More night buses among overhaul to Bee Network

Extra night buses, new routes and more frequent services are being rolled out in the largest set of improvements to Greater Manchester's Bee Network, according to Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig.

Almost two-thirds of the changes will kick in between 30 August and 6 September.

Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford is set to get a 24-hour bus service, meaning every part of Greater Manchester will now have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.

Craig said it was "responding to what residents want" and "bringing night buses to every borough, launching new routes and ensuring buses run more often in the mornings, evenings and weekends".

The news follows the announcement earlier this month that children aged 11-18 in Greater Manchester will soon be eligible for free bus travel.

New bus routes include the 377, connecting homes at Woodford Garden Village to Stockport town centre.

The 612 will provide a daily half-hourly service between Wigan and St Helens via Abram, Golborne and Newton-le-Willows, and the 388 will provide an hourly service between Ashton and Hyde, via Stalybridge.

Responding to demand, people heading from Bolton to work or shop at Middlebrook Retail Park will also be able to travel on an extended half-hourly 615 service providing a direct connection between the retail park and the town centre.

Extra morning trips will be added to the 507 and 511 routes, to help shift-workers at Logistics North in Bolton connect to buses to meet their early start times.

Further improvements are also planned for January, Transport for Greater Manchester said.

The Bee Network was the first region outside London to have a regulated bus system since the 1980s.

Craig said: "We're listening and responding to what residents want, with the biggest set of improvements we've ever made in one go.

"In doing so, we're making it easier than ever for people to get around the city region by bus. But we're also supporting our businesses, whose staff and customers need a reliable and safe way to reach them.

"Almost three quarters of a million people live within walking distance of a bus route we're improving over the next few months.

She added: "We'll continue improving connections for even more communities based on the feedback we get."

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