Expansion of Night Bus Services Across Greater Manchester
Night bus services will extend to every borough in Greater Manchester as the city region broadens its publicly controlled Bee Network.
The mayor, Andy Burnham, revealed several new services alongside data indicating rapid increases in ridership since buses were brought under public control.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) stated that approximately 740,000 people—about one in four of Greater Manchester’s population—will benefit from the upcoming changes.
Burnham said: “We put the bee on the side of the buses to denote that public control. And now we’re acting visibly, tangibly in the interests of our residents with these changes that we’re bringing through.”
Objectives and Implementation of Changes
The planned changes, set to be implemented in the coming months, aim to enhance connectivity in the city region’s most deprived areas and increase services supporting the night-time economy, as well as key employment and visitor destinations.
Burnham stated: “The one that is quite emblematic is the return of a night bus service to all 10 boroughs. It should be a basic for a city like ours – but it’s been some time since we’ve had that. Supporting that night-time economy means a great deal to people here, and reinforces where [the city] is at the moment, what it’s becoming.”
Background on the Bee Network
The Bee Network was launched in late 2023 as the first integrated transport system outside London, with bus routes franchised and set by the mayor, and combined fares for trams.
Burnham commented: “You lower the fares, you improve frequency, you put routes back, people will use it – and they are.”
Growth in Bus Services and Ridership
According to TfGM figures, the total distance covered by Greater Manchester buses increased by 7% in the 2024-25 financial year to 82 million kilometres, which is more than double the growth rate of the rest of England. The network has resulted in a 14% rise in bus journeys over one year and improved punctuality. The newly announced changes will add an additional 2.5 million kilometres annually.
The new night bus routes will serve areas currently without night services, including Oldham, Stockport, Trafford, and Tameside, ensuring that all 10 boroughs have round-the-clock bus services, although some will operate only from Thursday to Saturday nights each week.
Additional bus services will also connect Greater Manchester’s major employment centres such as business parks in Rochdale and Bolton, MediaCityUK in Salford, and Manchester Airport.
Political and Social Impact
Burnham said that enhancing transport services is among the most impactful actions leaders can take and could help counteract “a more poisonous form of politics.”
He added: “In 25 years as an elected politician, I’ve never known anything as impactful as the Bee Network. And it makes me wonder, why did Westminster just ignore buses for all of those years? Because this is something that is on every street, in every community, in the whole city region.
“When anyone goes on a bus here and taps on [they are] connecting with political decisions that have delivered a different transport system.”
Burnham, who is the mayor, further stated: “If we’re to protect what we built here, we have to stop the march of that [poisonous] politics. You know, these are the people who applauded Maggie [Thatcher] when she forced us to break up GM buses in the mid 1980s.”
Influence on Other Regions and Future Prospects
Other combined authorities and metro mayors in northern England are seeking to replicate the Bee Network’s success. South Yorkshire’s Oliver Coppard recently announced plans to rebrand and integrate the Sheffield-centred tram network and the region’s buses after they return to public control next year.
Regional leaders will have increased opportunities for growth following chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement on Tuesday to devolve more powers. Burnham described this as an exciting development and “possibly the most significant moment” since George Osborne first introduced devolution plans.
