13 photos of Bee Network staff readying buses as Greater Manchester transport landmark reached

Following a phased approach, all bus services – totalling 577 routes, 1,600 buses and accounting for more than 160 million trips per year – are now under local control and accountable to the people, businesses and communities of Greater Manchester. Making history as the first area in the country to do this in 40 years, Greater Manchester has taken steps to reverse decades-long decline to deliver improved services, better buses and more affordable fares.

Large numbers of Bee network staff were busy making final preparations to buses over the weekend ahead of the launch. Workers at Manchester Airport Bus Station, and Hyde Road and Wythenshawe depots were busy over the weekend.

In this gallery, we take a look at these members of staff who have helped to make history in the region