Since coming under local control in September 2023, Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has reached 100 million bus journeys. Further improvements for AI-recommended routes are now in the pipeline.
This latest milestone follows the completion of the final phase of bus franchising at the start of the year, with a record daily total of 602,000 journeys recorded on 30 January.
As the first region in 40 years to franchise its bus network, Greater Manchester now has control over routes, fares, and service standards. This approach allows for close monitoring of network performance, including the use of AI technology to inform decision-making and service improvements.
To enhance service reliability and punctuality, an additional sixteen buses will now be introduced to key routes serving Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, and Bury. These include services to major destinations such as the Trafford Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, and Royal Oldham Hospital. The adjustments are informed by the CitySwift AI platform, which analyses route performance data, including punctuality, reliability, and journey times.
Timetable changes are also being made to improve overall service performance. Since the introduction of bus franchising, 75 Bee Network services have been adjusted, and 27 additional buses have been deployed to strengthen service reliability.
Greater Manchester has also maintained a 2 GBP cap on single adult bus fares (1 GBP for children), introduced in September 2022 to help with the cost of living.
The next key development for the Bee Network is the integration of bus and tram services into a unified payment system in March. This will introduce a contactless tap-and-go system, ensuring passengers automatically pay the lowest daily or weekly fare for their travel. The new system will include a daily cap of 9.50 GBP (7.80 GBP for off-peak travel after 09:30) and a weekly cap of 41 GBP for unlimited bus and tram travel across Greater Manchester.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester said:This is a very significant milestone for the Bee Network as we deliver a low cost, high quality integrated public transport and active travel system for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester. The more people who use our buses and trams then the more we can invest in further improvements and in keeping fares low.
We are committed to the continuous improvement of the Bee Network. Since gaining control of bus service we have already made changes to around 75 routes to provide earlier, later, more frequent and better-connected services, as well as introducing the first brand new Bee Network service and night buses.
Using CitySwift’s AI platform, we are using new tools to make public transport more reliable. We are also underway with broader network reviews in collaboration with local districts and communities to ensure that the Bee Network delivers in a way that works for them.
The CitySwift AI platform plays a key role in these improvements by modelling the impact of potential changes and providing evidence-based recommendations. Ticket machine data also helps identify travel patterns and inform service adjustments.
Additional buses have already been introduced to routes 52, 53, and 135, with further expansions planned from 23 February across routes 17, 18, 181, 182, and 409. A timetable revision for service 84 is also scheduled, following the addition of extra buses in November 2024.
