Welcome to Destination: Bee Network
The Bee Network is our vision for an integrated transport system which will join buses, trams, cycling and walking by 2024, with rail incorporated by 2030, transforming how people travel in Greater Manchester.
Our hope is that designing and delivering public transport as one system with local control and accountability, will deliver an inclusive transport experience.
To do this, we will use the Bee, a long respected regional emblem which also represents the promise of a high-quality.
Accessible, affordable and easy to use, with a daily fare cap and single multi-modal ticket, the Bee Network will support seamless end-to-end journeys.
This web page is the place to visit to find out more about where we are on our journey. Our animation tells the story, and our public definition makes clear what our ambitions are.
Destination: Bee Network Conversation
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Destination: Bee Network public conversation. Between 11th October and 12th November, we engaged with thousands of people across Greater Manchester who shared their thoughts and opinions around our vision for a future integrated travel system - The Bee Network.
People were invited to share their views in several ways. This included an online survey which provided people with an opportunity to give their views on what they need and want from an integrated transport network. Our Destination: Bee Network bus visited each borough in Greater Manchester, enabling us to have in-person conversations with residents. We also hosted several targeted engagement workshops to help ensure Greater Manchester's diverse communities had an opportunity to voice their wants and needs for an inclusive and accessible transport network.
All feedback provided will inform further development of our integrated, inclusive transport system that is designed for Greater Manchester, by Greater Manchester. We are currently analysing all the information collected as part of the Destination: Bee Network Conversation and will share the outcomes once available.
A London-style system delivered in partnership with UK Government
Through the autumn we'll be seeking a Levelling Up Deal with Government. With the right funding, we will deliver a London style integrated transport system by 2024 across buses and trams with London style fares and a daily cap. It will also help us to deliver our ambitions to be a carbon neutral city region by 2038.
Through the Comprehensive Spending Review, it has been confirmed Greater Manchester will be awarded £1.07bn in capital funding for transport infrastructure. The funding secured by Greater Manchester is for the five-year period 2022/2023 to 2026/2027 and will be invested in supporting the delivery of the vital transport infrastructure as laid out in Our Five Year Transport Delivery Plan (2021-2026) and required to deliver the Bee Network.
Greater London and Greater Manchester: a comparison
| Greater London | Greater Manchester |
|---|---|
| £1.55: unlimited bus journeys in one hour | £4.50: price of some single journeys |
| 5 kinds of ticket | 150 kinds of ticket, 1000s of unique single fares |
| 50% of fleet electric or hybrid | 15% of fleet electric or hybrid |
| 100% of buses with full-AV announcements | 5% of buses with full-AV announcements |
What is Destination: Bee Network?
A journey to deliver a London-style transport system which includes our buses and trams by 2024 and our commuter trains by 2030.
A journey to a network which is simple and easy to use, which supports seamless end to end journeys by foot, bike and public transport with London-level fares, a daily cap and single ticket, no matter how many times or how the journey is made.
A journey to a system which is accessible to all, owned by, run for and accountable to Greater Manchester, with audio visual announcements on all services, real-time information, level access at stops, stations and interchanges, all under a single identifiable and respected brand.
A journey which connects our people, our neighbourhoods, our towns and cities and which helps people to travel sustainably to home, to school, to work and the many leisure and cultural destinations GM has to offer.
A journey to improve our health, our air quality and to help us achieve our commitment for GM to be net zero by 2038, one which offers an attractive alternative to the car with an ambition for a fully electric system by the end of the decade.
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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.
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Visit our Coronavirus pageFace coverings still welcome
Face coverings are no longer compulsory but are encouraged
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View the proposal documentOur Buses
New dates have been proposed for local service contracts in Bolton and Wigan.
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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.
-
Visit our Coronavirus page
Face coverings still welcome
Face coverings are no longer compulsory but are encouraged
-
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.
-
View the proposal document
Our Buses
New dates have been proposed for local service contracts in Bolton and Wigan.