Oldham Bee Bus 'chaos' as passengers pay more for tickets

The depot on Wallshaw Street is in the midst of transferring over to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) with Bee Network Services, operated by Stagecoach, this week.

It means buses will no longer be operated by First Manchester as of Sunday, March 24.

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The bus depot in Oldham (Image: Newsquest)

First Bus has issued advice on ticket purchases in the interim, as some can claim a refund on yearly or monthly tickets, while passengers have started buying Bee Bus tickets on board or via the app as of Monday (March 18).

• Also read: Oldham First Bus to end this week - advice for passengers

However, while the Bee Network promised "cheaper travel" for Oldhamers with single journey tickets capped at £2, travellers say they are now forking out more for weekly and monthly tickets - including children's passes.

Cost increases - weekly, monthly and children's tickets

Comparing ticket fares, passengers opting for a weekly ticket used to pay £18 with First.

However, passengers now need more than a £20 note for the same weekly pass, paying £21 to board a Bee Bus an increase of £3 a week.

Over the course of an average year, weekly passengers will be paying £1,092 with the new network, compared to £936 with First.

That's £156 more - or a 16 per cent increase.

As an alternative, frequent bus users might opt for a cheaper-on-average monthly pass instead.

However, this has also gone up in cost, from £72 under First to £85.40 under the Bee Network.

In a 12 month period, Oldhamers will be paying £1,024.80 for their bus travel compared to the £864 they paid prior to the change over.

That's £160.80 more - or a 15 per cent increase.

Children's weekly passes are also more expensive with the Bee Network.

While youngsters paid £9 a week for First Bus travel, the same ticket now costs £10.50.

However, parents can purchase a 'school run' 5-day bus ticket for their children for £7.60 from the Bee Network instead.

First Buses had more expensive single and day tickets, but cheaper weekly and monthly tickets compared to the Bee Network (Image: Newsquest)

Cheaper travel - single and day tickets

Savings can only be found in the Bee Buses single and day tickets.

Under First Bus, single-day tickets cost £4 for adults and £2 to £2.50 (without an IGO card) for children.

Now, adults pay just £2 and children's tickets cost £1 with Bee Buses, meaning single trips for passengers are 50 per cent cheaper.

As for day tickets, adults were paying £5.50 and children £2.75 under First, which has been slashed to £5 and £2.50 respectively under the Bee Network.

The price hike comes as passengers were promised 'cheaper fares' (Image: Newsquest)

Cheaper travel on the Bee Network

The news comes as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, promised public transport passengers will travel for 20 per cent less when using the Bee Network in plans revealed last summer.

The bus fare cap of £2 for single tickets and £5 for day tickets has been extended until September this year.

Meanwhile, the Mayor announced 20 per cent cheaper ‘Bee AnyBus + Tram’ tickets are on the horizon for September this year too, which will allow ticketholders to use buses and trams under one ticket price.

'Chaos' for passengers

Yet passengers across Oldham have reported facing difficulty in the changeover this week on social media, with First Bus no longer selling tickets and drivers reportedly refusing to accept some.

Karen Shurba said she was unable to buy any tickets via the apps this week, claiming the Bee Network app "is not great" and she "couldn't get it to work at all".

Tanya Jenkinson claimed bus drivers have also been refusing tickets amid the confusion, writing: "It's a nightmare. Bee passes [and] First being dismissed. Shambles!"

Katherine Henthorn also said she was unable to purchase a ticket on First Bus for her daughter yet her Bee Network ticket was then refused as it "wasn't valid".

However, others said they have been able to board the bus with a Bee ticket although drivers have been unable to scan the tickets.

Shannon Gemma said: "Mine didn't scan. It said barcode denied. Driver just told me to sit down."

Another said the cheaper £2 day tickets are currently unavailable in the Bee Network app.

Tracy Wright added: "It's caused chaos this week on the buses as First Buses are not selling the £18 weekly. Just advising folk they have to purchase the Bee weekly at £21 and online.

"There are no posters on buses or in depots advising folk of this change, the increase or how to purchase them."

TfGM said it is aware customers may be facing a price difference (Image: Newsquest)

In response, a TfGM spokesperson said:  “Better integrated and simpler ticketing is a key benefit of the Bee Network, and the introduction of capped fares in September 2022, has reduced the average cost of travel for bus users by almost 20 per cent.

“Through these fares and the AnyBus + tram and new Bee Bus Family ticket, we are working to bring down the cost of travel for the vast majority of people, while also providing ticketing options that cover multiple operators for services across Greater Manchester.

"By bringing buses back under public control it has also enabled us to freeze the price of capped bus fares until at least the end of this year, in contrast to the de-regulated system where bus operators can increase fares at any time.

“However, as we launch the second wave of Bee Network bus services, we are aware that for a small number of customers there may be a price difference between the single operator ticket people can currently buy, and Bee Network Anybus tickets. 

“As with the first tranche of bus franchising, a recompense scheme is in place to support those customers affected.”

A spokesperson for First Manchester also said: “We are accepting Bee Network tickets on our Oldham services and drivers have been fully briefed.

"Tickets should scan on our machines but if this fails customers will be advised they can travel and to find a seat.

“To help customers plan travel, information about the forthcoming change to the Bee Network and the withdrawal of First Bus monthly and weekly tickets from sale has been published on our website and through social media since February.

“We would like to reassure customers that we are making every effort to ensure seamless travel on our buses during this changeover period.” 

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