Greater Manchester is the first area outside London to have publicly regulated buses since the 1980s.
Another passenger said: "I have been waiting 45 minutes this morning for a bus. They are meant to be every 15 minutes."
Mr Burnham said the network has been developed four decades after the last time bus services were in public hands."[But this] will be a regulated system that will put the public interest first. If buses don't turn up on time or don't turn up at all there will be consequences for the operators. "We are cutting the cost of fares across Greater Manchester by 20% offering new combined bus and tram tickets so moving very much towards the London model that works so well."Mr Burnham said the network going into operation was "a hugely significant moment"."It's about getting people out of their cars using buses and trams."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "We're supporting passengers and local economies by investing £3.5bn into England's buses, protecting routes and capping fares at £2.50 until the end of November 2024."
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