Greater Manchester has an ambition to deliver a London-style transport network – the Bee Network – with integrated transport modes, London-level fares and modern low-emission bus fleet.
The Bee Network will help people to get around by providing a real alternative to cars, and buses will play a key part in the network - accounting for around 75% of all public transport journeys in Greater Manchester.
We have set out how we plan to improve our buses in our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and want to see a modern, low-emission, accessible bus system in place for everyone. The wide-ranging plans, based on customer research, will make journeys by bus quicker, cheaper, greener, more reliable, more accessible and more attractive, with the aim of improving the whole journey experience – including pre-trip information, in-journey information, customer care, ticket integration with other public transport modes, and an improved waiting environment.
Better bus services will help to level up Greater Manchester’s economy, and with around 3.48m trips taken by bus every week will better connect people to employment, education, healthcare, leisure and cultural events. They will also enable Greater Manchester to remove around 450,000 tonnes of carbon tailpipe emissions.
The plan includes further proposals such as a Road Works Charter and taking advantage of moving traffic offence powers to help tackle congestion and improve bus passenger journey time and reliability across the network.
We have set out how we plan to improve buses in our Bus Service Improvement Plan
Our ambitions for the future of GM Bus
| BSIP Themes | GM Ambitions for Bus |
|---|---|
| Customer Experience | Providing customers with a safe and seamless travel experience |
| Services | Turn up and go frequencies on major routes |
| Information | Readily available, easy to use, live, and up-to-date |
| Network Management | Improvements to journey times and reliability |
| Infrastructure | Significant increases in bus priority, and improvements to waiting environments |
| Fares and Ticket | More affordable journeys, integrated with other modes |
| Fleet | Zero emissions, high quality buses |
How our approach to bus aligns to GM customer priorities and UK bus strategy
| Customer Priorities | National Bus Strategy Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Experience | An improvement of the whole package; A focus on security; Improvements to cleanliness | The local bus network is presented as a single system that works together; with clear passenger information; Service patterns integrated with other modes; Give bus passengers more of a voice and a say |
| Services | More frequent; Quicker journeys | Intensive services and investment on key corridors with routes that are easy to understand; More demand responsive services and socially necessary transport |
| Information | More information available pre-trip; Better in-journey information | The local bus network is presented as a single system that works together, with clear passenger information |
| Network Management | More reliable; Faster | Significant increases in bus priority |
| Infrastructure | Improved reliability; Better journey times; Better safety and security; Improved accessibility | Longer term transformation of networks through Bus Rapid Transit and other measures; Significant increases in bus priority |
| Fares and Ticket | Better value for money | Lower and simpler fares |
| Fleet | Better cleanliness; Better reliability; Safer | Modern buses and decarbonisation |
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More information on the new single bus journey faresGet on board with new low bus fares
From September 4, a single bus journey will be no more than £2 for an adult and £1 for a child
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Visit the planned improvement works pagePlanned engineering works on Metrolink
There are planned improvement works on Metrolink across selected lines throughout 2022. You can visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works affect your journeys around Greater Manchester.
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Find out more about the Cycle Hire sponsorship opportunitySponsorship opportunity for GM Cycle Hire
Are you a brand interested in playing a key role in Greater Manchester’s first publicly operated, self-service, 24/7 cycle hire scheme?
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Visit the free travel scheme pageFree travel for 48 hours for Ukrainians arriving in Greater Manchester
To help Ukrainian nationals arriving in Greater Manchester, Metrolink tram services, rail services and the majority of bus and coach services in the region are being provided free of charge.
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Visit the Bee Active websiteBee Active this summer
Enter your postcode into our interactive map to see where you can get on foot or by bike in 15 mins.
-
Learn more about the dogs on trams pilotDogs on trams pilot
You can travel with your dog on Metrolink as part of a trial
-
More information on the new single bus journey fares
Get on board with new low bus fares
From September 4, a single bus journey will be no more than £2 for an adult and £1 for a child
-
Find out more about the Cycle Hire sponsorship opportunity
Sponsorship opportunity for GM Cycle Hire
Are you a brand interested in playing a key role in Greater Manchester’s first publicly operated, self-service, 24/7 cycle hire scheme?
-
Visit the Bee Active website
Bee Active this summer
Enter your postcode into our interactive map to see where you can get on foot or by bike in 15 mins.
-
Visit the planned improvement works page
Planned engineering works on Metrolink
There are planned improvement works on Metrolink across selected lines throughout 2022. You can visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works affect your journeys around Greater Manchester.
-
Visit the free travel scheme page
Free travel for 48 hours for Ukrainians arriving in Greater Manchester
To help Ukrainian nationals arriving in Greater Manchester, Metrolink tram services, rail services and the majority of bus and coach services in the region are being provided free of charge.
-
Learn more about the dogs on trams pilot
Dogs on trams pilot
You can travel with your dog on Metrolink as part of a trial