TfGM Bus franchising

[johncrossley]

bustimes.org uses the name of the actual bus company running the service on behalf of TfL (for example Arriva London, London Central etc.) so to be consistent you would expect Bee Network services to be shown as being operated by Go North West or Diamond.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

bustimes.org uses the name of the actual bus company running the service on behalf of TfL (for example Arriva London, London Central etc.) so to be consistent you would expect Bee Network services to be shown as being operated by Go North West or Diamond.

Indeed, the problem was noticed with Vision and Stagecoach (Who appeared as 2 different "Bee Network"s) at the start of the school year.

 

[Andyh82]

Did the phase 1 bee network contracts for school services actually start last week?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Did the phase 1 bee network contracts for school services actually start last week?

Yes.
Stagecoach and Vision are the bigger companies involved in this, with a few by diamond.

 

[Deerfold]

View attachment 142960
Looking at bustimes.org, the routes have shown up in their "Bee Network" form, for some routes that means there's 3 different sets of them now (E.g. the 501, which as seen in the image is shown as both Diamond, Vision, and Bee Network). At least it makes it easy to see the new timetables.

There's 3 because there's the current commercial service, the current contracted evening service (and early Sunday morning journeys) and the Bee service starting in a week - click into them to see the dates of operation,.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

There's 3 because there's the current commercial service, the current contracted evening service and the Bee service starting in a week - click into them to see the dates of operation,.

I know exactly why it's happening, I'm just stating the fact.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I know exactly why it's happening, I'm just stating the fact.

When people look up these online timetables, all they want to know is the actual timetable information.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

When people look up these online timetables, all they want to know is the actual timetable information.

Yes, and the main point of my post was to say that the timetables are now available on bustimes.org compared to previously just being available on TFGM's website.
The 3 of the same at once was a side note.

 

[Andyh82]

Talking about timetables, I wonder if paper ones will be brought back in the areas that stopped having them (supposedly as a trial)

Oldham and Wigan I believe have no paper timetables, whereas Rochdale, Bury, Manchester itself etc still have full sets

 

[splashoutradio]

Talking about timetables, I wonder if paper ones will be brought back in the areas that stopped having them (supposedly as a trial)

Oldham and Wigan I believe have no paper timetables, whereas Rochdale, Bury, Manchester itself etc still have full sets

Wigan lost its leaflet racks pre-covid. However, from experience, if you ask at the travelshop or the bus station supervisors office, they have paper timetables available to hand out.

 

[Goldfish62]

Observation from a contact: plenty of staff in GoAhead London uniform hanging around Bolton yesterday.

 

[gka472l]

There was someone in a Transport for Cornwall coat at Wigan the other day....

 

[johncrossley]

Wigan lost its leaflet racks pre-covid. However, from experience, if you ask at the travelshop or the bus station supervisors office, they have paper timetables available to hand out.

Given that TfGM still have so many offices it would surely be no major problem to simply print off a pdf on request.

 

[Goldfish62]

There was someone in a Transport for Cornwall coat at Wigan the other day....

Yes, I heard they were floating around.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Given that TfGM still have so many offices it would surely be no major problem to simply print off a pdf on request.

They do this if you ask them for one not in the racks at the Wythenshawe Travelshop, on A4 sized paper.

 

[johncrossley]

Presumably the only day tickets and season tickets valid on franchised buses will be the System One ones and singles are capped at £2. Presumably there is no change to Plusbus. But there are currently still some short distance fares under £2. Will TfGM use the same fares for these short distance journeys as those on the current Diamond/Stagecoach/Vision etc. services? Will short distance fares be publicised?

Important changes to bus tickets and fares from 24 March 2024

If you’re travelling on Bee Network bus services, there’ll be some important changes to bus tickets and fares.

tfgm.com

From 24 September, don’t buy a bus operator single, return or 1-day ticket if you plan to use it on a Bee Network service.

• Instead, buy a Bee Bus single or 1-day Bee AnyBus ticket. This will cost £2/£1 Adult/Child single of £5/£2.50 Adult/Child 1 day.

So it seems there will only be one adult single fare on the Bee Network so it will be effectively flat fare. Maybe there actually aren't any fares under £2 now?

 

[Deerfold]

Important changes to bus tickets and fares from 24 March 2024

If you’re travelling on Bee Network bus services, there’ll be some important changes to bus tickets and fares.

tfgm.com

So it seems there will only be one adult single fare on the Bee Network so it will be effectively flat fare. Maybe there actually aren't any fares under £2 now?

From the link you gave (my emphasis).

Recompense scheme

In a small number of cases, there may be a price difference between the single operator ticket you currently buy, and tickets you can use on a Bee Network bus (capped low fares, AnyBus tickets, and Bee Network tickets).

If you can prove that you have previously paid less for a bus operator single ticket, return ticket, or 1-day, 7-day or 28-day single operator ticket, you will be able to apply for a complimentary Bee Bus ticket valid for use on Bee Network services only for a limited period of time.

This will be open from the 18 September. Please check back on this page for details.

So, looks like you can pay less, but only if you can show you have been doing.

 

[Andyh82]

The TfGM website is now the Bee Network website

Basically the same as it was, just redesigned a bit with lots of yellow everywhere

 

[py_megapixel]

The TfGM website is now the Bee Network website

Basically the same as it was, just redesigned a bit with lots of yellow everywhere

They seem to have improved some of the navigation too, and also fixed an annoying bug where some pages had two scrollbars, causing a mess if you tried to scroll by dragging the scrollbar.

 

[johncrossley]

The Bee Network app seems to be quite good.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The Bee Network app seems to be quite good.

Some routes seem to just not be showing up on it (although others are, with little apparent reason why)

 

[bgbus21]

Talking about timetables, I wonder if paper ones will be brought back in the areas that stopped having them (supposedly as a trial)

Oldham and Wigan I believe have no paper timetables, whereas Rochdale, Bury, Manchester itself etc still have full sets

Oldham still have paper ones, they're just behind the counter so would need to ask for one if you need one.

 

[Darren Hayward]

The Bike Maps are now Yellow

RE: Diamond have won 6 routes and will work these from Eccles.My error:

It is two routes won by Diamond Bus NW which need 6 buses - and 15 staff - all running from Eccles:

TfGM/GMCA Franchise Contracts – Tranche 2 | Diamond Bus

www.diamondbuses.com

Longer term Diamond will need to have small depot in Oldham

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Image showing a "Bee Card" detailed as "Adult smart card for anyone aged 16+ who makes tram or bus journeys in Greater Manchester."

Looking at the https://getacard.beenetwork.com/account/secured/selectStation.faces (you probably need an account to check this page) a "Bee Card" is avaliable, not sure how new this is but this has replaced the getmethere card.

Create your smart card account​

Create an account and order a Bee Card online. Your card should arrive in 5-7 working days.

With your account, you can buy tickets and travelcards to load onto your Bee Card for travel on trams and buses in Greater Manchester.

You can link other smart cards to your account, including; igo, Our Pass, Cycle Hub, a TfGM concessionary travel pass, or a get me there card.

 

[D9006]

Yes.
Stagecoach and Vision are the bigger companies involved in this, with a few by diamond.

Not totally correct, some schools are being run by one operator till the 22nd September, then the franchise takes over from Monday. There are quite a few Vision schools changes.

 

[TUC]

It says at https://tfgm.com/the-bee-network?ut...utm_campaign=Bee+Network+&utm_id=Bee+Network+

'There’ll be a contactless payment trial for some local train journeys in 2025 and local trains will be added to the Bee Network from 2030.'

Not exactly wearing themselves out to do things quickly, are they?

 

[Deerfold]

It says at https://tfgm.com/the-bee-network?ut...utm_campaign=Bee+Network+&utm_id=Bee+Network+

'There’ll be a contactless payment trial for some local train journeys in 2025 and local trains will be added to the Bee Network from 2030.'

Not exactly wearing themselves out to do things quickly, are they?

As the bit below that suggests, this seems to be the speed Central Government are prepared for them to go at.

 

[Leyland Bus]

As the bit below that suggests, this seems to be the speed Central Government are prepared for them to go at.

Could all change at the next election...

Apparently, the clipper card is making a return aswell..! Seemingly for trams at the moment, I wonder if it will be extended to use on the buses too?

Note: the picture attached shows a new card called "Clipper" so a "Clipper card" gets you 10 tram trips for the price of 9, like the original Clippercard did on the buses.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Am I right that after Monday, DBNW (Diamond Bus North West) will have a fleet of 79 to do their Bee Network, TfGM and commercial stuff?

 

[47550]

Where will Stagecoach run the schools contracts from that they have picked up as part of this first tranche of franchising ? Presumably they have received existing TfGM Versas to run them ?