Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has unveiled a landmark expansion of the Bee Network, marking the most significant suite of upgrades since the region successfully brought its bus services back under local control. This strategic overhaul, consisting of 36 wide-ranging service changes, including additional night buses for all boroughs, is designed to synchronize the region’s transport infrastructure with its rapid economic trajectory—which is currently outpacing the UK average.
Backed by a massive £2 billion GM Good Growth Fund, these improvements are scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year. By transitioning to a franchised model, the city-region has already seen punctuality jump from under 70% to over 80%, and this latest phase aims to further cement the Bee Network as a reliable, affordable alternative to car travel for the 2.8 million people living in Greater Manchester.
Key Bee Network service improvements
- 24-hour connectivity: Five new night bus routes will ensure all 10 boroughs have round-the-clock service (Thursday–Saturday), supporting roughly 625,000 shift workers and the night-time economy.
- New routes: Three brand-new services will link Woodford to Stockport, Tameside communities to Hyde, and Wigan to St Helens.
- Economic links: Increased frequency and better-aligned timetables for key hubs, including Manchester Airport, MediaCity, the Trafford Centre, and several major business parks (Kingsway, Logistics North).
- Capacity boosts: More frequent daytime and weekend buses on high-demand corridors like Oxford Road and routes connecting Bury, Bolton, Salford, and Rochdale.
Accessibility & fares
- Price caps: The £2 single and £5 day ticket caps will remain in place through the remainder of 2026.
- Social equity: The upgrades will benefit 740,000 residents, specifically targeting those in deprived areas with lower car ownership to improve access to prosperity.
Break down of Bee Network bus improvements in each Greater Manchester borough
Bolton
- Direct bus connectivity between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook Retail Park.
- Continuation of night bus services between Bolton and Manchester city centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips
Bury
- Ramsbottom will get more frequent evening bus services (Monday – Saturday), including services every half hour, and there’ll be more regular evening and weekend buses connecting Bury with Bolton, Rochdale and Salford.
- Continuation of 135 night service between Manchester, Whitefield and Bury on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Manchester
- Higher Blackley and Charlestown will benefit from a more direct bus route on services 115/116.
- The 368 will run to the airport all day instead of just the morning from Stockport and Wythenshawe.
- Additional capacity on to Ashton and continuation of additional capacity on Oxford Road (142/143, 219 to Ashton).
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday night bus introduced between East Didsbury and MediaCity via the city centre.
Oldham
- Oldham, Failsworth, and Hollinwood will see improvements to the 83 bus service which will provide more frequent buses to Manchester city centre throughout the week.
- Night bus services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday between Oldham, Failsworth, Hollinwood and Manchester city centre.
Rochdale
- More frequent daytime, evening and weekend buses on the 434 route linking Middleton, Stakehill Industrial Park, Rochdale town centre and Kingsway Business Park.
- Timetable improvements will also be made to key services, including the 471 linking Rochdale to Bury and Bolton, and the 406 between Rochdale and Kirkholt, which will also see frequency enhancements.
- Continuation of night service on number 17 between Manchester, Middleton and Rochdale on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Salford
- Improvements to service 95 timetables at weekends and evenings, supporting improved connections between Salford and Bury.
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday night bus introduced between East Didsbury and MediaCity via the city centre (50).
Stockport
- There’ll be a new service connecting the town centre to Woodford Garden Village, and improved routes on other services in the south of the borough, including to schools.
- Full night bus provision on the 192 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, connecting Stockport and the city centre.
Tameside
- A new route, the 388, will connect Ashton, Stalybridge and communities around Dukinfield to Hyde.
- A new night bus service, with the 24-hour services on the 216 route on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to connect Ashton with the city centre and Etihad campus.
- TfGM will work with Tameside Council over the coming months to deliver a direct bus service between Hyde and Hollingworth.
Trafford
- More regular buses on the 255 service between Partington and Manchester city centre, with frequency increasing from every 30 to 20-minute.
- New night bus provision on the 263 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, connecting Altrincham, Sale and Stretford and the city centre.
Wigan
- A new service between Wigan and St Helens via Abram, Golborne and Newton-le-Willows that will serve the future site of Golborne Station.
- More frequent evening and Sunday journeys on cross-boundary services into the Liverpool City Region, with a revised route in the Lowton area.
- More double decker buses on the 132 route between Wigan and the Trafford Centre, with buses running until midnight Monday-Saturday and more frequent peak time services on the V1 to support new homes at Mosley Common.
- Continuation of night bus services from the city centre to Leigh on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with some additional late night mid-week trips.
