THE BIGGEST change to public transport operation in Greater Manchester since bus deregulation in 1986 was launched on September 24 as part of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s pledge to integrate all modes of public transport within the region.
Initially, the Bee Network mainly affects the operation of local bus services, which have been taken under the control of Transport for Greater Manchester, but will eventually also integrate trams, trains and cycling.
Under the Bee Network TfGM has greater control over the services it operates, with a series of improvements planned for local buses, which will benefit Metrolink by having better integration between buses with first and last tram services. A new multimodal AnyBus+ tram ticket has been launched, making travel 20% cheaper compared with buying separate tickets. These can be bought from a new Bee Network app, which brings together real-time information for buses, trams and trains.
A Bee Network customer contact centre will act as a single point of contact for customer queries, and social media channels have all been changed to reflect the Bee Network with the #beenetwork tag. Further information on the wider plans for the network can be found at https://tfgm.com/the-bee-network The 147 M5000 trams, numbered 3001-3147, currently operated by Keolis Amey Metrolink on behalf of TfGM, are painted in silver and yellow. The livery first appeared when 3001 was delivered to Metrolink’s Queens Road depot in July 2009, although a number of trams also carry advertising and promotional vinyl wraps.
Publicity material issued by TfGM show visualisations of trams carrying a revised all-over yellow livery with Bee Network branding instead of the Metrolink name, w
