Greater Manchester's Bee Network is set for major changes in the coming months, including the phased integration of train stations, free bus travel for young people, and a decision on an underground station at Piccadilly. The Bee Network Committee met on Thursday (October 29) to hear about the plans and the system's performance.
Rail integration to begin in December
Plans to bring Greater Manchester's train stations into the Bee Network took a major step forward on Thursday after being supported by the Bee Network Committee. Train stations across the region will join the public transport network in phases starting this December up to 2030 under plans announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
The plans aim to make widespread improvements to rail travel, including the ability to tap in and out of the network, better reliability, and upgrades to infrastructure and the customer experience. A daily multimodal tram, train and bus paper-based ticket will be introduced by December, allowing passengers to switch between different modes of public transport.
Longer-term, bosses will bring in an integrated Bee Network payment system with daily and weekly fare caps across bus, tram and rail journeys. This will be delivered by the end of 2028 when rail-only tap and go is completed across all Greater Manchester railway stations.
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin welcomed the plans, saying: "I want to highlight the relationship between that and congestion, so many times I've heard people say they drive into Manchester because they're not confident in the train, they're not confident they're going to get there on time, so I think that is really important." A number of councillors also stressed the need for better Sunday train services.
Free bus travel for 11 to 16 year olds
The Bee Network Committee confirmed that free bus travel for 11 to 16 year olds in Greater Manchester will be rolled out from January, with applications for bus passes opening on December 8. The move was one of the first pledges announced by Bev Craig when she was elected as mayor of Greater Manchester in July.
It is expected that up to 200,000 children may be able to use the passes, putting £500 back into the pockets of families. The move is expected to cost up to £20m a year.
Councillor Mike McCusker said: "I think it's a fantastic move, I’ve been calling for some time now on the Bee Network Committee that all school-aged children should be able to travel for free, as they do in London. Greater independence allows them to visit cultural and natural assets throughout the city for free, and obviously gets them to a position where they're used to using the network and opens up future employment opportunities."
Underground station at Piccadilly
TfGM gave an update on proposals for an underground station at Piccadilly, part of the £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail project to improve east-west travel in the north. A joint review between the government and Greater Manchester officials started in January this year, and mayor Bev Craig has said she wants a decision on the plan by Christmas.
The idea is that a new station would be a major boost for rail links in Greater Manchester and the north, as well as freeing up land overground for other development. There are wider ambitions for Piccadilly to become the 'Kings Cross of the north', and bosses at the town hall have described the issue as a 'battle' the city needs to win.
TfGM said in a new report: "The review will conclude with a single Piccadilly station options growth assessment report and a proposed funding approach report to government. It is intended that a recommendation on the preferred station option will be made at the end of this review."
Punctuality report
The latest Bee Network punctuality report focused on services in August and September this year. It revealed that there were issues with some buses not arriving on time around the region.
TfGM said in a report: "Bee Network punctuality was mixed during the period. Metrolink punctuality remained above the target of 80% at 92.5%, while bus punctuality was below target at 78% in September and is currently at 75% in October, impacted by roadworks and the return to school."
Councillor Peter Crossen described the situation as a 'mixed bag' for the Bee Network, adding: "The report notes that punctuality is down as of September at 78 per cent and provisionally at the moment 75 pc in October. Put that into context and that’s nearly one in four bus services not turning up on time."
