New and improved bus services are set to be introduced across Bury and Rochdale as part of a wider upgrade to the Bee Network later this year.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has announced a package of 36 service changes across the city region, described as the most significant upgrades since bus franchising was completed in January last year.
In Bury, evening services in Ramsbottom will run more frequently from Monday to Saturday, with buses every half hour to support the night-time economy. There will also be more regular evening and weekend connections linking Bury with Bolton, Rochdale and Salford. The existing 135 night service between Manchester, Whitefield and Bury will continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Rochdale will see more frequent daytime, evening and weekend buses on the 434 route, improving links between Middleton, Stakehill Industrial Park, Rochdale town centre and Kingsway Business Park. Timetable improvements are also planned for key services including the 471 between Rochdale, Bury and Bolton, and the 406 between Rochdale and Kirkholt, which will also run more often. The number 17 night service between Manchester, Middleton and Rochdale will continue later in the week.
Across both boroughs, the changes are intended to improve access to jobs, education and leisure, particularly for people without access to a car. The plans are subject to final costing and approval and are expected to be introduced during the 2026 to 2027 financial year.
Andy Burnham said, “These changes will benefit people right across Greater Manchester. They have come about as a direct result of your feedback and support for the Bee Network and have been made possible by the decision we took to bring our buses back under local control.
“By expanding Bee Network night buses to every borough, and providing more frequent services to key employment locations, we are creating more ways for people to access jobs and opportunities across the region.”
The wider programme includes increased services across the region, new routes and expanded night bus provision. Up to 740,000 people are expected to live within walking distance of improved routes, with more than half in areas of higher deprivation.
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