After years of effort, Greater Manchester has fully brought its bus system under public control.
It's taken years of political lobbying and several legal battles to get to this point - and yet, the toughest task lies ahead. After four decades of deregulation, Greater Manchester has finally taken all buses back under public control today (January 5). For years, Andy Burnham has promised us a London-style public transport system - in fact, it's the reason his role as mayor was created.
Despite starting the bus franchising process all the way back in 2017, because of complex legislation and multiple legal challenges from bus operators, it took six years to come into effect. Buses in Bolton and Wigan have been part of the new Bee Network since September 2023 with the rest of Bury and Salford joining Oldham, Rochdale and north Manchester in the second stage last March. The final stage, which covers more than 250 routes across Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and south Manchester, will now see all buses in the region under public control. It's a huge undertaking, not least because it involves half of Greater Manchester's bus network. But it also means the mayor's promises of a London-style public transport network can finally be fulfilled in a way that passengers actually notice. Perhaps the biggest difference for passengers so far has been the introduction of a standard £2 fare across all services. Long gone are the days of different bus fares set by each operator varying by route and distance travelled. The £5 day ticket, which was introduced alongside the single journey fare in September 2022, has also made it cheaper and simpler to use multiple services. Greater Manchester was ahead of the game when it introduced capped bus fares months before they were rolled out across the rest of the country. But the move also meant that when the first Bee Network buses were launched in Bolton and Wigan a year later, the only difference passengers who weren't lucky enough to board one of the 50 new electric buses would notice was a change in colou
BUSES PUBLIC TRANSPORT GREATER MANCHESTER BEE NETWORK LONDONSTYLE SYSTEM
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Public Buses Across Greater Manchester Join Bee Network Amidst Winter WeatherThe Bee Network expansion, bringing public bus operation to Greater Manchester for the first time in decades, coincides with challenging weather conditions.
Read more »
Bee Network Buses Take Over Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester has finally achieved full public control of its bus network after four decades. The Bee Network, with its iconic yellow buses, will provide a more reliable, cheaper, and easier public transport system.
Read more »
Greater Manchester Buses Go Under Public Control for First Time in 4 DecadesYellow-liveried Bee Network buses will now operate across Greater Manchester after Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) took control of the region's remaining bus services. This marks the completion of a bus 'franchising' process which began in 2023 and sees every bus service in the region under public control for the first time since 1986.
Read more »
Mayor 'concerned' about potential TfGM strike weeks before bus overhaul - as 'teething problems' expectedOn January 5, the rest of Greater Manchester's buses come under public control
Read more »
Greater Manchester could see yellow Bee Network trains in TWO yearsThe trains would be publicly controlled, much like London's Overground, bosses say
Read more »
Greater Manchester has its first new fire engine in 18 years'Our rapidly growing city presents unique challenges for our service'
Read more »