An additional 50 buses have been ordered as part of Greater Manchester’s plan to bring the transport system under public control.

Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has announced that Transport for Greater Manchester has ordered a further 50 electric double-decker buses, doubling the total on order for the franchised Bee Network bus system to 100.

The Bee Network is a plan to integrate Greater Manchester’s public transport into one London-style system – with buses and trams integrated into one ticketing system by 2024, and commuter trains by 2030.

The additional 50 British-built electric buses will enter service in parts of Bury, Rochdale and Oldham when the second tranche of franchising launches there in April 2024.

The modern buses are planned to have audio-visual stop announcements, improved disability access, and will be powered by electricity.

The buses will be funded by the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

Other schemes planned for the funding include plans for a £600k bus corridor in Oldham and a Metrolink route from Oldham to Bury via Heywood and Rochdale.

The new buses follow an initial purchase of 50 buses for the first set of Bee Network services in Wigan and Bolton from September 2023, for which Go North West and Diamond were announced as the appointed operators by Mayor Andy Burnham on Friday, December 23.

Buses operating in Bolton will be the first to come under public control.

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In the summer, the bus franchising plan received the green light after a legal challenge by Rotala (owner of Diamond Bus) and Stagecoach went to the High Court, then on to the Court of Appeal.

It allowed the authorities to accept bids for two large contracts covering Bolton and Wigan, and a number of smaller contracts covering both boroughs and parts of Bury and Salford.

Operators for services in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester have yet to be confirmed – with services to be operated from early 2024.

Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and South Manchester will follow at the end of 2024.

Alexander Dennis’ president & managing director Paul Davies said: “This repeat order from Transport for Greater Manchester is a great recognition of the value added by our zero-emission buses, which will be built in the North of England at our factory in Scarborough and supported locally from our AD24 aftermarket hub in Skelmersdale.

“With a total of 100 electric buses now on order from Alexander Dennis for the Bee Network, we are looking forward to helping to transform the public transport experience in the region.”

Greater Manchester transport commissioner Vernon Everitt said: “There is strong momentum towards the delivery of the Bee Network – an integrated London-style transport system – and bus franchising alongside our Metrolink trams means we have a solid foundation to build from.

“High demand for safe, reliable and affordable public transport in the region will only increase as we progressively join up our fares, ticketing and information systems to make using public transport easier and more accessible for everyone. 

“We are also developing major schemes at pace, with more than £100m worth of projects currently being progressed, including dozens of new electric buses, plans for new quality bus routes and various projects that will significantly improve the travelling experience for passengers.”