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Dedicated school/college bus services by district

If you would like information about your own college, we have a dedicated page for each college in Greater Manchester. Please visit the travelling to schools page to find your school page.


Planning your journey to and from college

As the new academic year gets going, this guide seeks to help you learn more about your travel options to and from college and where you can get more information to support your journey.

For the latest travel information and advice visit tfgm.com and follow @BeeNetwork on X (formally Twitter) for live updates. For bus/rail follow the relevant operator and you can call our contact centre on 0161 244 1000 between 7am and 8pm on weekdays and from 8am to 7pm at weekends.


Check before you travel

Bee Network app

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.

Other ways to check travel information

For real-time information to help manage your journey, go to our journey planner.

  • For bus departure times, routes and operators visit the the bus pages
  • For up-to-date information about tram departure times, service frequency and disruption visit the tram pages
  • For information about train times, routes, tickets and railcards visit the National Rail website

Free and discounted travel

You may be entitled to free bus travel with Our Pass. After you pay the £10 admin fee (which pays for the cost of making the card), you can use your pass on most local bus services, including the new Bee Network buses, in Greater Manchester.

You can also get half-price off-peak 1 day and weekend travelcards on Metrolink, as well as access to exclusive offers and experiences. If you live in Greater Manchester and were born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2007, you are eligible to apply this year. Find out more and apply by visiting Our Pass website.

Or you may be interested in a Scholar’s Permit, which allows 16 to 19-year-olds in school or college to pay the equivalent of child fares on trams, buses and trains in Greater Manchester. Find out more at TfGM's ticket and passes page.

Not eligible? #GetOnBoard with other tickets and passes

Simple and clear low bus fares are available in Greater Manchester, making it easier for people to get around the city-region.

Adults (over 16) pay no more than £2 for a single bus journey, while a £5 1-day AnyBus Adult travelcard covers unlimited bus travel within the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester until 03.59am the following day.

However you choose to travel, our ticket finder can help you find your best option.


Say Yellow to the Bee Network

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

Bus services in Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester joined the Bee Network on 24 March 2024.

We’re on target for every bus service in the region to join the Bee Network by January 2025.

Whether you catch the bus, tram, train or walk, cycle or wheel, the Bee Network 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.

There may be some changes to the tickets you can use on Bee Network.


Walk, wheel or bike it

Walking, cycling and wheeling are great options for a cleaner, greener journey – particularly for shorter trips.

There is lots of information and support available, including details of safe cycle routes near you, on our active travel website.

You can also book your place on a range of cycle training and maintenance courses to help you improve your bike riding and maintenance skills.


Travelling safely

We’re working hard to make transport in Greater Manchester safe for everyone.

The GM TravelSafe Partnership are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, abuse and harassment across the network.

We care if you’ve been affected by these issues, please report it and help us tackle the issue. This can be done using the LiveChat service.

People involved in this behaviour face serious consequences, including pass removal, fines and even prosecution.


Help along the way

There are lots of tools and tips to help you travel safely across Greater Manchester, including travel support aids. Visit our Accessibility Hub for more information.