Say yellow to the Bee Network

Making it easier for you to get around: by bus, tram, train, walking, wheeling or cycling

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s new, joined up transport network, taking you where you need to go.

All local bus and tram services – and bike hire – are now part of the Bee Network and under local control. We’re also building a network of high quality, safe cycling and walking routes.

Next stop: local rail, which will join the Bee Network in phases, starting in December.

We’re always working hard to make travel safer, more affordable and easier to use, no matter how you get around. So that the Bee Network can be your one-stop-shop for local travel.

Download the Bee Network app and get planning your journey.

And let us know how we’re doing so we can keep on improving: rate your journeys by bus, tram, train, walking, cycling or wheeling.

What’s new on the Bee Network?

Contactless tap and go is now the easiest, quickest way for most adults to pay for travel across Bee Network buses and trams. Find out more about contactless tap and go.
New Adult Annual Bee Bus + Tram ticket: If you use buses and trams regularly, you can make great savings with a new annual ticket.
Single child Bee Bus hopper tickets now on the Bee Network app: A cash-free, safe way to pay for child travel.
Improved Bee Network app: Plan and pay for your journey, track live buses, get travel alerts and rate your journey all in one place. Download the app.
Even more TravelSafe staff: Patrolling the network to keep you safe.

Check out our six customer commitments to you.

You can let us know how we’re doing and help us keep on improving. Rate your journeys by bus, tram, train, walking, cycling or wheeling.

What’s next on the Bee Network?

We’re always looking for ways to improve your services.

So that you have the freedom to get where you need to go safely and easily. To work, learn, shop, healthcare, new opportunities – or to enjoy time with family and friends.

This year you can look forward to:

New zero-emission buses, brand new bus routes and more buses during the day, evening and weekends.
New night bus services so that every area of Greater Manchester has a 24/7 service (Thursday to Saturday).
Integrating the first commuter rail lines with the Bee Network – improved services, stations, contactless payments and a better journey experience. See the rail timeline.
New high quality active travel routes to make walking, cycling and wheeling safer and easier.
More investment in improving journeys and making travel easier for everyone on key routes.

Check back to keep up to date on progress.

Your top questions answered

Throughout 2026

Bus service improvements

Five new night bus services will bring 24-hour service (Thursday to Saturday) to parts of the region that haven’t previously had them, including in Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

A series of bus service improvements are planned throughout the year, including brand new services, better connections to key employment and leisure destinations, and more buses during the day, evening and weekends.

Bee Network app and website:

You can now find rail station information on the app and website. By summer they will also have real-time rail departure information.

By autumn, rail journey planning will be available.

Rail station improvements:

Stations on the first Bee Network rail lines (connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge) will be refreshed and getting ready for services launching in December. New Bee Network branding and customer information points will help make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier.

December 2026

The first two Bee Network rail lines: Rail lines connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge will join the Bee Network. Contactless ‘tap in, tap out' ticketing will be rolled out across 17 stations, making payments faster, easier and cheaper. Just keep tapping and we’ll work out the best rail fare for you, up to a weekly cap.
A new pre-paid paper ticket: Will launch for travel on a buses, trams and trains across Greater Manchester.
Bee Network branded stations: Stations on these lines will be brought up to Bee Network standards.
Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge stations: Will be the first fully integrated flagship Bee Network stations.

End 2027

Two further train lines are planned join the Bee Network with station and service improvements and contactless tap in, tap out payments:
Services and stations to Cheadle Hulme and Middlewood.
Airport stopping services (Local trains that call at stations between Manchester and Manchester Airport).

End 2028

Another four lines join the Bee Network: Services on the Rochdale, Wigan via Atherton (onward to Southport), Wigan via Bolton (onward to Southport), and Wigan via Golborne rail lines are planned to join the Bee Network, with station and service improvements and contactless tap in, tap out payments.
All eight rail lines – including 64 stations – will be part of the Bee Network with tap and go contactless payments and daily and weekly fare caps across bus, tram and train travel.
2030
Final 32 Greater Manchester rail stations join: The remaining local stations are planned to join the Bee Network.

All timings are subject to ongoing work between Greater Manchester leaders and the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Shadow Great British Railways and Train Operating Companies to further develop and implement the three-phase plan.

We’ve made travel cheaper and simpler.

We’re keeping Bee Network fares as low as possible, with the right ticket for everyone.

Single 'hopper' bus fare: £2 Adult / £1 Child.*
1-day Bee Bus ticket: £5 Adult / £2.50 Child.
7-day Bee Bus ticket: £20 Adult / £10 Child.
28-day Bee Bus ticket: £80 Adult / £40 Child.
Annual bus, tram, and bus and tram tickets, offering great savings.

Find the right ticket or pass for your journey.

*You can travel on other Bee Network buses, for no extra cost, within 60 minutes of buying your single hopper ticket.

Contactless tap and go is now the quickest, easiest way for full fare paying adults to pay for travel across Bee Network buses and trams.

Use your contactless card, phone or smart watch on card readers and we’ll do the maths. Simple.

Just keep tapping with the same card – or the same contactless device – and we’ll work out the best value fare for you based on the number of journeys you make.

Child tickets are not available on tap and go. A range of child tickets are available on the Bee Network app.
If you have a TfGM pass (igo, Our Pass, Scholar’s permit, ENCTS older persons, disabled and disabled plus pass) you can continue to use your pass as normal.
Please be careful to avoid card clash by keeping your pass separate from any bank cards when tapping on the bus card reader. This will avoid your bank card being charged the tap and go fare.

Find out what tap and go means for you.

There are now three different annual tickets available for travel on Bee Network buses and trams:

The tickets all offer great savings compared to buying 7-day or 28-day tickets.

You can buy tickets from any Information and Ticket Office (at Bee Network bus stations and interchanges) and on the Bee Network app.

Find out more about spreading the costs with a Credit Union.

We’re always making improvements, with widespread changes coming over the year ahead.

Bee Network buses are more reliable and better joined up than the services they replaced.
New bus services, including night buses and more buses during the day, evening and weekends.
Hundreds of newer, cleaner buses.
Even more TravelSafe Officers patrolling the network.
Low, flexible fares making travel more affordable.

The Bee Network is already making a difference, and more people are getting on board our yellow Bee buses.

But it’s still early days and we know there is more to do. Let us know what you think so we can keep on improving for everyone.

The Bee Network answers to you, the customer.

Our six Customer Commitments have been developed with local people. We’re committed to delivering a Bee Network that is safe, accessible, affordable, reliable, sustainable and accountable.

You can let us know if we’re living up to our commitments and help us deliver better services.

Use the new Rate Your Journey survey to quickly tell us how your journey was (by bus, tram, train, walking, cycling or wheeling).

Or comment on your journey by phone or in writing. 

Download the Bee Network app to:

Plan any journey and see expected arrival times.
Get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations.
Track your bus live on map and see live locations for all buses from a stop near you.
Buy a range of tickets.
Check travel alert information and get major incident alerts.

We’re always working to make the app even better. Get in touch if you’ve got any suggestions.

Making sure you are safe on the Bee Network is a key priority for us.

Transport staff and police dedicate more than 15,000 hours a week to patrolling the bus and tram networks, day and night, seven days a week.

We've also expanded our dedicated team of TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs) on the bus network.

TSEOs patrol Bee Network bus services, interchanges and bus stations, offering a reassuring presence and helping to address any antisocial behaviour.

TravelSafe Officers also patrol the tram network, and we have also increased the number of Customer Service Representatives on trams to support passengers.

It’s easy to report incidents on the transport network quickly and discreetly to a live GMP call handler from your smartphone on TravelSafe LiveChat (use the message icon on the bottom right of the screen). Or call 101 or 999 in an emergency.

You can also access the LiveChat function in the ‘Account’ section of the Bee Network app.

Read more about improving safety on the Bee Network.

Bee Network: Get in touch with us if you lose something on the Bee Network, including buses, bus stops, interchanges or bus stations.

Non-Bee Network buses: If you lose something on a non-Bee Network bus service you should contact the bus operator. 

Metrolink: If you lose something on a tram or at a tram stop, contact the Metrolink operator.

The Bee Network

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s vision for a joined up, touch in, touch out, London-style transport system. Eventually, it will be your one-stop-shop for all local journeys.

Whether you catch the bus, tram, train or walk, cycle or wheel, it will be:

Easier to get around, with joined up services.
Great value, with capped fares and flexible tickets.
Simpler to plan, with easy-to-understand passenger information.
Accessible, so everyone can use it.
More reliable and more sustainable.

Throughout 2026

Bus service improvements

Five new night bus services will bring 24-hour service (Thursday to Saturday) to parts of the region that haven’t previously had them, including in Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

Bee Network app and website:

You can now find rail station information on the app and website. By summer they will also have real-time rail departure information.

By autumn, rail journey planning will be available.

Rail station improvements:

December 2026

The first two Bee Network rail lines: Rail lines connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge will join the Bee Network. Contactless ‘tap in, tap out' ticketing will be rolled out across 17 stations, making payments faster, easier and cheaper. Just keep tapping and we’ll work out the best rail fare for you, up to a weekly cap.
A new pre-paid paper ticket: Will launch for travel on a buses, trams and trains across Greater Manchester.
Bee Network branded stations: Stations on these lines will be brought up to Bee Network standards.
Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge stations: Will be the first fully integrated flagship Bee Network stations.

End 2027

Two further train lines are planned join the Bee Network with station and service improvements and contactless tap in, tap out payments:
Services and stations to Cheadle Hulme and Middlewood.
Airport stopping services (Local trains that call at stations between Manchester and Manchester Airport).

End 2028

Another four lines join the Bee Network: Services on the Rochdale, Wigan via Atherton (onward to Southport), Wigan via Bolton (onward to Southport), and Wigan via Golborne rail lines are planned to join the Bee Network, with station and service improvements and contactless tap in, tap out payments.
All eight rail lines – including 64 stations – will be part of the Bee Network with tap and go contactless payments and daily and weekly fare caps across bus, tram and train travel.
2030
Final 32 Greater Manchester rail stations join: The remaining local stations are planned to join the Bee Network.

We’ve already introduced some later running and night time bus services – and later trams on Friday and Saturday nights. Now, every borough of Greater Manchester is set to get a night bus service in 2026.

Five new night bus services will bring a 24-hour service (Thursday to Saturday) to parts of the region that haven’t previously had them, including Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

The services will support around 625,400 people in jobs that operate late into the night, also helping people enjoying Greater Manchester’s nightlife to get home safely.

We’re working to make it much easier for people to switch from the car to sustainable transport for more journeys. The Bee Network will transform the way we travel, with joined up services, affordable fares, and cleaner, greener transport.

We’re working to attract more people on to the Bee Network, aiming for 50% of trips to be made by public transport, walking and cycling by 2040.

This would see approximately one million more trips each day using sustainable transport. Meaning reduced congestion, improved air quality, health and well-being and a well-supported local economy.

Local rail services

We’re bringing eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network – which will be introduced in phases from December 2026 through to 2028 – with contactless 'tap and go' fares for train travel to be rolled out across commuter rail lines.

We’ll encourage even more people to make the switch to the Bee Network by making rail services more reliable, flexible, and accessible to everyone, with simpler and fairer fares. We’ll put passengers first so they can expect improved services, upgraded stations, improved digital customer information and a better journey experience on Bee Network trains.

Our phased plans have the backing of the rail industry and aim to bring improvements to as many local rail commuters as soon as possible, boost passenger numbers, help drive growth and deliver new homes.

We continue to work closely with government as it establishes Great British Railways to help reform the railways, and implement new devolution legislation, allowing city regions like Greater Manchester to take more control over rail services.

In future, we want to make it easier to pay for your journey seamlessly across joined-up Bee Network bus, tram and train services.

This will happen in phases as we roll out Bee Network rail services.

New bus, tram and train paper ticket: At first, from December 2026, we’ll launch a new pre-paid paper ticket for travel on buses, trams and trains across the city region.
Contactless ‘tap and go’ payments across bus, tram and train: From January 2028, eight local rail lines – including 64 stations – will be part of the Bee Network with tap and go contactless payments and daily and weekly fare caps across bus, tram and train. The remaining 32 train stations will join the system by 2030.

So, in future, you’ll be able to use your contactless card or device at the rail station – and 'tap and go' on any Bee Network bus or tram. No need to buy separate tickets or worry about having the right ticket – just keep tapping and you’ll never pay more than a daily or weekly cap, no matter how you travel. Much more flexible and cheaper than buying separate tickets.

Under our plans 64 stations will join the Bee Network by 2028.

The remaining 32 stations in Greater Manchester would join by 2030.

See a full list of stations joining the Bee Network

In Greater Manchester, we have an ambitious new vision – acting on the government’s plans for reform – to transform our rail system over the next thirty years.

The first local rail services will start to join the Bee Network from December 2026, with eight commuter rail lines (with 64 stations) to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases by 2028.*

Other lines (with a remaining 32 stations) will join by 2030.

As each line joins the Bee Network, stations and services will be improved.

See a map showing how Greater Manchester rail lines and stations will be brought into the Bee Network.

Phase 1 (December 2026)

The first two lines – connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will join the Bee Network and contactless ‘tap in, tap out' ticketing will be rolled out across 17 stations.

Phase 2 (End 2027)

More local rail lines will follow in 2027:

Manchester to Cheadle Hulme and Middlewood via Stockport
Airport stopping services (local trains that call at stations between Manchester and Manchester Airport)

Phase 3 (End 2028)

Rochdale stopping services (Local trains that call at stations between Manchester and Rochdale)
Wigan via Golborne
Wigan via Atherton (local trains continuing on to Southport)
Wigan via Bolton (local trains continuing on to Southport)

End 2030: All local Greater Manchester stations are part of the Bee Network.

*All timings are subject to ongoing work between Greater Manchester leaders and the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Shadow Great British Railways and Train Operating Companies to further develop and implement the three-phase plan.

The Bee Network aims to transform local rail services so that they offer a much-improved journey experience. That includes train stations, trains, services, customer information, and paying for travel, as well as better links with bus and tram services.

Easier to pay: Contactless 'tap and go' payments for train travel will be rolled out in phases across Bee Network rail lines, starting with 17 stations in December 2026. By 2028 we plan to integrate local rail services with Bee Network buses and trams, with ‘tap and go’ payments and daily and weekly fare caps. Keep tapping and we’ll work out the best fare for you, no matter how you get around.
New Bee Network ticket: From December 2026 a new pre-paid paper ticket will launch for travel on buses, trams and trains across the city region.
Improved service performance and reliability: There will be a minimum of two trains an hour at all stations and more services running later and at weekends. In 2027, we will also be trialling additional and later running services on the Airport, Alderley Edge, and Rochdale stopping lines.
Bee Network stations: All 64 stations on the first eight rail lines will be brought up to Bee Network standards, with the Bee Network look and feel, new safety and accessibility features, upgraded toilet and waiting facilities, and improved customer information. There will be a flagship station at Manchester Airport, creating an international travel hub as the gateway to the city region.
Bee Network trains: A trial of Bee Network branded trains will also run in the first phase, with improved onboard facilities.
Better customer information: Multi-modal customer information screens at stations and better information across digital platforms.

We know that a confusing range of rail fares can put people off travelling. That’s why we’re working to make paying for travel as simple as possible, as soon as possible.

Simpler fares: Simpler fares for ‘on-the-day’ travel were introduced in Greater Manchester in December 2025, with two clear ticket options: Anytime and Off-Peak. The new fares are valid on all rail services between Greater Manchester rail stations. Single journeys are now half the price of return trips.

Tap in, tap out contactless ticketing: We’re working with government to bring contactless 'tap in, tap out' payments to 17 stations on the first two Bee Network rail lines in December 2026 (between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge and Manchester Piccadilly and Glossop). Contactless payments will make travel faster, easier and best value. There will be no need to plan ahead and search for the right ticket. Just keep tapping and we’ll work out the best rail fare for you, up to a weekly cap.

Greater Manchester has plans to build the first railway station in the city region for over 20 years at Golborne in Wigan. Following strong public support in a 2024 consultation, the station received planning approval in April 2025.

Subject to local authority and government approvals, work is expected to begin on site in 2026 with the first trains hoped to stop there in 2027.

A modern new train station is also planned at Cheadle, with government funding secured and work due to start soon, pending industry approvals.

We’re speeding up accessibility improvements at local stations to build a more inclusive and accessible network.

By March 2028, 63% of stations on the first eight train lines to join the Bee Network are planned to have step-free access (up from 43% at the end of 2024).*

We’re making good progress:

Work to deliver step-free access at Irlam and Daisy Hill stations is now complete, with work at Bryn already underway.
Hindley, Reddish North and Swinton will benefit from step-free access in 2026.
Step-free access schemes will also be delivered at Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Bredbury stations, (2027), and Levenshulme station (2028).
Detailed designs are also being developed for step-free access at Davenport (Stockport), Hall i’th Wood (Bolton), Moorside (Swinton) and Woodsmoor (Stockport) stations, so that, when further funding is secured, works can quickly get under way.

*Using funding from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and the Department for Transport Access for All scheme.

Bus services

The Bee Network means that – for the first time in nearly 40 years – decisions about Greater Manchester bus services are made locally. We:

Plan the bus network to make sure it links up with other transport.
Choose bus operators and deciding where buses run, how often and at what times.
Set targets for buses to be reliable, run on time, and meet high standards.
Offer a range of low cost, value for money tickets.

Services are run under contract by commercial bus operators. But no matter who runs the service, we expect the same high standards.

Bus operators can be fined and even lose contracts for poor performance.

We’re always making improvements, with widespread changes coming over the year ahead.

Bee Network buses are more reliable and better joined up than the services they replaced.
New bus services, including night buses and more buses during the day, evening and weekends.
Hundreds of newer, cleaner buses.
Even more TravelSafe Officers patrolling the network.
Low, flexible fares making travel more affordable.

The Bee Network is already making a difference, and more people are getting on board our yellow Bee buses.

But it’s still early days and we know there is more to do. Let us know what you think so we can keep on improving for everyone.

Most of our Bee buses are now yellow. If you see one that isn’t, don’t worry, we’re working on it. All Bee Network buses have our logo and signs on board and the drivers will be in a Bee Network uniform.

The Bee Network has a newer, cleaner bus fleet – including zero emission or low emission vehicles to tackle air pollution on key routes.

Brand new Bee Network specified buses make up more than half of the bus fleet, and we are working to make the entire fleet ‘best in class’.

All Bee Network buses are cleaned regularly to high standards and should offer a high-quality travel experience.

Eventually, we want all Bee Network buses to be:

Yellow, featuring the Bee Network logo.
Modern and electric or low-emission, with USB-charging ports.
Fully accessible, with ramps, wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, anti-slip flooring and audio and visual announcement systems – including announcements of next stop and final destination, plus other features.

Fares and tickets for every journey

No matter who you are or how you get around, we’ve got the right ticket or pass for you.

That includes tickets for adults, children, young people, students, older people and families.

Travel passes for younger people, older people, disabled people and care leavers can be used as normal on Bee Network buses.

This includes the Our Pass, ENCTS older persons, disabled and disabled plus pass.

Find the right ticket or pass for you.

There are lots of convenient ways to pay – by contactless, on the Bee Network app, smartcard, or cash and card.

For full fare paying passengers, contactless tap and go is the easiest and quickest way to pay for bus and tram travel.

Find out more about ways to pay.

Contactless tap and go is now the quickest, easiest way for full fare paying adults to pay for travel across Bee Network buses and trams.

Use your contactless card, phone or smart watch on card readers and we’ll do the maths. Simple.

Just keep tapping with the same card – or the same contactless device – and we’ll work out the best value fare for you based on the number of journeys you make.

Child tickets are not available on tap and go. A range of child tickets are available on the Bee Network app.
If you have a TfGM pass (igo, Our Pass, Scholar’s permit, ENCTS older persons, disabled and disabled plus pass) you can continue to use your pass as normal.
Please be careful to avoid card clash by keeping your pass separate from any bank cards when tapping on the bus card reader. This will avoid your bank card being charged the tap and go fare.

Find out what tap and go means for you.

We’ve made travel cheaper and simpler.

We’re keeping Bee Network fares as low as possible, with the right ticket for everyone.

Single 'hopper' bus fare: £2 Adult / £1 Child.*
1-day Bee Bus ticket: £5 Adult / £2.50 Child.
7-day Bee Bus ticket: £20 Adult / £10 Child.
28-day Bee Bus ticket: £80 Adult / £40 Child.
Annual bus, tram, and bus and tram tickets, offering great savings.

Find the right ticket or pass for your journey.

*You can travel on other Bee Network buses, for no extra cost, within 60 minutes of buying your single hopper ticket.

There are now three different annual tickets available for travel on Bee Network buses and trams:

The tickets all offer great savings compared to buying 7-day or 28-day tickets.

You can buy tickets from any Information and Ticket Office (at Bee Network bus stations and interchanges) and on the Bee Network app.

Find out more about spreading the costs with a Credit Union.

Customer commitments, improving services and having your say

Our six Customer Commitments have been developed with local people. We’re committed to delivering a Bee Network that is: 

Safe: We will create a safe and secure network.
Accessible: Everyone can use us.
Affordable: We will keep the cost of travel as low as possible.
Reliable: We will deliver a reliable network.
Sustainable: We will take the lead in creating a greener, healthier Greater Manchester. 
Accountable: We will use your feedback to shape the Bee Network.

The Bee Network is a big change to the way transport is run.

We’re always looking to make improvements where we can. That includes:

Changing services or timetables: To make sure buses arrive on time or to open up more travel opportunities to more people.
Introducing more and newer buses: to make services more reliable.
Introducing new services: Including night bus services, improving community links and services to key employment and visitor destinations.
Reducing disruption: Working with local authorities to reduce disruption caused by roadworks through new traffic signal technology at hundreds of locations.

See the customer commitments web page for examples of improvements we’ve already made.

It’s still early days and we know there is more to do. You can help us keep improving services by letting us know how your journey is. 

We monitor all Bee Network services closely and look to make improvements where possible.

It’s still early days for Bee Network bus services, but our monitoring shows that many services introduced in September 2023 and March 2024 are more reliable than the services they replaced – and more people are using them.

The Bee Network Committee is responsible for monitoring Bee Network performance and gets regular reports on how the network is doing (see Bee Network operations: How it all works FAQs.)

Mayor Andy Burnham and local councillors represent you on the Committee, help shape the Bee Network, and give any improvements the go ahead.

We're here to help. Whether you travel by bus, tram, train, walk, wheel or cycle we’d love to hear from you.

Let us know about your journey (if it’s not up to scratch or you have ideas to make it even better), report lost property, ask us a question or just get in touch:

Your feedback will help us see how we are doing and help shape future Bee Network improvements. Visit our help and contact webpage for more.

*If you get in touch by phone, you can request LanguageLine Solutions. LanguageLine offer a telephone interpreting service for customers whose first language is not English.

Information, Bee Network app, journey planning and lost property

As well as the Bee Network app and website, you can

You can also follow us on social media:

X: Follow @beenetwork
Facebook: Follow beenetworkgm
Instagram: Follow @beenetworkgm
YouTube: Subscribe to beenetworkgm
TikTok: Follow @beenetworkgm

Your transport operator may also have a website and an app that provides more information about their services. This could include fares information and live journey times.

Find contact details for our Bee Network Customer Contact team and transport operators on our website.

Download the Bee Network app to:

Plan any journey and see expected arrival times.
Get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations.
Track your bus live on map and see live locations for all buses from a stop near you.
Buy a range of tickets.
Check travel alert information and get major incident alerts.

We’re always working to make the app even better. Get in touch if you’ve got any suggestions.

You can track any Bee Network bus service live on a map on the Bee Network app and see live locations for all buses from a stop near you.

If you experience any glitches (like not seeing your bus, or it not tracking) please check your network connection first.

If there’s still a problem, it may be because:

Some non-Bee Network bus operators whose services run into Greater Manchester don’t provide tracking data for use in the Bee Network app.
The bus has not yet left the first stop on its journey.
The bus is showing as scheduled but has been cancelled or is not running.
Technical issues mean we have lost connection with the bus (we don’t expect this to happen often).

We use your feedback to make the Bee Network better, including the app.

It’s now easier to see if there’s any disruption that might affect your journey. You can now see travel alerts on the journey planner feature, as well as on the travel alerts section.

You can also get push notifications about any large scale disruptions or incidents which may affect your travel, such as weather-related disruption.

Bee Network: Get in touch with us if you lose something on the Bee Network, including buses, bus stops, interchanges or bus stations.

Non-Bee Network buses: If you lose something on a non-Bee Network bus service you should contact the bus operator. 

Metrolink: If you lose something on a tram or at a tram stop, contact the Metrolink operator.

Metrolink trams

With 99 stops and a network of lines across Greater Manchester, our fully accessible Metrolink tram system is a key part of the Bee Network.

Tram passengers are already benefiting from Bee Network improvements like the new Bee Network app and website, and the new Bee AnyBus + Tram travelcards.

Tap and go contactless payments are now available across tram AND bus services, making seamless travel even easier.

No need to plan or buy tickets in advance, just pay by contactless and you’ll automatically get charged the right fare up to a daily or weekly cap.

Where possible, Bee Network bus services are also being planned to link up with Metrolink and local rail to make it easier to get where you need to go.

We are also looking for opportunities to improve services and expand the tram network in future.

As part of the draft Greater Manchester Rapid Transit Strategy, we’ve identified 15 priorities, which include:

Plans for a new fleet of next generation Metrolink vehicles, that could carry more passengers and have tram-train capability.
Potential new Metrolink stops and lines, and tram-train services.

Contactless tap and go is now the quickest, easiest way for full fare paying adults to pay for travel across Bee Network trams and buses

There’s no change to how you already pay by contactless on trams. Just tap the same card or contactless device on the card reader at the tram stop at both the start and end of your journey.

If you want to catch the bus too, just keep tapping with the same card or contactless device. Tap once when you get on the bus, no need to tap out.

We’ll do the maths so you always pay the best value fare:

The lowest fare up to the daily cap of £5, or weekly cap of £20, to travel on any bus in Greater Manchester.
Pay no more than £9.50 for unlimited, all-day travel on Metrolink and any bus in Greater Manchester (or £7.80 after 9.30am and on weekends). Journeys will be cheaper if travelling across fewer Metrolink zones.

Find out more about tap and go.

Cycling, walking and wheeling

A key part of the Bee Network is walking, wheeling and cycling routes that join up better with buses, trams and trains.

Greater Manchester is currently building the country’s largest active travel network.

We’re connecting every area and community in Greater Manchester with 1,800 miles of safe routes and 2,400 new crossings.

The aim is to put nearly all residents (95%) within 400 metres of a high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling route.

To find out more about cycling and walking in Greater Manchester, visit the Bee Active website.

You can hire Starling Bank Bikes and e-bikes in parts of Manchester, Salford and Trafford.

We've added 300 new, lighter e-bikes to the fleet so there is an even split between the number of pushbikes and e-bikes.

Starling Bank Bikes are affordable and easy to use – you can pay as you ride or buy cheaper minute bundles.

The scheme is powered by Beryl and the bikes are available to hire via the Starling Bank Bikes app.

Bee Network: Accessibility

All buses running in Greater Manchester meet legal accessibility standards.

The new zero-emission electric Bee Network buses provide enhanced accessibility features. This includes two wheelchair spaces, audio visual announcements and a hearing induction loop.

Other buses running in Greater Manchester are being upgraded too. We want to make all Bee Network buses best-in-class and as accessible as possible for everyone, as quickly as we can.

We can decide where and when Bee Network services run. So we can make sure it’s easier and cheaper to get to where you want to go.

We’re making sure buses link up with other transport systems like Metrolink, our accessibility-award-winning tram network. It has step-free access across all 99 stops and audio/visual announcements on all platforms and trams.

Fully inclusive electric buses are running on the Bee Network alongside other modern vehicles, with more planned in future.

The buses have been designed with help from passengers and key groups like our Disability Design Reference Group, and we’ll keep listening to your feedback.

We can arrange for you to test your wheelchair using a bus that is not in service. You’ll have the space and time you need to try it out.

If you want to do this, contact the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre:

Call us on 0161 244 1000 (Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm / Weekends and Bank Holidays: 8am to 8pm). *
Email hello@beenetwork.com

The Ring & Ride accessible minibus service is also available for wheelchair users.

*If you get in touch by phone, you can request LanguageLine Solutions. LanguageLine offer a telephone interpreting service for customers whose first language is not English.

We’ve made sure the new Bee Network app meets all accessibility standards. *

We worked with people and groups with different disabilities and accessibility requirements to help develop the app. We also carried out user experience research.

We’re continuing to work with groups to get their valued feedback as we add new features and functionality to the app in future.

The app includes the following accessibility features:

Simple information, with icons used to help explain things.
The app adjusts to the assistive settings of the user’s device, supporting colour contrast and the size of text and buttons.
The app can be solely voice controlled using features of iOS and Android.
It supports screen reader technology using your device’s assistive technology.

*App development was supported by a robust equality impact assessment in line with TfGM’s Public Sector Equalities Duty. The app complies with the Public Sector Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. In some areas the design of the app meets the stricter AAA standard.

We have worked with a range of people and groups, to listen to different lived experiences.

This valuable feedback helped shape printed and digital customer information, the new Bee Network app, the design of the new zero-emission buses, the Bee Network brand, and the Greater Manchester Bus Strategy.

Groups involved in this activity include:

TfGM Disability Design Reference Group
Autism Consortium
RNIB
Dementia United
Henshaws User Voice Group
Manchester Deaf Centre
Salford Deaf Community
GM Disabled People’s Panel
Guide Dogs
GM Youth Combined Authority
GM Youth Network
GM Race Equality Panel
GM Older People’s Network.

We’ll keep on having these important open conversations so we can work together to make the Bee Network as accessible as possible for everyone as quickly as we can.

Bee Network operations: How it all works

Transport for Greater Manchester plans all Bee Network services, which are run under contracts by commercial operators. No matter who runs the service, we expect the same high standards. We answer to you, the passenger.

Buses:

Since 23 September 2023, Go North West and Diamond are running Bee Network buses in Bolton and Wigan, and parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester.
Since 24 March 2024, Stagecoach, First and Diamond are running Bee Network bus services in Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester.
Since 5 January 2025, Metroline, Stagecoach, Diamond and Go North West are running Bee Network bus services in Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and parts of Manchester and Salford.

Metrolink trams: 

Keolis Amey Metrolink runs local tram services.

Bike:

The Starling Bank Bike hire scheme is powered by Beryl.

Train: 

Local train services will join the Bee Network by 2030, so it’s too soon to say who will operate services in future.

The Bee Network is funded from a variety of sources, including the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which saw Greater Manchester awarded £1.07bn to help deliver the Bee Network.

Funded by UK Government logo

Greater Manchester has a long history of campaigning for better bus services. Following direct pressure from Greater Manchester, the Bus Services Act 2017 was introduced.

This gave Mayors of city-regions the power to introduce a bus franchising scheme in their local areas.

In March 2021, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham decided to introduce a franchised network as the best way to improve local bus services in Greater Manchester.

This followed a major assessment of the existing bus network – and a 20-week long public consultation showing a high level of public support for the proposals.

Find all the reports summarising and setting out the response to the consultation on the GMCA website.

Under franchising, local bus services within Greater Manchester are provided under three categories:

Large contracts – ten contracts, each five years long (with the option to extend for two more years).
Small contracts – approximately 25 contracts, each three years long.
School service contracts – each three years long.

Increased local decision-making power and accountability is at the heart of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network.

The Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee  watches over and make decisions about the Bee Network.

The Committee is chaired by Mayor Andy Burnham and has one councillor from each of the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities. The Mayor has also chosen four more councillors to sit on the committee for political balance.

So your local authority councillors will be able to represent you – and have a say on services in your area.

The Bee Network Committee looks at quarterly performance data for the network. This allows them to hold TfGM and operators to account for how well they are running the network. Looking at things like services turning up on time, safety and drivers and buses meeting high standards.

The Committee is also involved in regular Bee Network reviews, engagement and consultations.

Full details of meetings and reports are available, where you can also watch the Committee meetings live.

The Bee Bus ticket is now the go to ticket for cheaper travel on all buses in Greater Manchester.

Bee Bus ticket: If you previously bought a Bee Bus ticket, keep on buying this ticket travel on all buses in Greater Manchester AND on Bee Network services running over the Greater Manchester boundary.

We’ve reduced Bee Bus ticket prices and introduced a new 28-day and Annual Bee Bus ticket, so you’ll be able to travel further for less. You can buy them on the app and from other places.

Bee AnyBus ticket: You only need to buy a Bee AnyBus ticket if you travel on the 88, 130, 199, 391, 392, 393, 394, 464, 481, 483, X41 or CAT5 non-Bee Network bus services and your journey starts or ends outside Greater Manchester but within the AnyBus boundary line shown on this map.

Find out more about recent ticket changes introduced on 5 January.