Bus travel across Greater Manchester is set for major disruption, as thousands of Bee Network bus drivers from Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester and First Bus Rochdale prepare to strike over pay disputes, bringing widespread service cancellations and travel chaos to the region.
The industrial action is scheduled from today, September 19 to Monday September 22 and affects routes across Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford, with additional strikes threatened at the end of the month should negotiations fail to resolve ongoing disputes.
With some school bus services and late-night journeys cancelled, tram and train alternatives likely to be busier than usual – commuters and event-goers are urged to plan ahead. These are the lines that remain unaffected by the strikes.
Which Greater Manchester bus routes will not be affected by the strikes?
Services in Bolton and Wigan will continue to run without interruption, alongside select routes in North Manchester and the complimentary city centre bus. Additionally, Local Link and Ring and Ride options remain available as normal.
Getting around Manchester during the bus strikes and alternative routes
Tram
Trams throughout Greater Manchester will keep operating during the bus strike period and will continue to operate on the disrupted days, though services will be busier than normal.
It’s advisable to travel outside the peak times (7am-9am, 4pm-6pm) and to factor in extra time for journeys.
Scheduled maintenance at Derker on September 20-21 means trams will not run between Freehold and Rochdale Town Centre; instead, a replacement bus service will cover the affected route.
Train
Train services are not impacted by the bus strikes through Greater Manchester and will operate as planned, with busier trains likely during peak hours; travel is smoother outside the busiest periods.
Engineering works between Romiley and Rose Hill Marple/New Mills Central will close all lines on September 20 and 21, and replacement buses will serve Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple (Saturday only) and Manchester Piccadilly to Chinley.
Transpennine Route Upgrade projects at Huddersfield mean trains won’t run between Stalybridge and Mirfield and will divert via Brighouse, skipping Mossley and Greenfield until September 28, with substitute buses covering multiple routes.
TransPennine Express services across the railway network will be subject to amendments for the duration of the works.
Replacement bus services will run between:
- Guide Bridge and Huddersfield (Sunday only)
- Huddersfield and Brighouse
- Manchester Airport and Brighouse (not Sunday)
- Stalybridge and Huddersfield
- Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield.
Can I use my bus ticket for other modes of transport during the strikes?
If you have a bus ticket or concessionary pass, you can use it to travel on the Metrolink during the impacted period (Friday to Monday).
This includes:
- Concessionary passes, including Our Pass and ENCTS cards
- Any bus tickets loaded to a smart card
- Bus tickets purchased on the Bee Network app
This includes all zones of the Metrolink at any time. You do need to show you have a concessionary pass or ticket, so please present your bus ticket or pass to the inspector on the tram when asked.
If you have a bus ticket or concessionary pass, you can use it to travel on certain Northern Rail and TransPennine Express trains (see below) during the impacted period (Friday to Monday).
This includes:
- All bus (and bus & tram) period tickets (7-day, 28-day, Term, Annual on the Bee Network app or loaded onto a smart card).
- Concessionary passes ,including Our Pass and Care Leaver
- TfGM Issued Older persons passes (those without Add Tram & Train) will be accepted on these services after 9.30am (Mon & Fri) and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- TfGM Issued Older persons passes with Add Tram & Train will continue to have access to the whole GM rail network after 9.30am Mon & Fri and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- Customers with a TfGM-issued disabled persons pass will continue to be able to travel for free on the whole GM rail network after 9.30am on Friday, all day Saturday/Sunday and after 9.30am on Monday (19-22 Sept). Before 9.30am on Friday and Monday, customers will be able to purchase a concessionary rail fare.
- Customers with a TfGM-issued disabled persons plus pass will continue to be able to travel for free on the whole GM rail network at any time on the above dates.
Tickets and passes will be accepted on the following Northern Rail services:
- Airport line to Manchester Piccadilly: including Manchester Airport, Heald Green, Gatley, East Didsbury, Burnage, Mauldeth Road, Manchester Piccadilly
- Bramhall to Manchester Piccadilly: including Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Heaton Chapel, Levenshulme, Manchester Piccadilly
- Littleborough to Manchester Victoria: including Littleborough, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, Castleton, Mills Hill, Moston and Manchester Victoria
- Flixton to Manchester Oxford Rd: including Flixton, Chassen Road, Urmston, Humphrey Park, Trafford Park, Deansgate, Manchester Oxford Rd
- Hadfield/Glossop to Manchester Piccadilly: including Hadfield, Glossop, Dinting, Broadbottom, Hattersley, Godley, Newton for Hyde, Flowery Fields, Guide Bridge, Fairfield, Gorton, Ashburys, Ardwick, Manchester Piccadilly
- Hale to Manchester Piccadilly: including Hale, Altrincham, Navigation Road, Stockport, Heaton Chapel, Levenshulme, Manchester Piccadilly
- Hazel Grove to Manchester Piccadilly: including Hazel Grove, Woodsmoor, Davenport, Stockport, Heaton Chapel, Levenshulme, Manchester Piccadilly
- Marple to Manchester Piccadilly via Bredbury/Romiley: including Marple, Romiley, Bredbury, Brinnington, Reddish North, Ryder Brow, Belle Vue, Ashburys, Ardwick, Manchester Piccadilly
- Rose Hill to Manchester Piccadilly via Hyde: including Rose Hill, Romily, Woodley, Hyde Central, Hyde North, Guide Bridge, Fairfield, Gorton, Ashbury’s, Ardwick, Manchester Piccadilly
- Stalybridge to Manchester Piccadilly: including Stalybridge, Guide Bridge, Fairfield, Gorton, Ashbury’s, Ardwick, Manchester Piccadilly
Tickets and passes will be accepted on the following TransPennine Express services:
- Greenfield to Piccadilly: Greenfield, Mossley, Stalybridge (please note a bus replacement service will be operating from Greenfield and Mossley stations to Stalybridge)