Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a tender for a contract covering all its Bee Network bus and tram shelters.
The 15-year contract, which TfGM estimates is worth £399 million, includes provision and maintenance of shelters, as well as the advertising rights.
The collective tendering of such rights across multiple modes of transport by a single authority is the first of its kind in the UK, according to TfGM.
In scope will be the conurbation’s approximately 4,500 bus shelters and 99 Metrolink stops, which are all owned by the transport body.
The successful supplier would deliver a “turnkey service” which will cover the replacement, refurbishment, maintenance and cleaning of shelters. Advertising inventory would also be modernised.
Via the contract, which is due to start on 1 January 2027, TfGM says it is “seeking a holistic approach across specified assets with a single delivery partner delivering across all services for efficiencies, a reduction in congestion and carbon emissions with consistent shelter design principles across all assets”.
The transport authority hopes the plan will modernise the waiting experience for passengers, as well as maximise advertising revenue shares paid to TfGM for reinvestment in the network.
The approach will offer opportunities to select advertising locations for digital screens and printed formats and scope for “pop-up and branded activations to support immersive campaigns”.
Consistency of design across infrastructure is a goal of the plan, while minimising network disruption due to working with one partner is also sought.
Interested parties can bid via the “Find a Tender” service.
