between buses, trains, and trams.
Looking ahead, Burnham sees January 5 as just the beginning. The next step is to roll out a tap-in, tap-out ticket system by mid-March. After that, he plans to take over eight commuter railway lines, with the first one expected next year.
