Metrolink trams will be run through the night to keep lines clear amid this weekend’s forecast of snow, ice and rain, transport bosses have revealed as they predicted ‘likely’ disruption to journeys.
And the realisation of one of the biggest changes to public transport in Greater Manchester in decades – publicly-run buses across the city region for the first time since the 1980s – looks set to play out in freezing temperatures and testing weather conditions in what is being called a ‘major undertaking’.
Bus services across the whole of Greater Manchester will join the Bee Network from Sunday as part of the final phase of franchising. For the first time in almost 40 years, private operators will have no say over routes, fares, frequencies, timetables and overall standards, giving power back to the paying public.
Bus services in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Bury, Manchester and Salford were the first to join the Bee Network in September 2023. From January 5, more than 250 additional bus routes across Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, and parts of Manchester and Salford, will join, completing the phased introduction of franchising.
In total, the network will cover 577 bus routes. But Transport for Greater Manchester has revealed the scale of the operation ahead – amid Met Office weather warnings.
The Bee Network
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Transport bosses have revealed ‘as many staff as possible’ will be working the weekend to keep any disruption caused to a minimum.
TfGM – referencing a ‘major undertaking’ – said the Bee Network completion will see the taking over of five large depots, two small depots, a storage site at Manchester Airport, a site at Old Trafford and a storage facility in Chorley. It will also involve the movement of more than 500 vehicles overnight between Saturday and Sunday, with many requiring kit and branding installation, including ticket machines on 702 buses.
“In total over 800 buses will be moving across Manchester between 6pm on January 4 and 8am on January 5,” said TfGM.
TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, Danny Vaughan, said: “This weekend’s forecast of snow, ice and rain will be compounded by the recent flooding and will most likely cause disruption to journeys.
“We will be doing absolutely everything we can to minimise disruption while also bringing the remaining half of bus services into the Bee Network and under local control – which is a huge undertaking.
“We will have as many staff as possible out on the network, will be working with partners to ensure our interchanges and key routes are gritted, will run trams through the night to keep the overhead lines clear of ice and have our control room, which is staffed around the clock and has links into local authorities and emergency services on heightened alert.
“We are well versed at responding to disruption and working with the wider resilience teams across Greater Manchester and my main advice for anyone travelling this weekend or returning to work or back to school on Monday is to plan and allow extra time.
“Our social and digital channels will have the latest information and advice for customers and our Bee Network app will also enable you to see if there is any disruption to your journey and check the time of your next bus and tram departure.”