Buses will start turning yellow in Greater Manchester from today (March 24), six months before the new Bee Network is finally launched. The first publicly controlled buses will be rolled out in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Bury and Salford from September with the whole network to be franchised by 2025.
It means that fares, routes and standards will be controlled by local leaders rather than bus companies who will have to bid for contracts to run services. Operators will also be penalised if buses are regularly late or don't show up.
Fares will continue to be capped at the same price across Greater Manchester, but could increase above the £2 adult single ticket agreed last September. And a daily cap on buses, trams and rental bikes will be introduced which means passengers can tap-in and tap-out on all three for a fixed price each day.
