Bus network development

Making changes and improvements to your Bee Network

Widespread improvements are coming to bus services in every part of Greater Manchester later this year, as the Bee Network continues to power the city region’s rapid economic growth.

740,000 people living near the improved services across Greater Manchester will benefit from 36 service changes, shaped by feedback from local communities and passengers.

Making changes and improvements to your Bee Network

It’s been over a year since all Greater Manchester’s buses joined the Bee Network. The interventions announced build on the more than 80 improvements already delivered through bus franchising.

These form part of the continued development of the Bee Network and build on the progress made since buses were brought back under local control.

But there’s more we can do to make sure the bus network reflects the needs of our communities.

What is ‘network development’?

The network development process means we can make more direct changes to more places, often more quickly.

Over recent weeks and months, we have been listening closely to elected members, residents, passengers, and key stakeholder representatives about how the bus network is working and where it can go further.

That feedback has played a key role in shaping the latest set of network interventions and changes.

Developments for your local area

We've been working with local authorities, councillors, and MPs to understand local priorities, challenges and opportunities. This includes growth areas, regeneration plans, and community needs.

Changes coming in 2026/27

Take a look at the changes (subject to finalisation).

Timescales will vary depending on the nature of each intervention but are expected to start during the financial year 2026/27.

Here are the changes by district:

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

Service	What’s changing?
575/576/615	Direct bus between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park, connecting shoppers and workers to a key local destination.
20/471/507/511	Amended timetables to align with shift patterns at Logistics North, supporting journeys from the east of the borough and access to a key employment site.
471	Performance enhancements including additional buses during daytime hours to improve performance and capacity challenges on the route. It will also increase early morning, evening and Sunday services to improve performance linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale, supporting connections to shopping, health services and employment.
36 Night Bus	Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips. Proposal would see some late night trips on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays withdrawn from September 2026.

A stylised transport map titled “Even better bus connections for Greater Manchester.” It shows proposed new and improved bus routes across Greater Manchester

Next steps

We are working to develop the longer term process to ensure the pipeline is able to deliver further changes on a regular basis. A second package is expected to be brought forward later in the year, with further announcements made on a rolling basis as the pipeline continues to develop.

We’ll continue to meet with local organisations to find priorities for your area that will inform future changes. We'll let you know how you can get involved soon.