2 weeks Ago
A map has been released showing where people can get busses and trams every 12 minutes or less ahead of major changes to public transport. The map shows “high frequency” routes all over Greater Manchester which are served by busses and trams every 12 minutes or less. This comes with just a week to go until the Bee Network launches its new contactless tap and go service.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “In London, passengers often simply turn up to a Tube station or bus stop knowing that they’ll be on board within minutes. “Such a frequent and flexible public transport system shouldn’t be exclusive to the capital and we promised Greater Manchester we’d deliver it with the Bee Network. The map showing the high frequency routes (Image: TfGM) “To make that system a reality we needed to do two main things.
“Firstly, take back control of local buses, allowing us to set fares, routes and service frequencies to better connect our communities. “We did that in January, becoming the first region in the UK to do so in 40 years. “Next, we’re launching tap and go across bus and tram, giving people the freedom to travel in a way that works for them.
“One of the biggest changes we’ve introduced in Greater Manchester, it will bring us more in line with London and make public transport more convenient, flexible and affordable than it’s ever been before. “Combine these steps with a joined-up network of high frequency bus and tram routes, within easy reach of over a million of our residents, and we’ve made major strides toward our public transport promise. “Our call to the people of Greater Manchester is now to get on board and back the Bee Network so we can continue to go from strength to strength.
” The map is intended to be the first step towards more frequent, reliable Bee Network services. Bee Network busses have been rolled out across the city region (Image: TfGM) Transport officials say that feedback gathered from communities through Network Reviews will be key to shaping future routes and service changes. According to the Bee Network, more than 1.
2M people in Greater Manchester, coming to 43.7 per cent of the population, live within walking or wheeling distance of a high frequency service. From Sunday March 23, bus passengers will be able to turn up, tap and go when paying for all bus journeys.
They’ll also be able to switch flexibly between bus and tram, with the Bee Network saying they will always pay the best value fare thanks to new daily and weekly caps. There are now 41 high frequency bus routes across Greater Manchester, which carry most bus passenger despite making up just seven per cent of Bee Network services. Of the 13.
8 million journeys made by bus in February, 7.4 million, coming to 54 per cent, were on these routes. Out of around 577 Bee Network services in operation, the 192, 143 and 43 high frequency services account for 10 per cent of all bus journeys taken in Greater Manchester.
On Metrolink, all trams run on a standard 12-minute frequency on weekdays from 6am until midnight. Higher frequency trams serving the city centre, Altrincham, Bury, East Didsbury, Etihad Stadium, Oldham Town Centre and Salford Quays run every six minutes. During peak times at Deansgate-Castlefield, there are 40 trams per direction every hour, with a tram departing every 45 seconds.
Metrolink carries around 1.8 million people every month, and last year it set a record for the number of journeys taken by tram with 45.6 million trips in 2024.
The contactless “tap and go” system has worked on trams since 2019 but next week will be expanded to Bee Network buses. ALSO READ: The new ticket system for public transport in 2 weeks – how it works and the fares ALSO READ: Bee Network 'tap and go' system details revealed ahead of being rolled out on buses ALSO READ: First converted electric bus enters service in Greater Manchester This will mean bus passengers to now pay for their bus travel or multi-modal journeys by tapping on a bus without needing a ticket. Fares will be capped automatically to ensure passengers pay the best fare up to the daily or weekly cap.
For people making journeys on bus and tram, fares start from £6, or £5.40 off peak, a day or £24.80 for a week, depending on the number of zones they travel through.
Bus-only journeys remain £2 for a single hopper journey, £5 for the day or £20 over a week no matter how many buses passengers take across the whole of Greater Manchester. Passengers still wanting to pay cash or purchase tickets can still do so, with tickets also available on the Bee Network app..
