Two years on from Greater Manchester’s first buses coming under local control, more major Bee Network improvements have been announced by the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham and Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt were at Shudehill Interchange this week to unveil a further raft of changes to improve bus services for people and communities across Greater Manchester, including more frequent buses, cheaper travel and new night bus services.
Which new night bus services have started in Greater Manchester?
From Thursday (September 4), 24-hour pilot bus services will run on the 135 and 17, connecting Manchester and Bury, and Manchester with Rochdale via Middleton – the night buses will serve key employment sites and hospitality spots on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Night buses on the V1 (Leigh via Salford) and 36 (Bolton via Salford), first introduced on a pilot basis in September 2024, will also continue seven days a week until at least March 2026.
Night buses will run hourly on the 135 and 17 Greater Manchester routes through the night Thursday to Saturday – note that night bus services on the 135 will depart and arrive at Shudehill instead of Lever Street.
What other announcements were made?
Half price bus travel for 18-21 year olds has officially started
Around 150,000 young people aged 18 to 21 can now enjoy half price bus travel, better connecting them to work, training and education opportunities. Applications are also now open for the new 18-21 bus pass, meaning young people can buy a 28-day bus travelcard for £40 – half the price of adult fares and the equivalent of just £1.43 per day for unlimited travel on any Bee Network bus in Greater Manchester.
The move is aimed at helping the thousands of young people once their 16-18 ‘Our Pass’ expires, supporting them as they move into further education or the world of work.
Our Pass goes digital
For the first time, Our Pass – the revolutionary pass which gives Greater Manchester’s 16-18 year olds access to free bus travel and reduced-price tram travel – has gone digital. More than 15,000 young people have applied for the pass this year and successful applicants will now receive their pass in the Bee Network app.
New and improved cross-boundary bus connections between Greater Manchester and Cheshire
From September 1, revamped and more frequent 5, 5A and 280 bus services will better serve communities in Trafford. More frequent services will cover more stops including Dunham and Warburton, improving public transport options for people making journeys to and from Altrincham and Sale into Lymm and onto Warrington.
This includes the existing 280 Bee Network service increasing to an hourly frequency – up from a two-hourly service – and extending from Dunham Massey via Warburton to Lymm. It will also operate later into the evening.
More frequent buses on the most popular routes in Bolton and Leigh
From this week, there’s also increased frequency on popular routes in Bolton and Leigh. The 582 will see the frequency increase from every 12 minutes to every 10 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytime, with evening and weekend improvements too. The V1 will also see peak services increase, including running every four minutes between 7am and 8am Monday to Friday from Leigh.
A further trial of round-the-clock bus travel for older and disabled passengers
The month-long trial to lift the pre-9.30am travel restriction for older and disabled people to use their concessionary passes on buses came to an end. During the trial more than 100,000 journeys were made by older and disabled people before 9.30am, with up to 6,000 people a day making use of the pilot. Of the older people who took part, around 44% of the free journeys were made between 9am and 9.30am, and 68% between 8.30am and 9.30am.
Transport for Greater Manchester is now considering the results of the trial and feedback received by those who took part. The Mayor has announced that a second trial period will take place this November.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our region has the fastest growing economy in the UK, and the Bee Network will continue to play a vital role as we look to build on our plans set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy to make the next 10 years the best decade for our region since the Victorian era.
“While the Bee Network is already delivering a much improved service compared to the non-franchised system it replaced, with more punctual, frequent, affordable and cleaner buses, we are always looking at how we can improve the experience for everyone travelling with us, and to encourage people to use the bus more often.
“These proposals include enhanced and expanded bus routes, more night buses and half price bus travel for our young people, alongside commitments to revisit free round-the-clock travel for people using concessionary passes, with a second trial in November this year.
“We are still only two years into this journey and these latest announcements underline our commitment to providing the best possible public transport system to support the people, communities and businesses which are helping to grow Greater Manchester’s economy.”
