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From Sunday 24 March 2024, buses in Oldham, Rochdale, parts of Bury, Salford and North Manchester will be part of the Bee Network.

They will join the bus services in Bolton, Wigan, parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester that became part of the Bee Network in September 2023.

This means half of Greater Manchester’s bus services will be under local control and answer to you, the customer.

All Greater Manchester buses will be part of the Bee Network by January 2025. And we’re on track to bring local train services aboard by 2030.

Whether you catch the bus, train or tram, there’s more to ‘say yellow’ to:

  • 30 additional TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers now being recruited.
  • Buses on some Bee Network routes running more frequently, earlier in the morning and later in the evening.
  • Savings of up to 20% with the AnyBus + Tram ticket.
  • 50 new Zero Emission Buses and 83 new, best-in-class fully branded, Euro 6 Bee Network buses will be introduced in the coming months.

It’s time for you to get ready…

Check back and keep up to date with new Bee Network benefits here.


Your top questions answered


Moving bus services to the Bee Network is a big change. We’ve been working hard to improve services since the first Bee Network buses started running in September 2023.

But we know there’s more work to be done to further improve reliability and frequency and we will keep working as quickly as possible to deliver that in the coming months.

From Sunday 24 March, new Bee Network routes will go live across Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester.

Passengers will see some immediate service improvements on several key routes from 24 March, but this is the beginning of a journey.

We can now start to improve the network, but it will take time to get to our destination – and that will be informed by the views and feedback of the people living and working in Greater Manchester.

Most services will stay the same but we will be making some improvements straight away:

You can see a full list of bus services joining the Bee Network from 24 March, including service number changes.

You can help by letting us know how your journey is.


Most bus service numbers will stay the same. But we are renumbering some services to make the network as easy to understand as possible.

For example, where two different bus routes may have the same number, or where letters were introduced to route numbers by commercial operators.

The new route numbers will be in line with other local service numbers so you can see which area it is local to (e.g. 600s in Bolton, and 400s in Rochdale).

Changes to school service numbers in phase two Bee Network areas from 24 March 2024:

  • 125 will become 803: Mottram - Blue Coat School
  • 126 will become 816: Haughton Green - Blue Coat School
  • 127 will become 849: Gee Cross - Blue Coat School
  • 480 (School day only journey) will become 908: Canon Slade High School - Walshaw (PM Journey only)
  • 558 will become 822: Diggle - Blue Coat School (AM journey only)
  • 721 will become 715: Strangeways - Manchester Co-Academy North
  • 795 will become 809: Middleton - Crompton House School
  • 805 will become 832: Norden - Blue Coat School
  • 884 will become 892: Caldermoor - Kingsway Park School
  • 885 will become 800: Smallbridge - Falinge Park School
  • 893 will become 900: Ringley - St Monica's RCHS
  • 894 will become 848: Littleborough - St Cuthbert's High School

Changes to school service numbers in Phase One Bee Network areas – Bolton, Wigan, parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester from 7 April 2024:

  • 603 will become 953: Byrchall – St Edmund Arrowsmith - Highfield
  • 652 will become 952: Byrchall – St Edmund Arrowsmith - Newtown
  • 887 will become 966: Pendlebury – Bury CE High School
  • 907 will become 949: Winstanley – St John Fisher RC HS
  • 925 will become 918: Withins – Thornleigh College
  • 925 will become 918: Thornleigh College – Withins

You might already have seen Bee Network buses in Greater Manchester. They’re easy to spot as they are yellow.

Some buses joining the Bee Network from 24 March might not have had a splash of yellow just yet. But all Bee Network buses have the logo and signs onboard and drivers will be in a Bee Network uniform. Ask the driver if you’re not sure if you’re on a Bee Network bus.

See a full list of current and future Bee Network bus services.


No matter how you get around, we’ve got the right ticket for you.

We’ve kept fares as low as possible. So if you travel on a bus in Greater Manchester, you’ll never pay more than: 

  • £2 for an adult single fare, £1 for a child. 
  • £5 to travel all-day by any bus, £2.50 for a child. 
  • £21 to travel by any bus for seven days, £10.50 for a child. 

You can also choose from a range of flexible tickets to travel on any bus, or any bus and tram in Greater Manchester.

There’s lots of convenient ways to pay – by contactless, smartcard, app, or cash and card.

Find the right ticket for you.


If you travel by bus and tram you can get one ticket for your journey. The AnyBus + Tram ticket is great value – up to 20% cheaper compared to paying separately for bus and tram journeys.

Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards give you unlimited travel on any bus in Greater Manchester and on any tram in your selected zone(s).

You can buy travelcards that last 1-day, 7-days or 28-days. The cost depends on who is buying the travelcard, and when and where you travel.

Visit our tickets and passes webpage to find the right ticket for you and see ways to pay.


The Bee Network app is available to download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. You can use it to:

  • Plan any journey using public transport (bus, tram and train) and active travel – (walking, wheeling or cycling). The journey planner will also show Park and Ride options.
  • Get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations.
  • Buy tram tickets, Bee AnyBus travelcards, and Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards, using Google and Apple Pay.
  • See travel alerts for tram, bus, train and road.
  • Rate your journey.
  • Get contact information.

Bus tracking is being rolled out from 18 March 2024.


The Bee Network answers to you, the customer.

You can let us know if we’re living up to our Bee Network Customer Commitments and help us deliver better services.

Use the new Rate Your Journey survey to quickly tell us how your journey was (by bus, tram, train, walking, cycling or wheeling). You can still comment on your journey by phone or in writing too. 


You can contact us if you lose something on Bee Network bus services, bus stops, Bee Network interchanges or bus stations:

  • Get in touch with the Bee Network Customer Contact team calling 0161 244 1000 or by emailing hello@beenetwork.com.

If you lose something on a non-Bee Network bus service you should contact the bus operator. Find contact details for non-Bee Network bus operators.

If you lose something on a tram or at a tram stop, contact the Metrolink operator.

Find out more and report lost property.


We’re bringing bus services in Greater Manchester under local control. It’s the biggest change to how buses are run for around 40 years.

We are:

  • Choosing bus operators and deciding where buses run, how often and at what times.
  • Setting targets for buses to be reliable, run on time, and meet high standards.
  • Taking action if bus operators don’t meet our standards.
  • Offering low, flexible fares so you never pay more than you need to.

It will mean much higher standards for all Greater Manchester bus services, which will be part of the Bee Network by January 2025.

The Bee Network also allows us to better understand how we might improve transport provision at night.

Subject to ongoing engagement and approval, a night time transport pilot is expected to launch in phase one Bee Network areas.

The intention is to provide a 24/7 bus service on some routes, integrated with other modes, supporting people working in the night time economy, meaning customers will never miss the last bus.



The Bee Network


The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s vision for a joined up, touch in, touch out, London-style transport system. Eventually, it will be your one-stop-shop for all local journeys.

Whether you catch the bus, tram, train or walk, cycle or wheel, it will be:

  • Easier to get around, with joined up services.
  • Great value, with capped fares and flexible tickets.
  • Simpler to plan, with easy-to-understand passenger information.
  • Accessible, so everyone can use it.
  • More reliable and more sustainable.

The first Bee Network bus services started running in Bolton and Wigan, as well as parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester in September 2023.

  • 24 March 2024: Bee Network bus services will launch in Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester.
  • 5 January 2025: We’re on target for every bus service in the region to join the Bee Network including services in Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and the remaining parts of Manchester and Salford.
  • 2030: Local train services will join the Bee Network.

See a full list of current and future Bee Network bus services.

Bus franchising map showing dates when services go under local control in Greater Manchester as part of the Bee Network


Bus services


The Bee Network means that – for the first time in nearly 40 years – decisions about Greater Manchester bus services are made locally. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is responsible for:

  • Planning the bus network to make sure it links up with other transport.
  • Choosing bus operators and deciding where buses run, how often and at what times.
  • Setting targets for buses to be reliable, run on time, and meet high standards.

Services are run under contracts by commercial bus operators. But no matter who runs the service, we expect the same high standards. Bus operators can be fined and even lose contracts for poor performance.


  • September 2023: The first bus services joined the Bee Network in Bolton and Wigan, as well as parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester and are run by Go North West and Diamond.
  • Sunday 24 March 2024: Bus services in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester join the Bee Network and will be run by Stagecoach, First and Diamond.
  • 5 January 2025: Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and the remaining parts of Manchester and Salford.

All buses in Greater Manchester will be part of the Bee Network by January 2025. See a full list of current and future Bee Network bus services.


You might already have seen Bee Network buses in Greater Manchester. They’re easy to spot as they are yellow.

Some buses joining the Bee Network from 24 March might not have had a splash of yellow just yet. But all Bee Network buses have the logo and signs onboard and drivers will be in a Bee Network uniform. Ask the driver if you’re not sure if you’re on a Bee Network bus.

See a full list of current and future Bee Network bus services.


We’ve ordered 270 new zero emission vehicles in Bee Network colours to tackle air pollution on key routes and provide a high-quality customer experience. 50 of these are running already in Wigan, Bolton, and parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester.

50 new zero emission electric buses and 83 new Euro 6 Bee Network buses will be introduced in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester over the coming months.

By 2025 all local buses will be best-in-class and part of the Bee Network.

Eventually, we want all Bee Network buses to be:

  • Yellow, featuring the Bee Network logo.
  • Modern and electric or low-emission, with USB-charging ports.
  • Fully accessible, with ramps, wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, anti-slip flooring and audio and visual announcement systems – including announcements of next stop and final destination, plus other features.
  • Cleaned regularly to high standards.

We’re getting ready for bus services in the rest of Greater Manchester to join the Bee Network by January 2025.

That means you may see a splash of yellow on buses, on bus stops and in interchanges. Some buses outside the current Bee Network service areas may be yellow or carry signs saying they are being prepared to join the Bee Network.

If you’re not sure, you can ask the driver whether your bus is part of the Bee Network or check the list of Bee Network services.

If your bus isn’t part of the Bee Network yet, then you can continue to contact your operator in the usual way.


We want your journey to be safe and enjoyable.

Thirty TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers have now joined the Bee Network and 30 more are being recruited. They:

  • Patrol Bee Network bus services, interchanges and bus stations.
  • Support passengers and staff.
  • Offer reassurance and help to address antisocial behaviour.
  • Offer customer support and carry out ticket inspections.

The team will expand and be patrolling all bus services, stations and interchanges by 2025.

Through the Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership, we’re already having real success in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour on the public transport network. You can help.

It’s easy to report incidents quickly and discreetly to a live GMP call handler from your smartphone on the Live Chat service. They can help advise you and despatch the right response for the situation. Visit gmp.police.uk/livechat and start a chat using the message icon on the bottom left of the screen. Or call 101 – or 999 in an emergency.

The new electric buses all have a QR code linking to GMP LiveChat on the back of all seats.


If your child uses a school bus service that is joining the Bee Network from 24 March 2024, they can continue to use them as normal.

Most school service routes and timetables won’t change but:

  • Some school services will have a different number than normal (to make sure it doesn’t have the same number as another Greater Manchester bus service).
  • Some timetables may be slightly different to meet new school start and finish times.

Make sure you’re up to speed by checking the frequently asked questions on our Bee Network school bus services web page.


Fares and tickets for every journey


No matter who you are or how you get around, we’ve got the right ticket for you.

That includes tickets for adults, children, young people, students, older people and families.

There are lots of convenient ways to pay – on the Bee Network app, by contactless, smartcard, or cash and card.

Find the right ticket or pass for you.


You won’t pay more than £2 (adult) or £1 (child) for a single journey on any bus in Greater Manchester.

While commercial bus operators can increase fares at any time, we’re committed to keeping the £2/£1 cap on single fares until at least the end of 2024.

Most people will benefit from low, value for money bus fares and the flexible Bee AnyBus range of tickets. These give you freedom to travel on any bus in Greater Manchester without having to buy different tickets.

And if you travel by bus and tram, the Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcard is up to 20% cheaper compared to paying separately for bus and tram journeys.

We’re aware that a small number of customers may pay more for their journey when their bus service joins the Bee Network on 24 March. This is because of the price difference between tickets offered by individual commercial operators for use on their services and a Bee AnyBus ticket, which can be used on any bus in Greater Manchester.

If you are affected, we will support you through a recompense scheme.

If you think you are affected or want to understand more about the right ticket for you, find out more about changes to bus tickets and fares from 24 March here.


Operator travelcards are not valid on Bee Network bus services. So please don’t buy a single operator 1-day, 7-day, 28-day or monthly ticket if you plan to use a Bee Network service.

Instead, you can buy a single ticket, a Bee AnyBus travelcard, or a Bee Bus travelcard to travel on Bee Network services.

See the full range of tickets available.


Bus operator tickets – like the Stagecoach MegaRider – aren’t accepted on Bee Network bus services.

If your bus is joining the Bee Network on 24 March we recommend that you buy from the Bee AnyBus range of tickets.

Bee AnyBus tickets give freedom to travel on any Bee Network service and any bus in Greater Manchester. You can buy them on the Bee Network app and other places.

Tickets issued by individual bus operators will be accepted for a limited period:

  • 7-day tickets – until 31 March 2024
  • 28-day tickets – until 28 April 2024

A small number of people may pay more on Bee Network bus services. If you are affected, we will support you through a recompense scheme.


Bus operator single, return or 1-day ticket will not be accepted on Bee Network services from 24 March 2024.

We recommend you use the following tickets instead:

  • Bee Bus single (on the bus) or a 1-day Bee AnyBus ticket (buy from the Bee Network app or on any bus in Greater Manchester).
  • A single ticket costs £2 (adult) / £1 (child) and a 1-day ticket £5 (adult) / £2.50 (child).

The Bee AnyBus ticket gives freedom to travel on any Bee Network service and any bus in Greater Manchester.

The Bee Bus single ticket is only valid for your Bee Network bus journey.

A small number of people may pay more on Bee Network bus services. If you are affected, we will support you through a recompense scheme.


If you have a First all-term ticket, or a Stagecoach student ticket, please visit our ticket advice webpage to find out what you can do.


There are no changes to travel passes for younger people, older people, disabled people and care leavers. You can use your pass as normal.

This includes the igo, Our Pass, ENCTS older persons, disabled and disabled plus pass.


The single AnyBus + Tram ticket is great value – up to 20% cheaper compared to paying separately for bus and tram journeys.

Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards give you unlimited travel on any bus in Greater Manchester and on any tram in your selected zone(s).

You can buy travelcards that last 1-day, 7-days or 28-days. The cost depends on who is buying the travelcard, and when and where you travel.

Visit our tickets and passes webpage to find the right tram ticket for you and see ways to pay.


We know that not all journeys start or end in Greater Manchester. Where you get on or off your bus will affect the tickets you can use.

You should buy a Bee Bus travelcard if your journey includes travel on a Bee Network bus service outside of Greater Manchester:

  • 1-day Bee Bus: £5 for adults / £2.50 for children
  • 1-day Bee Bus Family ticket: £9
  • 7-day Bee Bus: £21 for adults / £10.50 for children

Find out more about Bee Bus travelcards and how to buy them.

If you need to start or continue your journey outside of Greater Manchester on a non-Bee Network bus, you’ll need to buy another ticket from that bus operator.

See the Greater Manchester bus boundary map.


At the moment you can touch in and out at Metrolink stops and we’ll work out the fare for you. You will be charged no more than the equivalent adult single and 1-day or 7-day travelcard prices.

When all buses have joined the Bee Network in January 2025, you’ll be able to simply ‘touch and go’ across both bus and Metrolink, and never pay more than you need to. In the meantime, the new AnyBus + Tram travelcard offers great savings.

We’re working with the rail industry to begin bringing touch and go payment to the region’s rail network in 2025, as we fully join up all public transport services and cycle hire.


Customer commitments, improving services and having your say


Our six Customer Commitments have been developed with local people. We’re committed to delivering a Bee Network that is: 

  • Safe: We will create a safe and secure network.
  • Accessible: Everyone can use us.
  • Affordable: We will keep the cost of travel as low as possible.
  • Reliable: We will deliver a reliable network.
  • Sustainable: We will take the lead in creating a greener, healthier Greater Manchester. 
  • Accountable: We will use your feedback to shape the Bee Network.

Read more about the customer commitments and find out what to expect from the Bee Network.


We're here to help. Whether you travel by bus, tram, train, walk, wheel or cycle we’d love to hear from you.

Let us know about your journey (if it’s not up to scratch or you have ideas to make it even better), report lost property, ask us a question or just get in touch:

  • Rate your journey quickly and easily now (by bus, tram, train, walking, cycling or wheeling).
  • Call us on 0161 244 1000 (Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm / Weekends and Bank Holidays: 8am to 8pm).*
  • Use the online contact form if you have a question, feedback or something hasn’t gone right.
  • Email: hello@beenetwork.com.

Write to us at: Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BG

Your feedback will help us see how we are doing and help shape future Bee Network improvements. Visit our help and contact webpage for more.

*If you get in touch by phone, you can request LanguageLine Solutions. LanguageLine offer a telephone interpreting service for customers whose first language is not English.


The Bee Network is a big change to the way bus services are run and we’re grateful for your patience as things bed in. We’ve learnt lessons since we introduced the first bus services in September last year.

We’re always looking at how services are doing and what improvements we can quickly make. This might be to improve standards, such as buses arriving on time. Or sometimes we can make service changes to open up more travel opportunities to more people.

We also have a rolling programme of network reviews to decide any major or strategic changes to Bee Network bus services.

We set high standards for Bee Network bus drivers, customer service and vehicles – and to make sure services run on time and are safe, accessible and reliable. Bee Network bus operators who fall short will face fines or could lose the contract.

You can help by letting us know how your journey is. We’ll keep track of all customer feedback to see how you feel about the Bee Network.


We’re monitoring Bee Network services closely. It’s still early days but our monitoring shows that Bee Network services are better than the commercial services they replaced – and improving,

The Bee Network Committee is responsible for monitoring Bee Network performance and gets regular reports on how the network is doing (see Bee Network operations: How it all works FAQs).

Mayor Andy Burnham and local councillors represent you on the Committee, help shape the Bee Network, and give any improvements the go ahead.


We’re committed to improving Bee Network bus services where possible. Following a review we’ve made timetable changes to help improve the reliability of 44 bus services in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Salford and Bury.

Further timetable changes are planned from April with more and new buses coming into service.

TfGM has also been working with local authorities to reduce disruption to bus routes caused by roadworks. Technology has been installed at more than 100 traffic signals to improve bus punctuality – with plans to roll them out at hundreds more locations.

Read more about the improvements in this news release.


Information, journey planning and lost property


The Bee Network app is available to download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. You can use it to:

  • Plan any journey using public transport (bus, tram and train) and active travel – (walking, wheeling or cycling). The journey planner will also show Park and Ride options.
  • Get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations.
  • Buy tram tickets, Bee AnyBus travelcards, and Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards, using Google and Apple Pay.
  • See travel alerts for tram, bus, train and road.
  • Rate your journey.
  • Get contact information.

Bus tracking is being rolled out from 18 March 2024.


As well as the Bee Network app and website, you can

You can also follow us on social media:

Your transport operator may also have a website and an app that provides more information about their services. This could include fares information and live journey times.

Find contact details for our Bee Network Customer Contact team and transport operators on our website.


You can contact us if you lose something on Bee Network bus services, bus stops, Bee Network interchanges or bus stations:

Get in touch with the Bee Network Customer Contact team calling 0161 244 1000 or by emailing hello@beenetwork.com.

If you lose something on a non-Bee Network bus service you should contact the bus operator. Find contact details for non-Bee Network bus operators.

If you lose something on a tram or at a tram stop, contact the Metrolink operator.

Find out more and report lost property.


Metrolink trams and local rail services


With 99 stops and a network of lines across Greater Manchester, our fully accessible Metrolink tram system is a key part of the Bee Network.

We’re not making major changes to tram services for now.

But tram passengers benefit from other Bee Network improvements like the new Bee Network app and website, and the new Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards.

We want to make it easier to get where you’re going. So, where possible, Bee Network bus services are planned to link up with Metrolink, local rail and the cycling and walking network.



There will be no changes to train services immediately.

Government has set out plans for city-regions like Greater Manchester to take more control over rail services in their areas, but this will take time to happen.

In 2025, we’ll be the first area outside London to trial contactless ‘touch-in/touch-out’ payment for some local train services in Greater Manchester.

Local rail services are expected to join the Bee Network by 2030.


In 2025, Greater Manchester will be one of the first areas outside of London to trial contactless ‘touch-in/touch-out’ payment for some local train services.

If all goes to plan, the trial will take place at 17 stations on the:

  • Stalybridge to Manchester Victoria Station line
  • Glossop to Manchester Piccadilly Station line

You’ll be able to touch in and out with a contactless payment card or device at the start and end of your journey.

We’ll automatically work out the best value fare for your journey, meaning no need to plan ahead or search for the right ticket, and you’ll never pay more than you need.

So you’ll be able to catch a train without buying a ticket in advance, making it a faster and easier way to travel.

We’ll tell you more about the 2025 contactless train travel trial nearer the time.


Government has set out plans for city-regions like Greater Manchester to take more control over rail services in their areas, but this will take time to happen.

In March 2023, Greater Manchester took a big step forward by signing a new Trailblazer Deeper Devolution Deal with the government. This sets out a roadmap to fully integrate local rail services into the Bee Network by 2030.

To help support this ambition, Greater Manchester has been working closely with the Great British Railways Transition Team. We’re developing a first-of-a-kind partnership between the rail industry and a devolved authority.

The Partnership will focus on delivering the Trailblazer Deal and integrating rail into the Bee Network by 2030. So far, this has included:

  • The contactless touch-in/touch-out travel on local train services.
  • A stations charter looking at land value and regeneration opportunities across central Manchester.
  • Looking at wider opportunities for the integration of rail services, stations, co-branding and making fares simpler.

Cycling, walking and wheeling


The Bee Network will include the UK's largest cycling and walking network.

We’re connecting every area and community in Greater Manchester with 1,800 miles of safe routes and 2,400 new crossings.

You can hire Starling Bank Bikes and e-bikes in parts of Manchester, Salford and Trafford. They’re affordable and easy to use. You can pay as you ride or buy cheaper minute bundles.

The scheme is powered by Beryl and the bikes are available to hire via the Beryl app.

To find out more about cycling and walking in Greater Manchester, visit the Bee Active website.


Bee Network: Accessibility


We can decide where and when Bee Network services run. So we can make sure it’s easier and cheaper to get to where you want to go.

We’re making sure buses link up with other transport systems like Metrolink, our accessibility-award-winning tram network. It has step-free access across all 99 stops and audio/visual announcements on all platforms and trams.

50 fully inclusive electric buses are running on the Bee Network alongside other modern vehicles. A further 50 are expected to come onboard in the coming months.

The buses have been designed with help from passengers and key groups like our Disability Design Reference Group, and we’ll keep listening to your feedback.


All buses operating in Greater Manchester meet legal accessibility standards.

The 50 new zero-emission electric buses on Bee Network routes provide enhanced accessibility features. This includes two wheelchair spaces, audio visual announcements and a hearing induction loop.

Buses already running in Greater Manchester will be upgraded over the next two years. We want all Bee Network buses to be fully accessible, to make the Bee Network as accessible as possible to everyone as quickly as we can.


We can arrange for you to test your wheelchair using a bus that is not in service. You’ll have the space and time you need to try it out.

If you want to do this, contact the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre:

  • Call us on 0161 244 1000 (Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm / Weekends and Bank Holidays: 8am to 8pm). *
  • Email hello@beenetwork.com

The Ring & Ride accessible minibus service is also available for wheelchair users.

*If you get in touch by phone, you can request LanguageLine Solutions. LanguageLine offer a telephone interpreting service for customers whose first language is not English.


We’ve made sure the new Bee Network app meets all accessibility standards. *

We worked with people and groups with different disabilities and accessibility requirements to help develop the app. We also carried out user experience research.

This valuable feedback will help us keep improving the app. We plan to add new features and functionality in future.

The app includes the following accessibility features:

  • Simple information, with icons used to help explain things.
  • The app adjusts to the assistive settings of the user’s device, supporting colour contrast and the size of text and buttons.
  • The app can be solely voice controlled using features of iOS and Android.
  • It supports screen reader technology using your device’s assistive technology.

*App development was supported by a robust equality impact assessment in line with TfGM’s Public Sector Equalities Duty. The app complies with the Public Sector Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. In some areas the design of the app meets the stricter AAA standard.


We have worked with a range of people and groups, to listen to different lived experiences.

This valuable feedback helped shape printed and digital customer information, the new Bee Network app, the design of the new zero-emission buses, the Bee Network brand, and the Greater Manchester Bus Strategy.

Groups involved in this activity include:

  • TfGM Disability Design Reference Group
  • Autism Consortium
  • RNIB
  • Dementia United
  • Henshaws User Voice Group
  • Manchester Deaf Centre
  • Salford Deaf Community
  • GM Disabled People’s Panel
  • Guide Dogs
  • GM Youth Combined Authority
  • GM Youth Network
  • GM Race Equality Panel
  • GM Older People’s Network.

We’ll keep on having these important open conversations as we roll out the remaining Bee Network bus services across Greater Manchester through to January 2025.

We want to work together to make the Bee Network as accessible as possible to everyone as quickly as we can.


Bee Network operations: How it all works


Transport for Greater Manchester plans all Bee Network services, which are run under contracts by commercial operators. No matter who runs the service, we expect the same high standards. We answer to you, the passenger.

  • Phase One Bus: Go North West and Diamond are now running the first Bee Network buses in Bolton and Wigan, and parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester.
  • Phase Two Bus: Stagecoach, First and Diamond will run Bee Network bus services in Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester from 24 March 2024.
  • Phase Three Bus: Check back to see who will operate Bee Network buses in Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and the remaining parts of Manchester and Salford.
  • Metrolink trams: Keolis Amey Metrolink runs local tram services.
  • Bike: The Starling Bank Bike scheme is powered by Beryl.
  • Train: Local train services will join the Bee Network by 2030, so it’s too soon to say who will operate services.

Greater Manchester has a long history of campaigning for better bus services. Following direct pressure from Greater Manchester, the Bus Services Act 2017 was introduced.

This gave Mayors of city-regions the power to introduce a bus franchising scheme in their local areas.

In March 2021, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham decided to introduce a franchised network as the best way to improve local bus services in Greater Manchester.

This followed a major assessment of the existing bus network – and a 20-week long public consultation showing a high level of public support for the proposals.

Find all the reports summarising and setting out the response to the consultation on the GMCA website.


Under franchising, local bus services within Greater Manchester will be provided under three categories:

  • Large contracts – ten contracts, each five years long (with the option to extend for two more years).
  • Small contracts – approximately 25 contracts, each three years long.
  • School service contracts – each three years long.

Increased local decision-making power and accountability is at the heart of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network.

The Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee  watches over and make decisions about the Bee Network.

The Committee is chaired by Mayor Andy Burnham and has one councillor from each of the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities. The Mayor has also chosen four more councillors to sit on the committee for political balance.

So your local authority councillors will be able to represent you – and have a say on services in your area.

The Bee Network Committee looks at quarterly performance data for the network. This allows them to hold TfGM and operators to account for how well they are running the network. Looking at things like services turning up on time, safety and drivers and buses meeting high standards.

The Committee is also involved in regular Bee Network reviews, engagement and consultations.

Full details of meetings and reports are available, where you can also watch the Committee meetings live.


We decide any major or strategic changes to Bee Network bus services through a rolling programme of area- or theme-based network reviews.

All bus network reviews follow the same, evidence-based process that allows feedback from customers, communities and any other interested groups.

We will always be open and clear about why, when and how we make any improvements to the bus network, so you know why changes have been made.

During network reviews, we follow these guidelines to make sure the bus network is as efficient as possible:

  • Integrated: Because bus users need access to other journey opportunities.
  • Comprehensive: Because people need access to convenient transport at all times.
  • Reliable: Because people need to depend on their buses.
  • Simple: Because people need the network to be easy to use and understand.
  • Frequent: Because keeping waiting times low makes the bus more attractive.
  • Direct: Because bus users value low journey times.
  • Cost effective: Because our bus network needs to be financially sustainable.

You can see a weekly update on how services are performing on the Bee Network, which we share every week on the Bee Network X account.


The Bee Network will transform the way we travel.

It’ll mean low fares, joined up services and cleaner transport. So it will be much easier for many people to switch from the car to sustainable transport for some journeys.

By 2030 we aim to see a 30% increase in bus use, with 200 million Bee Network bus journeys a year. That’s potentially millions of car journeys off the road, reduced congestion and harmful emissions.

The 270 zero-emission buses on order for the Bee Network are battery-powered, so they produce no emissions.

50 new Zero Emission Buses are already running in Bolton, Wigan, parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester. 50 more zero emission buses and 83 new Euro 6 Bee Network buses will be introduced in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester in the coming months.

As the Bee Network comes to more areas, and more zero-emission buses are introduced, people and communities will benefit from improved air quality with cleaner, greener buses running on more routes and roads across Greater Manchester. We have plans for a zero-emission bus fleet by 2032.

The Greater Manchester Bus Strategy includes many more measures to reduce congestion. These range from better management of road works, to traffic signal improvements.

As well as local control over buses, we’re delivering the largest cycling and walking network in the country, to encourage active travel for shorter journeys.