Bee Network livery spotted in Manchester Piccadilly

[occone]

Seems that 323239 has had a Bee Network makeover! Still featuring Northern bubbles.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==

I believe it's this train here:

Realtime Trains | 2K50 1718 Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent | 11/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2K50 1718 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent on 11/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[lowe1409]

I spotted that too earlier. I must admit I do think it is rather smart looking. Just a shame they can't redo the front of the train to be the same shade to be honest. That's the only thing I think spoiling it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What does "Say yellow" wording imply on the middle of those three images in the posting above?

 

[skyhigh]

What does "Say yellow" wording imply on the middle of those three images in the posting above?

It's a pun based on "say hello" and the yellow colour used by Bee Network.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's a pun based on "say hello" and the yellow colour used by Bee Network.

I don't know if that is childish or just plain meaningless....

 

[skyhigh]

I don't know if that is childish or just plain meaningless....

It's marketing.

 

[GusB]

What does "Say yellow" wording imply on the middle of those three images in the posting above?

You've brought this subject up before, and had it explained to you.

See this and the following posts From 2024:

One "improvement" that I would dearly love to see is the total eradication of meaningless phrases such as "Say yellow to the Bee Network". Do they really mean what they say and if so, let us have information on how to do this...

 

[Mainsideman]

Will these trains still be operated by northern ( or GBR if its set up ) when the intergration happens or will bee network be a complete new toc?

 

[tomoufc]

It's marketing.

So both

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==

Will these trains still be operated by northern ( or GBR if it’s set up ) when the intergration happens or will bee network be a complete new toc?

Will there be TOCs as such under GBR?

 

[Mainsideman]

So both

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==


Will there be TOCs as such under GBR?

Tfw merseyrail and scotrail will still exist? I guess the question is will gbr provide the trains and staff or will they be bee network trains anf staff

 

[sefyllian]

Full announcement with more details from TfGM:

One year to go: Mayor of Greater Manchester reveals step-by-step plan to bring trains into the Bee Network from 2026​

• Industry unveils yellow Northern train to promote services joining the Bee Network from December 2026.
• New airport services, station upgrades, improved customer information, and tickets to come in the year ahead.
• 17 stations on the first two lines will be refreshed with Bee Network branding and new customer information points to make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier.
• Step-free improvements started at Bryn station in Wigan, with work due to start at Hindley, Reddish North and Swinton in 2026.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has revealed a step-by-step plan for bringing the city region’s rail lines into the Bee Network to create the first truly integrated public transport system outside London.

With just one year to go until the first rail services start joining the Bee Network, Mayor Andy Burnham and industry leaders unveiled a new yellow Bee Network promotional train and set out how passengers will benefit from new services, improved stations and simpler fares and ticketing in the months ahead.

The first two lines – connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will join the Bee Network from 13 December 2026, and will see contactless ‘tap in, tap out' ticketing rolled out across 17 stations.

This is just the beginning with more rail lines to follow in 2027 and 2028, and the further roll out of contactless, capped fares, joining buses, trams and trains together as Greater Manchester continues its journey to deliver an affordable, accessible and joined-up transport network.

This ambitious programme is central to the Greater Manchester Strategy, aiming to make the Bee Network a transport system fit for a global city-region - supporting growth and opening up opportunities for all.

In the next 12 months, the plan for bringing rail into the Bee Network is set to deliver:

• Simpler, fairer fares: The introduction of simpler fares on 7 December paves the way for contactless payments and integration with the Bee Network from December 2026.
• Ticket acceptance during disruption: From December 2025, passengers will benefit from ticket acceptance across bus, tram and train when there's disruption in Greater Manchester.
• Digital improvements: By March 2026, the Bee Network app and TfGM website will feature comprehensive rail station information, from car park and cycling spaces through to step-free access. Real-time rail departure and disruption information will be added by the summer, with journey planning available by autumn next year.
• 24/7 Rail Services: From May 2026, TransPennine Express will run night-time trains to the airport, supporting Greater Manchester's thriving night-time and visitor economy.
• Station upgrades: From summer 2026, stations on the first two lines will be refreshed with Bee Network branding and new customer information points to make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier. Upgrades to nearby bus and tram stops will provide up-to-date travel information from spring 2026.
• Major Travel Hubs: TfGM and rail industry partners will join forces like never before to enhance the customer experience at Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations – two major gateways into the city. Our collaborative approach will create a truly seamless journey for all passengers (including visitors to the city), including improved signage, live travel information and Bee Network customer support.
• Accelerating step-free access: Building on the success of delivering step-free access schemes at Daisy Hill and Irlam stations. TfGM and partners have started to deliver improvements at Bryn station in Wigan, with work due to begin at Hindley, Reddish North and Swinton in the year ahead.
• Contactless payments on the first rail lines: Greater Manchester is working with government to roll out tap and go contactless payments at 17 stations on the first two lines by December 2026, so there’s no need to worry about having the right ticket - or buying individual tickets - the best rail fare will be calculated for you, with a weekly rail cap.
• New Bee Network ticket: Also from December 2026, a new pre-pay multi-modal ticket will launch, meaning you can use on any combination of buses, trams and trains across the city region. Similar to the approach taken to Bee Network buses, this will bring bus, tram and train together with a new pre-paid ticket.
• Pilot Projects: From 2027, we will pilot additional and later running services on the Airport, Alderley Edge, and Rochdale stopping lines.
• Fully integrated eight rail lines into the Bee Network: From January 2028, eight rail lines – including 64 stations - will be fully integrated with Bee Network buses and trams, with Tap and Go payments and daily and weekly fare caps. The remaining 32 stations will join the system by 2030.

Plus various quotes, including:

Tricia Williams, Managing Director of Northern, said:

“We’re really pleased to be working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester to deliver lasting improvements for our customers.

“We have a shared vision of delivering a reliable and inclusive railway that meets the needs of everyone in the region, opens up a range of new opportunities and supports economic growth.”

…which seems to suggest that Northern (and whatever follows it) will still be running the trains, but the ticketing/branding/etc will be integrated with the Bee Network.

 

[Skie]

Seems like a cheap faded yellow

 

[Russel]

Where are GMPTE getting the money from for this and the Bee Network in general?

Genuinely curious, given how many local authorities have declared bankruptcy over the last few years, or come very close to it.

 

[sefyllian]

Seems like a cheap faded yellow

It’s the same yellow as the trams and buses.

Where are GMPTE getting the money from for this and the Bee Network in general?

From the article posted just above:

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “With the support of Government funding, passengers across Greater Manchester will soon benefit from simpler fares, more reliable journeys and better connections when rail becomes part of the Bee Network.”

 

[davehsug]

Seems that 323239 has had a Bee Network makeover! Still featuring Northern bubbles.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==

I believe it's this train here:

Realtime Trains | 2K50 1718 Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent | 11/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2K50 1718 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent on 11/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Seems to strange to put it on a route where the vast majority is outside Greater Manchester.

 

[sprinterguy]

Seems to strange to put it on a route where the vast majority is outside Greater Manchester.

It was noted on the 'Northern Unit Refurbishments' thread, where some photos of the unit from this morning and lunchtime were initially posted, that it's on the diagram that stables for most of the day at Piccadilly, making it ideal for a press launch to take place in the middle of the day.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You've brought this subject up before, and had it explained to you.

My posting was meant to bring that matter to the attention of thread contributors from areas well away from Greater Manchester who would be unfamiliar with such nonsense put for all to see on the side of a carriage on a rail unit.

 

[LittleAH]

Will these trains still be operated by northern ( or GBR if it’s set up ) when the intergration happens or will bee network be a complete new toc?

Northern or whatever GBR becomes.

Becoming tedious the whole bee network rail stuff.

 

[CheshireCrusty]

I wonder what they will look look like after operating for 15 hours in slush.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Does anyone know what the first 17 stations might be?
Would make sense to put them on a mostly solo route, but Glossop is only 14 (including Ardwick) and adding Rose Hill Marple to that gets to 19.

 

[_toommm_]

Does anyone know what the first 17 stations might be?
Would make sense to put them on a mostly solo route, but Glossop is only 14 (including Ardwick) and adding Rose Hill Marple to that gets to 19.

I believe the other three are Manchester Victoria, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Stalybridge.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder what they will look look like after operating for 15 hours in slush.

How do the Merseyrail yellow livered units cope with that problem?

 

[mattpharrison]

It was noted on the 'Northern Unit Refurbishments' thread, where some photos of the unit from this morning and lunchtime were initially posted, that it's on the diagram that stables for most of the day at Piccadilly, making it ideal for a press launch to take place in the middle of the day.

Exactly this - that diagram is usually covered by a 331. We swapped it off for a 323 to take advantage of this for the press event.

 

[Kite159]

You would have imagined a modern 331 would make for a better look than an old 323. Although a 323 does have something similar to the other vehicles in the Bee Network in lacking AC.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

You would have imagined a modern 331 would make for a better look than an old 323. Although a 323 does have something similar to the other vehicles in the Bee Network in lacking AC.

Although, if the first route is to be Glossop, it makes sense to use a 323 since they form much more of the Glossop/Hatfield services than 331s.

 

[mattpharrison]

You would have imagined a modern 331 would make for a better look than an old 323. Although a 323 does have something similar to the other vehicles in the Bee Network in lacking AC.

323s have better odds on spending more of their time in and around Manchester than 331s, hence the choice of a 323 to receive this branding.

 

[Kite159]

I guess it could have been worse, they could have picked an ancient 150/1 for it, since they get used on Rose Hill services

 

[nr758123]

I guess it could have been worse, they could have picked an ancient 150/1 for it, since they get used on Rose Hill services

Or a 769, failing to make it as far as Stalybridge.

 

[sharpener]

Seems like a cheap faded yellow

Before today I knew nothing of the bee network.

But I imagine most ppl would associate bees with a bright saturated yellow (with a dense black, used for high contrast/high visibility purposes like navigational cardinal marks and signage in an eye clinic), not this insipid dirty unpleasant looking shade. Or maybe it's not meant to be that kind of bee at all.

It's a pun based on "say hello" and the yellow colour used by Bee Network.

Doesn't work as a pun. The stress on "hello" is on the second syllable unlike "yellow". Say it out loud (as the copywriters obviously didn't).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Doesn't work as a pun. The stress on "hello" is on the second syllable unlike "yellow". Say it out loud (as the copywriters obviously didn't).

I am just waiting for someone to actually do what the unit wording says by a passenger on the platform next to the unit in question, then seeing the "men in white coats" take the poor unfortunate person away to a place where the required treatment could be administered.