A new national survey has found that bus services in Greater Manchester have seen distinct improvements under the Bee Network, according to the passengers who use them.
The annual Your Bus Journey survey by Transport Focus has identified a large increase in overall passenger satisfaction across Greater Manchester since the bus network was given back to the public.
Passenger satisfaction increases within the region are the biggest of any area in England, with percentage increases reported within perceptions of value for money, punctuality and on-bus passenger information, such as audio announcements and electronic displays.
The independent survey captured the experiences of 1,211 passengers on buses and at stops across Greater Manchester last year, and was carried out one month after the rollout of the Bee Network.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:We have been working hard to deliver a transport network that benefits all residents in all parts of Greater Manchester, with increasingly reliable and affordable bus services that help people get where they need to go.
While there is still much to do, to record the largest increase in bus customer satisfaction anywhere in the country in our first full year of local control is a fantastic achievement and one of the clearest indications yet that people are really feeling the benefit of the Bee Network.
Over the coming months we will deliver the most significant and widespread improvements yet to our local bus services as the Bee Network continues to power the city-region’s rapid economic growth.
Overall, the survey found that passenger experience across the Greater Manchester bus network improved as a whole, with satisfaction rising from 79% in 2023 and 2024 to 86% in 2025. The uplift in satisfaction, which is the biggest of any area in England, places the region just above the average for urban metropolitan areas (84%), and in line with the all-England national average (85%).
Perceptions of value for money increased from 73% in 2024 to 79% in 2025, placing Greater Manchester further ahead of the national average of 63% across England.
Wait time satisfaction also increased to 71% from 66%, whilst satisfaction with buses arriving on time rose from 67% to 76%.
Elsewhere, a sharp increase was seen in perceptions of on-bus passenger information, which went up to more than 80%, rising from 67% for announcements and 72% for displays in 2024.
Finally, the gap in satisfaction between disabled and non-disabled passengers narrowed to one percentage point, improving on a previous five-point gap in 2024.
