Bee Network hits 100 million mark

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has reached 100 million locally controlled bus journeys.

The network achieved a daily record of 602,000 journeys set on 30 January.

As part of improvement efforts, a further 16 vehicles are being added to routes in parts of Greater Manchester to further boost the reliability and punctuality of services in Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and Bury.

The next major milestone for the Bee Network comes in March, when passengers will be able to use contactless payments across both bus and tram journeys, with fares calculated to ensure they always pay the lowest amount for their trip.

“Hitting 100 million journeys on locally-controlled buses is an incredible milestone for the Bee Network and it shows what we’re doing here is working” – Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Getting more people onboard will allow continue to keep fares low and invest in a reliable public transport network for everyone in Greater Manchester. Hitting 100 million journeys on locally-controlled buses is an incredible milestone for the Bee Network and it shows what we’re doing here is working.

“We’re now gearing up to make one of the biggest changes our public transport network has ever seen. In March, we’ll unite bus and tram together in one joined-up payment system, just like London. With integrated tap-and-go payments, people will have more flexibility than ever before in how they get around the city-region, and will always pay the best daily or weekly fare.

“Keeping fares low and ensuring our buses are reliable is fundamental to the success of the Bee Network. We won’t stand still, we’ll always be looking to improve things – using data and feedback from passengers – to make our network the best it can be.”