Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Public transport in Manchester is set for a major shakeup this month, with the launch of the highly anticipated Bee Network on the way. On top of this, 180 bus services across Greater Manchester will soon come under public control.

This is a historic moment for the city and region. It signals the first time in 37 years that buses in Greater Manchester will be publicly controlled.

The buses will come under public ownership from September 24. Other services are due to follow the same path in 2024.

The full list of buses coming into public control were obtained by campaign group Better Buses for Greater Manchester through a FOI request. Matthew Topham, a campaigner at Better Buses for Greater Manchester, said: “It’s fantastic to see the hard work of local people, unions, climate groups, and civil society pay off. This list shows us 180 ways Greater Manchester will now work for people and the planet, not just profit.

“For too long, bus services were run in the interests of private companies in an extreme Thatcherite experiment: services were axed, corners cut on reliability, and fares ever rising. All for the benefit of shareholders who don’t live in the region. This is the beginning of a process where the people of Greater Manchester are winning for themselves a network that is run by and for the region’s residents, not fat cats overseas.”

Full list of Greater Manchester buses coming under public control this month

8 Bolton - Pendlebury - Manchester City Centre
10 Brookhouse - Eccles - Manchester City Centre
20 Bolton – Little Hulton - Trafford Centre
21 Trafford Centre – Pendlebury – Clifton
22 Trafford Centre – Bolton
29 Boothstown – Swinton – Salford Quays
36 Bolton - Little Hulton - Manchester City Centre
37 Bolton - Farnworth - Manchester City Centre
65 Eccles - Westwood Park Circular
66 Eccles - Worsley - Prestwich
70 Eccles – Ellesmere Park - Pendleton
79 Salford Quays - Stretford
126 Leigh - Boothstown - Trafford Centre
129 Farnworth – Walkden – Higher Green
132 Wigan - Boothstown - Trafford Centre
162 Norden - Middleton - Manchester City Centre
163 Bury - Middleton - Manchester City Centre
362 Standish - Wigan
471 Bolton - Bury – Rochdale
501 Farnworth - Bolton - Johnson Fold
507 Bolton - Harwood Circular
511 Bolton - Breightmet – Bury
512 Bury – Ainsworth– Farnworth
513 Bury - Whitefield – Farnworth
516 Horwich - Westhoughton - Atherton - Leigh
520 Westhoughton – Bolton
521 Little Lever - Royal Bolton Hospital - Blackrod
524 Bolton - Radcliffe – Bury
526 Barrow Bridge - Bolton
533 Egerton - Tonge Moore - Bolton
534 Oldhams Estate - Bolton
535 Bolton - Astley Bridge – Horrocks Fold
537 Bolton - Astley Bridge Circular
541 Bromley Cross - Bolton
544 Bolton - Great Lever Circular
557 Ringley Fold – Farnworth – Royal Bolton Hospital
559 Ashton - Hindley - Bolton
582 Leigh - Atherton - Bolton
583 Tyldesley – Shakerley - Leigh
584 Crankwood - Leigh
588 Leigh - Lowton Circular
590 Leigh - Pennington - Lowton Circular
596 Leigh - Landside Circular
597 Leigh Infirmary - Leigh Sports Village
603 Byrchall/St Edmund Arrowsmith High School
613 New Springs - Wigan
630 Platt Bridge - Wigan
634 Wigan - Castle Hill Circular
635 Shevington Vale– Wigan Infirmary
639 Wigan – Pemberton – Worsley Hall Circular
652 Byrchall/St Edmund Arrowsmith High School
657 Winstanley College
663 St John Rigby College
664 Winstanley College
665 Winstanley/St John Rigby College
666 Winstanley/St John Rigby College
667 Winstanley/St John Rigby College
668 Winstanley College – Wigan, Bus Station
669 St John Rigby College – Winstanley College – Wigan, Bus Station
887 Bury CoE High School
888 Bury CoE High School
889 Unsworth Academy
890 Philips High School/Unsworth Academy
896 Elton High School
897 Elton High School
899 Derby High School
901 Canon Slade
902 Canon Slade
903 Canon Slade

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham with a Bee Network bike and bus. Photo: TfGM

904 Horwich - Deane - Canon Slade School
905 Canon Slade
906 Westhoughton - Daubhill - Canon Slade School
907 Canon Slade School - Great Lever - Leigh (PM only)
907 St John Fisher Catholic High School
907 Canon Slade
909 Canon Slade
910 Canon Slade
911 Canon Slade
912 Heaton - Doffcocker - Rivington & Blackrod High
913 Bolton - Lostock - Rivington & Blackrod High
913 Rivington and Blackrod High School
914 Middlebrook - Brazley - Rivington & Blackrod High
915 Blackrod - Rivington & Blackrod High
915 Blackrod - Rivington & Blackrod High short
916 Haulgh - Breightmet - Little Lever High School
918 Doffcocker - Gilnow Park - Ladybridge High School
919 Thornleigh College
920 Thornleigh College
921 Canon Slade/Thornleigh
922 Thornleigh College
923 Thornleigh College
923 Thornleigh College
924 Thornleigh College
925 Withins - Thornleigh College (AM)
925 Thornleigh College
926 Turton High School

Full list of 180 Greater Manchester bus services due to come under public control this month

Comment Guidelines