I got up at 3.30am to travel on the first revolutionary Bee Network bus... this is what it was like
24.09.2023 - 09:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The roads were near-silent as I hauled myself out of bed at 3.30am. But the calm belied a Herculean overnight effort by transport staff across Greater Manchester.
As late as last night, private bus services were running their usual routes. In the small hours of this morning (Sunday, September 24), transport workers assumed a military operation to quickly change over the IT, radios and a myriad of other gadgets within the region's buses.
And at 4.30am sharp, the result of their moonlit work - and years of behind the scenes conversations, political machinations, and immensely detailed practical planning - rolled into Farnworth bus station. The 521 from Farnworth to Westhoughton became the first franchised bus in Greater Manchester in 36 years.
READ MORE: A new era begins for Greater Manchester's buses - with passengers in the driving seat
The launch of the Greater Manchester Bee Network promises to revolutionise the public transport system in the region. It begins the process of bringing all buses in the city-region under public control by 2025, with the first franchised buses here since 1986 rolled out across Wigan and Bolton, and some parts of Salford and Bury from today.
Not only is it almost four decades since Greater Manchester had control of its buses, the formal introduction of the Bee Network marks the first time in as many years that buses outside of London are under the control of local leaders.
Af course, that means a new colour scheme - with the Bee Network sporting Manchester's characteristic black and yellow theme.
Hopping on a pristine bus in Farnworth, its clear the transport system has had a much-needed shot in the arm. The lemony bus was immaculate, naturally, for its first outing.
Aesthetically, the