Night buses to connect Rochdale and Bury with Manchester as Bee Network expands

Two new night bus services will connect Rochdale, Middleton and Bury with Manchester, part of a wider Bee Network upgrade to reverse decades of transport decline and bring 90% of Greater Manchester within five minutes of frequent public transport by 2030.

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is set to roll out two new night bus services linking Rochdale and Middleton with Manchester city centre, strengthening access to jobs and nightlife while supporting the region’s fast-growing economy.

Subject to approval this month, the new 17/17a night route will connect Rochdale, Middleton and Manchester on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, targeting areas with lower car ownership and providing a vital link to employment zones and hospitality venues. A second route, the 135, will run between Manchester, Prestwich and Bury.

These routes are designed to boost passenger numbers, serve late-shift workers and help underpin Greater Manchester’s £80 billion economy, the fastest growing outside London. They will join the V1 and 36 night buses piloted last year, which have been extended to 2026.

The plan sits within the Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS), which commits to ensuring 90% of residents live within 400 metres, roughly a five-minute walk, of a tram or bus service running at least every 30 minutes by 2030. This exceeds the Public Transport Accessibility Level target used in cities like London, which aims for a 640-metre radius.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“We have been on an incredible journey since the launch of bus franchising, with the Bee Network playing a vital role in making Greater Manchester the growth success story in the UK by providing a cleaner, greener and more affordable way to get around the region.”

Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt added:

“We’re reversing decades of decline. These latest proposals for later, more frequent and better-connected buses show how we are growing the network, but we know there’s still more work to do.”

In parallel, other Bee Network upgrades coming later this year include:

• A new route (631) between Wigan and Standish
• Higher frequency buses on six popular commuter routes in Bolton, Leigh and Wigan
• Additional services on Leigh Guided Busway during peak hours
• Further proposals for night services in Oldham, Tameside and Trafford by 2026/27

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s bold attempt to rebuild public transport from the ground up after decades of decline. It now controls all bus services and plans to bring rail services into the system by 2030, with Bee Network trains serving nearly 100 stations, including Rochdale, Castleton and Littleborough.

Accessibility and affordability are central to the Bee Network’s strategy. Since franchising began, there has been a 14% annual rise in passengers and nearly 8% more miles operated across the first areas to come under local control.

Work is already underway to deliver the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system. A new carbon-neutral interchange is in development in Bury, and more than half of Bee Network buses will be new, accessible models by spring.