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Reading: 25% of Bee Network buses electric by end of April 2025: TfGM
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routeone > News > 25% of Bee Network buses electric by end of April 2025: TfGM
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25% of Bee Network buses electric by end of April 2025: TfGM

routeone Team
routeone Team
Published: December 13, 2024
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A quarter of buses operating in Greater Manchester on the franchised Bee Network will be battery-electric by the end of April 2025 as part of ongoing procurement of those vehicles, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said.

That milestone is part of several that tie in with completion of the rollout of franchising when the third tranche goes live on 5 January 2025. That will see over 250 routes including school services across the southern half of Greater Manchester come under public control.

A Freedom of Information Act response by TfGM in August disclosed that battery-electric buses had been ordered by either successful franchise operators or TfGM from Alexander Dennis, Volvo and Wrightbus. Many of those are already in service.

The Volvo purchase includes 170 BZL models that are part-funded by the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme. Those buses were intended for Stockport depot, which is part of the third tranche of franchising. However, delay in securing a site for a new operating centre for those vehicles has seen them reallocated to other parts of the Bee Network.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham recently visited one of the depots that will be operated by Metroline Manchester under the third tranche, in Wythenshawe. He notes that TfGM is looking to strike a long-term deal to source power for Bee Network trams and battery-electric buses directly from a renewable energy generator.

TfGM adds that a claimed 331 new buses will operate on tranche three routes, accounting for more than half of all vehicles required to meet PVR. That total will increase to 405 new buses, or 66% of the requirement, in April 2025.

That year will also see the start of a bus networks review process, exploring how services can better serve communities by making improvements that TfGM says “would not have been possible before franchising.”

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt describes rollout of the third tranche of bus franchising as “herculean,” although he adds that completion of reregulation “is only the first chapter of the Bee Network story.”

Metroline Manchester has recruited what Regional CEO Patrick Sibley says is over 100 drivers, a local senior management team and more than 30 supervisory and other managerial team members ahead of the transfer.

Separately, Mr Burnham has written to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander to make the case for eight rail lines in Greater Manchester to be brought within the Combined Authority’s oversight. He wants a firm timeline to make that happen. Doing so would “create the first fully integrated transport system outside London by 2028,” TfGM says.

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andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
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