About the Bee Network

A simpler, more connected way to get around Greater Manchester

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s integrated transport network, bringing together public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling into one joined-up system.

Our yellow buses, trams and hire bikes have become a familiar and much-loved sight across our city region.

We’re also building a network of high-quality, safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes, making it easier for more people to choose active travel.

Local rail services will join the Bee Network in phases from December 2026, creating a more connected network for communities across Greater Manchester.

Our aim is simple: to make journeys safer, simpler, more affordable and more reliable, however you choose to travel.

The Bee Network is helping to deliver a transport system for a global city region as part of the Greater Manchester Strategy. We’re doing this by improving access to jobs, education and opportunities, supporting local communities and helping the city region grow.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) plans and oversees the Bee Network as part of its role in improving transport across Greater Manchester.

Find out more about TfGM and what we do.

What's included in the Bee Network?

The Bee Network brings together:

Download the Bee Network app to plan journeys, check travel information and get moving.

You can also rate your journey and share feedback to help us improve the Bee Network.

Your questions answered

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) plans Bee Network services. Transport operators run services under contract and must meet the Bee Network’s high standards.

Bus services are operated by Go North West, Diamond, Stagecoach, First and Metroline.
Metrolink tram services are operated by KeolisAmey Metrolink.
The Starling Bike hire scheme is powered by Beryl.

Starting from December 2026, local rail services will be more joined-up with the Bee Network, with work happening in phases through to 2030.

Services will continue to be operated by train operators, but the experience of travelling across bus, tram and train in the region will be much more joined up.

Learn more about Bee Network rail.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, sets the overall vision and priorities for transport across Greater Manchester through the Local Transport Plan. They are supported by Councillor Tom Ross, Greater Manchester Combined Authority's portfolio lead for Transport, Clean Air and Green City Region.

Some transport powers are delegated to the Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee, a joint committee of the Mayor, GMCA and the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities.

Councillors from each authority sit on the committee to make sure that local communities are represented in transport decision-making. The Committee:

provides strategic oversight of the Bee Network
supports transport decision-making at a city-region level
monitors the transport network and TfGM’s performance
develops transport policy to support delivery of Greater Manchester’s Local Transport Plan and wider transport strategy

Meeting papers, reports and live streams are available online.

TfGM uses performance data, customer feedback and local engagement to improve Bee Network services.

We regularly review how services are performing and work with transport operators to improve reliability, punctuality and the overall customer experience.

As the Bee Network grows, we also work with local people, businesses and communities to understand what improvements are needed and help shape future changes. Learn more about how we are developing the bus network.

Greater Manchester was the first area outside London to introduce bus franchising and bring buses back under local control for the first time in forty years.

This means Greater Manchester can plan routes, set fares and service standards and coordinate services across the network, while operators run services under contract.

Following a detailed assessment and public consultation, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, decided bus franchising was the best way to improve bus services for passengers.

This followed new powers introduced through the Bus Services Act 2017.

The Bee Network is funded through a mix of government funding, fares, and local funding sources (such as council tax).

This includes funding from government programmes such as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and its successor, Transport for City Regions (TCR), which awarded Greater Manchester £2.5bn for 2027-2032 to support transport improvements and the development of the Bee Network.

Funded by UK Government