Transport for Greater Manchester to launch Bee Network night buses

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is launching a 24-hour transport pilot to provide night bus services across its Bee network.

The pilot will start on September 1 to support the region’s night-time economy.

Night buses will run on routes V1 and 36, which link Manchester to Leigh and Bolton via Salford. These areas were among the first to be taken over by the Bee Network, with buses now under local control.

Pilot transport 24 hours a day will start from September

© Transport for Greater Manchester

Throughout the trial, nighttime services will operate at least every hour to provide 24-hour connectivity.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

I am very excited about the potential of Greater Manchester as an engine of growth – but it will only be fully realized if we have the transport infrastructure to get people to and from our thriving employment hubs, whatever the time of day or night.

Better night time transport is something I know people have been clamoring for and I have to thank Sacha Lord who helped get it to the point where we can confirm Bee Network services are now just weeks away .

The bee network allows us to develop the services that best serve the people and businesses of our city region. Transport should never be a barrier to opportunity and this is one step towards making things better for people who work – or want to work – in our hospitals, care homes, clubs, bars, distribution centers or theatres.

The survey of Greater Manchester residents in February showed that more than a quarter (27%) of people said a lack of night-time public transport prevented them accessing opportunities such as work, night classes, socializing or night-time medical services.

V1 and 36 were chosen for this pilot due to their proximity to key places of employment in the night time economy such as hotels, bars and clubs, hospitals and distribution centres. These routes also serve areas with large numbers of people less likely to own a car.

Safety will be a key priority in the provision of night bus services. The Bee Network team of Travelsafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEO) will thus be expanded to support the pilot.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:

The safety of customers and staff will be paramount on night bus services. A team of Travelsafe support and enforcement officers has already been deployed across the Bee network to provide a highly visible presence and this approach will be extended to support the night bus pilot.

Customers can also quickly and discreetly report incidents to a police call operator from their smartphone using the GMP LiveChat service accessed through the Bee Network app.

We are also looking at the potential for further action over the coming months to further improve safety and the perception of safety in public transport and active travel as part of our zero tolerance for crime and anti-social behaviour.

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