Night buses are to launch across every Greater Manchester borough as part of Bee Network expansion plans.
A significant portion of the extra night buses and new routes, as well as more frequent services, are being rolled out across the Bee Network at the end of this month.
Almost two-thirds of the extensive service changes will launch between Thu 30 Aug – Thu 6 Sep, in what bosses say represents the most significant upgrades to the Bee Network since bus franchising was completed last year.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford will get a 24-hour bus service, meaning every part of Greater Manchester will now have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
New bus routes are also set to launch. The new 377 will connect homes at Woodford Garden Village to Stockport town centre. The 612 will provide a daily half-hourly service between Wigan and St Helens via Abram, Golborne and Newton-le-Willows, and the 388 will provide an hourly service between Ashton and Hyde via Stalybridge.
People heading from Bolton to Middlebrook Retail Park will also be able to travel on an extended half-hourly 615 service providing a direct connection between the retail park and the town centre following demand from locals. Extra morning trips will also be put on across the 507 and 511 to help shift workers at Logistics North meet their early start times.
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The Bee Network belongs to the people of Greater Manchester and it needs to work for every community. As we build it, we’re listening and responding to what residents want with the biggest set of improvements we’ve ever made in one go.
“We’re bringing night buses to every borough, launching new routes and ensuring buses run more often in the mornings, evenings and weekends. In doing so, we’re making it easier than ever for people to get around the city region by bus. But we’re also supporting our businesses, whose staff and customers need a reliable and safe way to reach them.
“Almost three quarters of a million people live within walking distance of a bus route we’re improving over the next few months. And we’ll continue improving connections for even more communities based on the feedback we get.”
The remaining improvements are planned to be delivered from January 2027. A full breakdown by borough can be found on the TfGM website.
Overall, bosses say this package of changes will benefit up to 740,000 people living within walking or wheeling distance from the improved routes, more than half of whom (408,000) live in more deprived areas – where residents are less likely to have access to a car.
Leon Patel, CEO of Global Grooves in Mossley, Tameside, said: “For The Vale, improved night-time public transport could make a real difference. As Tameside’s only multi-arts centre and a growing cultural and creative health hub, we welcome artists, audiences, young people and communities from across Greater Manchester, but getting home safely and affordably after an evening performance, rehearsal or event can still be a very practical barrier.
“Extending the 216 into the night helps connect places like Ashton and Tameside more meaningfully into Greater Manchester’s cultural and night-time economy. Reliable public transport, alongside an affordable £2 fare, means more people can participate in culture, work and social life without access to a car having to be the deciding factor.”
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- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Tue 11 Aug 2026
