Operators ‘Go North West’ and ‘First Manchester’ have been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to run school bus services as part of the second phase of Andy Burnham’s bus franchising project. Contracts covering a total of 11 schools were awarded, spanning Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester and Bury. The contracts themselves are scheduled to commence as part of the franchised bus services from 25 March 2024.

Other general franchised services awarded under the Bee Network branding will be run by Stagecoach, First and Diamond Bus, as was previously announced in June 2023.

This ongoing project is being pushed forward by the Mayor and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) using new powers brought in by the introduction of the Bus Services Act 2017, which amends the Transport Act 2000. Any combined mayoral authority must adhere to the prescribed legislative procedure if they wish to lawfully introduce a bus franchising scheme into their area.

TfGM currently provide information for prospective bus operators hoping to tender for further tranches of franchised bus service contracts, which are issued by TfGM as the Transport Executive. This information is available on the Bee Network website (link below):

https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/tendering

TfGM have defined 3 clear stages in the tendering process for bus operators to adhere to:

1. Qualification and admittance to the DPS supplier list;
2. Tenders for bus service contracts; and
3. Contract awards.

Qualification for the process requires the completion of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire document plus at least one of the Lot Question packs.

Bus users in Manchester will have already noticed the changes in bus liveries on the roads of Manchester, and the change in prices to predominantly £2.00 tickets. These yellow buses are likely to become a more common sight on the city streets once this second phase of contracts commence, as operators put more franchised vehicles on the roads.

Greater Manchester is the first mayoral combined authority to franchise its bus network and to roll out the franchised contracts. However, the Mayor for the Liverpool City Region has also recently backed proposals to implement a franchised bus network, meaning another franchised bus network may be following Greater Manchester’s lead.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) are also currently running a consultation on whether or not to take buses back under public control and franchise their bus network. The link to the consultation can be found below:

https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/busreform

This consultation will run from 10 October 2023 to 07 January 2024, and will be vital in informing the WYCA’s decision on whether or not to franchise the bus network. It is therefore important that any bus operators that may want to have their say on franchising submit a response to this consultation.