Greater Manchester’s newly-elected Mayor Bev Craig has set out plans to extend free bus travel for 11-16-year-olds on the Bee Network from next year.
Set to launch across the city region in January 2027, the move is expected to benefit nearly 200,000 young people across Greater Manchester, building on and extending the current Our Pass, introduced in 2019, which gives 16-18-year-olds free bus travel to make getting to education, training and opportunities easier.
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “During my campaign I promised that I would apply a simple test to every decision I take as Mayor – will it make life better for the people of Greater Manchester? That’s why on day one I’m announcing the extension of Our Pass to give free bus travel to 11 to 16-year-olds. This is exactly the kind of decision that passes our test.
“It will put more money in the pockets of thousands of hard-working families – up to around £500 a year for every child aged 11 to 16 – and gives those young people a ticket to all the brilliant opportunities our city region offers.
“Families across Greater Manchester are struggling with the cost of living and I’m using my first day as Mayor to do something practical to make life a bit easier. By launching in January, young people will be boarding the Bee Network for free as they head back to school.”
You can find out more about the extended Our Pass here.
Free bus travel for 11-16-year-olds applications to launch later this year
Applications will open later this year, meaning families can apply for their pass in advance and use it from the launch date.
It will mean that, for the first time, all children between 11 and 18 years old in Greater Manchester will travel for free on the city region’s buses.
Mayor Bev Craig also confirmed that previously agreed plans to give free travel to school on Bee Network buses to children in temporary accommodation will be implemented from this September. The extra support, helping families when they need it most, will be administered by councils and be in place for the new school year.
Further Bee Network improvement works
The Mayor has committed to growing the Bee Network further, including by introducing more buses and better routes.
From Sun 30 Aug, a new 388 service will provide an hourly bus between Ashton and Hyde via Stalybridge.
The existing 615 will also be extended. Currently linking Wigan and Middlebrook Retail Park, it will be extended to Bolton, creating a half-hourly service between the retail park and the town centre.
On Tue 1 Sep, a new 377 service will connect Woodford Garden Village residential development to Stockport town centre. On Thu 3 Sep, new night services start, meaning every part of Greater Manchester will have at least one night bus serving communities on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The new round-the-clock services will be:
- 50 (Manchester – Salford)
- 216 (Tameside – Manchester)
- 263 (Trafford – Manchester)
- 192 (Stockport – Manchester)
- 83 (Oldham – Manchester)
Then, on Sun 6 Sep, a new 612 will provide a half-hourly (hourly on Sundays) service between Wigan and St Helens via Abrham, Golborne and Newton-le-Willows. This cross-boundary service aligns with the rollout of locally-controlled buses in the neighbouring Liverpool City Region.
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- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 5 Aug 2026
