Bee Network hits major milestone with 500th electric bus in Greater Manchester

More than 500 yellow electric buses are now on Greater Manchester’s streets as the Bee Network marks a major milestone in making journeys greener, cleaner and quieter.

The 500th zero emissions bus, built by UK manufacturer Wrightbus, has crossed the Irish Sea by ferry, been delivered at Stagecoach’s upgraded depot in Oldham and is now serving communities.

It comes three years after Transport for Greater Manchester started bringing buses under public control – at that point there were only 35 electric buses in operation.

It means there are now 99 Bee Network services that are served entirely by electric buses. The huge increase in zero emissions buses has been made possible by major investment in the city region’s transport system, including the ongoing work to electrify bus depots.

With more depots now capable of charging electric vehicles, a further 163 new buses can now be delivered and put into service - with the last three orders this calendar year having been placed with Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It puts Greater Manchester on track for a fully electric fleet by 2030.

This transition is set to cut over 76,000 tonnes of CO2 and 280 tonnes of nitrogen oxides every year and support Greater Manchester’s investment-led approach to improving air quality.

Visiting the recently electrified Oldham depot, Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner, said: “It’s great to see the depot in Oldham join the growing list of bus depots in Greater Manchester to be electrified. This means even more zero emissions buses can join the Bee Network and keep us on track to have a fully electric fleet by the end of the decade.

“This electrification work is a crucial part of our investment-led approach to improving air quality which is working. By taking old buses off our streets and keeping fares on the Bee Network affordable, we’re improving the experience of getting on board the bus for communities right across the city region.”

Upgrades were completed at the Stagecoach depot in Oldham this summer following work at Metroline’s Hyde Road depot in Manchester, with both now electrified.

New power supplies and charging infrastructure have also been installed at Ashton, Bolton and Middleton depots.

Oldham-based construction company Willmott Dixon has delivered the electrification work across all five depots, having previously worked with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to deliver the new £113m Stockport Interchange which opened in 2024.

Anthony Dillon, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “It’s fantastic to see another two bus electrification projects completed for TfGM, taking the number of projects we’ve delivered across Greater Manchester for TfGM to seven. We’re proud to have played a part in supporting the region’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable public transport network, creating the infrastructure needed to support the growing fleet of electric buses."

Christian Reynolds, Managing Director at Wrightbus, said: “For more than 80 years, Wrightbus has championed a UK-based supply chain. Building these buses at our factory in the UK not only provides direct jobs and skills but also creates additional employment here in Greater Manchester.

"We have developed strong ties with companies such as McKenna Brothers and North West Seating, meaning every Wrightbus on the streets of Manchester is serving the local community in more ways than one.

“The Bee Network is the blueprint for city public transport.  As a proud partner, and manufacturer of the landmark 500th electric bus, Wrightbus is honoured to be playing a leading role in Greater Manchester’s ongoing transition to zero-emission public transport."

Work to upgrade the Bee Network’s remaining depots remains on track, with design work underway and electrification works starting next year.  

With the volume of electricity needed to power the Bee Network increasing, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) recently announced a long-term clean energy deal which will provide renewable electricity at a fixed price to protect against cost spikes.

Source: Transport for Greater Manchester