Kinetic has announced that Go-Ahead Group is nearly done preparing to run Manchester’s first Bee Network of buses, with services beginning on 50 routes in Bolton and Wigan in the UK.
More than 1,000 colleagues at Go-Ahead’s Go North West operating company are helping run the yellow buses as part of an integrated system bringing together all modes of local transport.
Kinetic is the majority owner of Go-Ahead alongside joint venture partner Globalvia, with Go-Ahead moving for 10 months to get the Bee Network up and running after winning a contract from Transport for Greater Manchester.
Go North West will take over two depots from outgoing operators and swap buses out, with fully trained new drivers in place.
The Bee Network buses will replace Manchester’s six incumbent bus brands over the next 18 months, providing a new joined network for passengers.
The first of three phases have gone yellow, with six liveries from legacy bus companies to eventually disappear.
“It’s all change for Manchester’s buses and we have a team of over 1,000 people ready to go. We’ve been working around the clock for months on a mammoth operation – every vehicle, every depot and every driver needs to be ready,” Go North West managing director Nigel Featham says.
“We are determined to deliver world class public transport for a world class city. Go-Ahead is proud to be working with the Mayor and with Transport for Greater Manchester over this exciting changeover.”
Of the Bolton and Wigan fleet, 50 buses are zero-emissions electric buses and fully accessible, with all buses on the network equipped with passenger information screens and space for two wheelchairs, plus CCTV and two-way radios for security.