MoD sites used to store new Bee Network buses
Six Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites are being used to store new buses due to enter service on the Bee Network.
The first of the 140 new buses for the Greater Manchester franchised network are being put in storage before entering service on 5 January 2025, when the remaining 48% of bus services join the network.
The arrival of these new buses comes as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) last week approved plans to invest £71 million to further expand and bolster the fleet. The decision paves the way for the purchase of 94 zero emission electric buses (ZEBs) and 72 Euro VI buses from Stagecoach. Between six and nine months old, the Euro VI vehicles are to improve fleet standards by replacing older buses, as well as providing additional buses to strengthen services.
“We’re pulling out all the stops to ensure we hit the ground running on 5 January” – Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We’re pulling out all the stops to ensure we hit the ground running on 5 January. It will be a huge moment in realising our ambitions for the Bee Network and see Greater Manchester once again making history.
“Taking back control of all bus services in Greater Manchester is a complex and major undertaking – we are effectively doubling the size of the franchised bus network overnight. There’ll no doubt be some bumps along the road, but it’s essential we ready our fleet of modern yellow buses to hit the streets. They will help deliver that step change our residents expect and deserve from their public transport network; cheaper, cleaner, safer and more reliable services.
“It’s all part our joined-up plan to deliver our integrated Bee Network at pace. From introducing new services and encouraging more people to use public transport, to creating new jobs for our young people, we’re proving that local control of public transport not only delivers for our communities, but can drive economic growth at a local, regional and national level.”
“The third and final stage of bus franchising in January marks a huge milestone in the delivery of the Bee Network” – Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “The third and final stage of bus franchising in January marks a huge milestone in the delivery of the Bee Network – an integrated public transport and active travel system for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester. In March we’ll move on to deliver integrated ‘tap and go’ ticketing between Metrolink and buses and then we’ll focus on the integration of eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network by 2028.”