Bus punctuality reports

The Bee Network Punctuality table has three columns showing the percentage of bus services running ‘on time’ each day in a 7-day period.

It shows:

• Pre-Bee Network punctuality: Results for the same period in 2023, before those bus services joined the Bee Network.
• Bee Network punctuality: Results for current Bee Network services.
• Non-Bee Network punctuality: Results for buses in Greater Manchester that are not yet part of the Bee Network.

This allows you to compare past and present performance.

The Senior Traffic Commissioner (responsible for licensing and regulating bus services) classes services running between one minute early and five minutes late as ‘on time’. This allows for road traffic conditions which can affect bus running times.

The Senior Traffic Commissioner (responsible for licensing and regulating bus services) classes services running between one minute early and five minutes late as ‘on time’. This allows for road traffic conditions, which can affect bus running times.

Punctuality is calculated based on the difference between the time a bus actually leaves a bus stop timing point (based on Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) tracker information) and the departure time on the bus timetable. The bus is classed as ‘on time’ if it leaves the bus timing point not more than one minute early or five minutes late.

We’re working closely with bus operators to make sure the live bus service information on the app is as accurate as possible. You will be able to track live bus services on the app in coming months. Thank you for your patience while we make gradual improvements.

Our longer-term action plan to improve bus services includes an aim to publish more detailed information – including data on the performance of individual bus services.

As well as this seven-day Bus Punctuality report we will be publishing monthly reports.

We answer to you and accountability is one of our key Customer Commitments. Your feedback is just one of the ways we measure performance.

Give your feedback on services by rating your journey or commenting by phone or in writing.

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. Bus services are affected by general traffic, particularly in peak times. 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.

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.

Check back on this page for updates.