Bee Network? Yellow Buses? | What's happening and why?

Over the past few months, you'll have been hard-pressed not to notice the stand-out, bright yellow "bee" buses appearing across Greater Manchester.

This new fleet which Mayor Andy Burnham has previously vowed will become a new "Greater Manchester icon" - in much the same way as red double-decker buses are plastered across every cushion and teatowel in the capital - started to rollout earlier this year.

Today though, (Sunday 24th September, or so-called "Bee-day") is when the actual, fundamental change to the way the region's bus network operates both legally and practically, begins.

Wigan and Bolton, as well as parts of Salford, Bury and Manchester, have become the first to see bus services come back into public control for the first time in nearly 4 decades.

But what does that mean, and why is it significant?

In 1986 local leaders across Greater Manchester were forced to give up what control they had over how the bus network operated when the then government privatised the bus operators.

It was argued at the time private firms would be able to run better services for a lower cost.

For the past nearly 40 years, that model has remained, with local leaders having little control over bus routes, ticket prices and the quality of service.

Today though, Greater Manchester has become the first region outside of London (which was excluded from the 1986 deregulation) to take back control of local bus services.

Campaigners have long argued that bus services under the private model haven't been run in a way that puts local people first. Official figures show the number of journeys taken by bus has drastically fallen since the 1980s in the regions affected by deregulation.

Bus journeys in Greater Manchester dropped from around 355 million to 182 million in the past four decades whilst in London, where buses were not deregulated, journeys nearly doubled in the same period, from around 1.2 billion journeys in 1986 to 2.1 billion.

In 2017, the government revised the rules, allowing local authorities to create franchise agreements. It means whilst private companies would continue to operate the services, local leaders would have far more control.

After a legal battle and years of preparation, Greater Manchester has now become the first region to do this, starting a three-phase plan which will see all of the region's buses brought under local control by 2025.

50 new electric buses are rolling out today with several hundred more having been promised to hit the road over the next few years.

The new "Bee Network" means all the previous operator's brands have been replaced by one single brand identity with new staff uniforms.

Fare structures have been simplified, meaning tickets can be bought and used across services. Additionally, there are increased frequencies on some routes.

It's claimed passengers could make savings of up to 20% with new ticket options for those who use both the trams and buses in single journeys. A £2 flat fare for adult single tickets and £1 for children also remains in place.

Long-term plans also include the full integration of the tram and bus network with discussions ongoing in relation to bringing some rail services into the network too.

Earlier this year trials of contactless tap-in/out systems were announced for a limited number of stations in the future.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “For nearly 40 years we have seen worsening services and plummeting passenger numbers on our buses. We’ve had to reckon with a deregulated bus network that cuts vital services that connect communities to jobs, hospitals and opportunities on a whim - leaving local leaders with limited budgets to pick up the tab to keep these routes alive. Today marks the end of that era with our franchised system representing better value for money for city regions and a better service for passengers.

“From today passengers will experience our new electric buses as well as earlier and later, more frequent and better-integrated services. We’ve already cut the cost of public transport with the capped fares I introduced in 2022, but from today our new AnyBus + tram ticket will also make joint tram and bus travel 20% cheaper.

“We’re also putting power back in the hands of people, with passengers able to rate their journey. These ratings, combined with a range of other customer-related performance targets will be used to inform what operators get paid.

“Today is a coming-of-age moment for English devolution. With the launch of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester is blazing a trail for other city regions who are ready to follow our lead in reversing the failed bus deregulation experiment and creating an integrated transport network that is run in the interests of, and accountable to, our communities.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to all those who have worked tirelessly over many years to make the Bee Network possible.”

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