The Bee Network has revealed a new map showing the busiest bus and tram routes in Greater Manchester – and how to get around them without waiting more than 12 minutes. The release of the new map of ‘high frequency’ routes – where buses and trams run every 12 minutes or less on weekdays – comes ahead of a contactless ‘tap and go’ system launching in Greater Manchester.
More than 1.2 million people in Greater Manchester – 43.7% of the total population – live within a 5 minute walking or wheeling distance of a high frequency Bee Network bus or tram service. Just like in London, passengers in Greater Manchester travelling on higher frequency Bee Network routes can turn up at their stop knowing that the next bus or tram is just around the corner.
The map, which shows the busiest bus and tram routes, was revealed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and is intended to be the first step toward bringing more frequent, reliable Bee Network bus and tram services for people across the whole of Greater Manchester.
From Sunday 23rd March, bus passengers will be able to turn up, tap and go when paying for all bus journeys. Plus, passengers will be able to switch flexibly between bus and tram, paying the best value fare because of new daily and weekly caps.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “In London, passengers often simply turn up to a Tube station or bus stop knowing that they’ll be on board within minutes. Such a frequent and flexible public transport system shouldn’t be exclusive to the capital – and we promised Greater Manchester we’d deliver it with the Bee Network.
“To make that system a reality we needed to do two main things. Firstly, take back control of local buses, allowing us to set fares, routes and service frequencies to better connect our communities. We did that in January, becoming the first region in the UK to do so in 40 years.
“Next, we’re launching tap and go across bus and tram, giving people the freedom to travel in a way that works for them. One of the biggest changes we’ve introduced in Greater Manchester, it will bring us more in line with London and make public transport more convenient, flexible and affordable than it’s ever been before.
“Combine these steps with a joined-up network of high frequency bus and tram routes – within easy reach of over a million of our residents – and we’ve made major strides toward our public transport promise. Our call to the people of Greater Manchester is now to get on board and back the Bee Network so we can continue to go from strength to strength.”
Contactless ‘tap and go’
Contactless ‘tap and go’ has been on Metrolink since 2019, but next week will be expanded to Bee Network buses, allowing bus passengers to now pay for their bus travel or multi-modal journeys by tapping on a bus without needing a ticket. Passengers still wanting to pay cash or purchase tickets can still do so, with tickets also available for purchase via the Bee Network app.
Fares will be capped automatically to ensure passengers pay the best fare up to the daily or weekly cap. For people making journeys on bus and tram, fares start from £6 (£5.40 off peak) a day or £24.80 for a week, depending on the number of zones you travel through. Bus-only journeys remain £2 for a single hopper journey, £5 for the day or £20 over a week no matter how many buses you take across the whole of Greater Manchester.
What are the busiest bus and tram routes in Greater Manchester?
Bee Network buses
There are 41 high frequency bus routes across Greater Manchester, and despite accounting for just 7% of all Bee Network services, they carry the majority of bus passengers. Of the 13.8 million journeys made by bus in February, 7.4 million (54%) were on these routes.
Out of around 577 Bee Network services in operation, the 192, 143 and 43 high frequency services account for 10% of all bus journeys taken in Greater Manchester, with a quarter of all bus trips being taken on the top 10 high frequency services.
Bee Network trams
On Metrolink, all trams run on a standard 12-minute frequency on weekdays from 6am until midnight. Higher frequency trams serving the city centre, Altrincham, Bury, East Didsbury, Etihad Stadium, Oldham Town Centre and Salford Quays run every six minutes.
During peak times at Deansgate-Castlefield, there are 40 trams per direction every hour, with a tram departing every 45 seconds. The largest light-rail network in the UK, Metrolink carries around 1.8 million people every month, and last year it set a record for the number of journeys taken by tram with 45.6 million trips in 2024.