London operator Metroline is a major winner of the contracts comprising the third tranche of Greater Manchester’s franchised bus network.

The third tranche of the Bee Network will see nine franchises (five large and four small) across the south of Greater Manchester enter franchising, covering 248 different services.

Tranche three sees Metroline win shares of the network in Sharston, Wythenshaw and Tameside. In the UK, Metroline currently serves north, west and central London with a fleet of over 1,300 buses, being the capital’s fourth-largest scheduled bus operator. It transports over 1 million passengers daily through its network of nearly 100 routes and 13 garages in the city.

“With our proven record of operational excellence in Greater London and other public transport operations around the world, we are well-placed to deliver on TfGM’s vision and transport strategy” – Mr Cheng Siak Kian, Managing Director/Group CEO of Metroline owners, ComfortDelGro

Mr Cheng Siak Kian, Managing Director/Group CEO of Metroline owners, ComfortDelGro, said: “We are delighted that Metroline has been awarded these four bus franchises by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. With our proven record of operational excellence in Greater London and other public transport operations around the world, we are well-placed to deliver on TfGM’s vision and transport strategy. We are honoured to be a partner in Greater Manchester’s transportation story and look forward to other new bus franchise opportunities in the Northwest and across the UK in the future.”

Further winners

The third tranche of the Bee Network sees Stagecoach win a share of the network in Stockport, while Go North East is to take on services in Tameside, along with Diamond, which will also run franchised services in Trafford and Stockport. The services will operate from Diamond’s existing depot in Eccles.

“These franchise contracts will operate alongside the previous eight awarded in tranche one and tranche two” – Bob Dunn, Executive Director Diamond Bus North West

Bob Dunn, Executive Director Diamond Bus North West, said: “We are pleased to have been awarded three further franchises within Greater Manchester. These franchise contracts will operate alongside the previous eight awarded in tranche one and tranche two. We are looking forward to meeting our new customers and colleagues early next year.”

The third tranche is due to start on 5 January 2025 and will see the entire Greater Manchester network come under franchising. Currently around 50% of services – in Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and parts of north Manchester – are franchised Bee Network services. The second tranche of the Bee Network began operating last weekend (24 March 2024).