Bee Network Service/Route Discussion

[Xenophon PCDGS]

While its been there for years the timing point at Broadway Baths heading towards Chadderton can cause problems, as if 181/182 gets there early and has to wait its time out anyone who's parked just behind the bus stop and want's to move their car has to wait for the bus to move off as the bus can't move off early as it registers on the ticket machine and the driver might be called in and asked why they left a timing point early.

Could these long-standing problematic timing points of long standing be moved to a different location based on current traffic flows in the 21st century?

 

[M60lad]

Some drivers will wait at either Bus Stop before the Baths or actually wait at the bus stop after which obviously will register as early running on the machine, to be honest I think it only affects a few peak journeys which seem to get move time than actually needed meaning they get to Broadway baths and have to wait about 5mins before they are due off.

 

[mayneway]

MCC have been aggressively making it harder to drive in the city centre for 10 years.


Lately, Tameside have taken to putting absolutely massive speed bumps everywhere, even on 30mph roads. It's ridiculous.

Manchester city council want to ban cars altogether with their attitude but can’t because it will upset major retailers it traffic management in the city just doesn’t work at all.

As for Tameside, well putting huge speed bumps on one of the roads in and out of the hospital (ridge hill lane) was a brilliant idea. I’m sure all the folk rushed to hospital in the back of ambulances are grateful.

 

[tomoufc]

I can remember vividly when the tap on scheme kicked in and apart from some tiny stickers on the cab screen and some bus stop adverts saying tap on was now live there is very little to actually say how it works.

I also think their shock be a option on the ticket machine to switch to £1 taps so when a bus is parked outside a school with 100 school kids queuing to get on they can just tap and be charged £1. It’s so time consuming having to manually keep pressing the £1 child care etc.

Another one I get a lot of, is passengers trying to tap out when they get off the bus haha. I’m constantly shouting NOOO as they try and do it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2026 ==


Yes and dare I mention Castleton. The little town has been ruined by the awful cycle lanes down both sides of the road, the actual traffic lanes are so narrow now the the stopping causes pretty big tail backs.

No, it has been ruined by cars

 

[mayneway]

No, it has been ruined by cars

Really?
It was a decent little town before the work started now it’s just a mess with lots of empty shops.

There is an obsession with councils and local authority’s to attack motorists, narrowing junctions and adding cycling lanes, it’s all good and well but just doesn’t work.

 

[Deerfold]

Really?
It was a decent little town before the work started now it’s just a mess with lots of empty shops.

There is an obsession with councils and local authority’s to attack motorists, narrowing junctions and adding cycling lanes, it’s all good and well but just doesn’t work.

And by "attack" you mean not always allow them unfettered access at the expense of everyone else?

 

[johncrossley]

Really?
It was a decent little town before the work started now it’s just a mess with lots of empty shops.

There is an obsession with councils and local authority’s to attack motorists, narrowing junctions and adding cycling lanes, it’s all good and well but just doesn’t work.

I haven't looked but I presume improved active travel is part of the Mayor's manifesto.

I have to say it is odd for someone who drives buses for a living to be promoting more car travel! If you talked to people in countries where cycle paths are everywhere they would laugh at you if you said cycle paths are put in to attack motorists. That's just a quirky British/American/English speaking country thing.

Manchester could be like Arlington, Texas (one of the World Cup host cities) where everybody is expected to drive and so there are no fixed bus services. That way you would get your wish to be out of a job!

 

[mayneway]

I haven't looked but I presume improved active travel is part of the Mayor's manifesto.

I have to say it is odd for someone who drives buses for a living to be promoting more car travel! If you talked to people in countries where cycle paths are everywhere they would laugh at you if you said cycle paths are put in to attack motorists. That's just a quirky British/American/English speaking country thing.

Manchester could be like Arlington, Texas (one of the World Cup host cities) where everybody is expected to drive and so there are no fixed bus services. That way you would get your wish to be out of a job!

Prime example is the chapel street entrance/exit into the city centre. How much money has been spent over the last few years ‘improving’ the junction with trinity way and black friars yet it’s just added to the gridlock which means buses sat for hours on end getting in and out of the city. It’s not solving anything.

Oxford road is another prime example. It’s a great section of road for us bus drivers but do you know how many cyclists use the bike lanes abs how many don’t? Most I see are on the road.

 

[johncrossley]

Prime example is the chapel street entrance/exit into the city centre. How much money has been spent over the last few years ‘improving’ the junction with trinity way and black friars yet it’s just added to the gridlock which means buses sat for hours on end getting in and out of the city. It’s not solving anything.

Oxford road is another prime example. It’s a great section of road for us bus drivers but do you know how many cyclists use the bike lanes abs how many don’t? Most I see are on the road.

I just looked at the journey history for route 8 on bustimes.org earlier today. The 0613 from Bolton arrived into Shudehill 10 minutes early despite passing through that junction. So when there is little car traffic, buses aren't delayed. Therefore it is possible for buses to be on time and if there weren't any cars they wouldn't have to spend money improving that junction. Cars are the problem.

Oxford Road is mostly buses only so presumably some cyclists don't feel too scared of riding in the road. You can't extrapolate to every cycle path in the world. Have you actually investigated in detail how cycling works in the Netherlands and Denmark? In London, where cycling is more advanced than in Manchester, many cycle paths are heavily used, so much so that there are often queues at dedicated cycle traffic lights.

 

[py_megapixel]

Oxford road is another prime example. It’s a great section of road for us bus drivers but do you know how many cyclists use the bike lanes abs how many don’t? Most I see are on the road.

The Oxford Road cycle lanes are somewhat a victim of their own success; at rush hour they are full and there are cyclists on the road!

It's a great section of road for bus drivers and passengers - in fact it's a great section of road for everyone except those who demand to drive their car the full length of it. I remember Oxford Road when it still had through car traffic; it was absolutely grim.

 

[tomoufc]

Prime example is the chapel street entrance/exit into the city centre. How much money has been spent over the last few years ‘improving’ the junction with trinity way and black friars yet it’s just added to the gridlock which means buses sat for hours on end getting in and out of the city. It’s not solving anything.

Oxford road is another prime example. It’s a great section of road for us bus drivers but do you know how many cyclists use the bike lanes abs how many don’t? Most I see are on the road.

Thousands of cyclists use the oxford road cycle lanes every day. There is a counter if you want to look it up. And yes most do use the cycle lanes. Some don’t that are going faster, but it’s a 20mph limit, so I don’t see the problem.

 

[mayneway]

I just looked at the journey history for route 8 on bustimes.org earlier today. The 0613 from Bolton arrived into Shudehill 10 minutes early despite passing through that junction. So when there is little car traffic, buses aren't delayed. Therefore it is possible for buses to be on time and if there weren't any cars they wouldn't have to spend money improving that junction. Cars are the problem.

Oxford Road is mostly buses only so presumably some cyclists don't feel too scared of riding in the road. You can't extrapolate to every cycle path in the world. Have you actually investigated in detail how cycling works in the Netherlands and Denmark? In London, where cycling is more advanced than in Manchester, many cycle paths are heavily used, so much so that there are often queues at dedicated cycle traffic lights.

The 8 is a prime example though, it’s been given so much running time to try and make it more reliable, check it on a Friday evening it will be gridlock at that junction.
Unless you’re adding dedicated bus only lanes, any kind of ‘junction improvements’ are just adding to congestion, which means buses caught up in traffic.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Oct 2026 ==

It's a great section of road for bus drivers and passengers - in fact it's a great section of road for everyone except those who demand to drive their car the full length of it. I remember Oxford Road when it still had through car traffic; it was absolutely grim.

It is a great section of road unless there’s a protest, but I’m sure most bus drivers will tell you as soon as it ends, going outbound, your met with one of the worst sections of road aka the curry mile!

 

[NWSpotting]

Not sure if it's been mentioned here already, sorry if it has. It seems the 535 will be replaced by a new one funded by Lancashire Combined County Authority, meaning the route once again will link Bolton and Blackburn via Belmont. The change is apparently due to start 29th November. It seems to be the current 535 and the M11 services being merged into one through route.

LCCA page, 535 is mentioned at the bottom;

Proposed changes to bus services in Blackburn with Darwen | Lancashire Combined County Authority

Consultation opens on proposed changes from 29 November 2026

lancashire-cca.gov.uk

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Not sure if it's been mentioned here already, sorry if it has. It seems the 535 will be replaced by a new one funded by Lancashire Combined County Authority, meaning the route once again will link Bolton and Blackburn via Belmont. The change is apparently due to start 29th November. It seems to be the current 535 and the M11 services being merged into one through route.

LCCA page, 535 is mentioned at the bottom;

Proposed changes to bus services in Blackburn with Darwen | Lancashire Combined County Authority

Consultation opens on proposed changes from 29 November 2026

lancashire-cca.gov.uk

It was confirmed quite recently that Preston Bus have received the contract for it. I will edit this post with the link to the document.

Edit: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/media/hm3mbtsm/january-2026-to-december-2026.pdf

 

[NWSpotting]

It was confirmed quite recently that Preston Bus have received the contract for it. I will edit this post with the link to the document.

It'll be interesting seeing Preston Bus operating into Bolton. But what was weirder is it being Lancashire funded, rather than a Bee Network extension for me. I would've thought the latter was more likely, but either way, great for the locals, and I assume like all routes, those currently able to use Bee tickets will still be able to.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

It'll be interesting seeing Preston Bus operating into Bolton. But what was weirder is it being Lancashire funded, rather than a Bee Network extension for me. I would've thought the latter was more likely, but either way, great for the locals, and I assume like all routes, those currently able to use Bee tickets will still be able to.

I believe what it is is that LCCA wanted to simplify some of their routes and then add some new connections (such as the 235 236) and they personally had to fund them, as although it is in Greater Manchester, the changes are not by GMCA/TFGM therefore they do not have control over the route. I'm unaware of the prices of Holmeswood Coaches tickets for the 235 236, but I do remember Preston Bus having to increase their prices to £3.50 (adult single), which is almost 2 Bee Network adult tickets if the passenger wishes to travel in Lancashire on the bus.

 

[johncrossley]

It'll be interesting seeing Preston Bus operating into Bolton. But what was weirder is it being Lancashire funded, rather than a Bee Network extension for me. I would've thought the latter was more likely, but either way, great for the locals, and I assume like all routes, those currently able to use Bee tickets will still be able to.

Presumably Bee Network tickets will still be valid as far as the AnyBus boundary in Belmont, but contactless tap and cap will no longer be available.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Presumably Bee Network tickets will still be valid as far as the AnyBus boundary in Belmont, but contactless tap and cap will no longer be available.

Only upto Horrocks Fold, just before the junction of Scout Road on Belmont Road. Belmont is part of Blackburn with Darwen/Lancashire.

 

[NWSpotting]

I believe what it is is that LCCA wanted to simplify some of their routes and then add some new connections (such as the 235 236) and they personally had to fund them, as although it is in Greater Manchester, the changes are not by GMCA/TFGM therefore they do not have control over the route. I'm unaware of the prices of Holmeswood Coaches tickets for the 235 236, but I do remember Preston Bus having to increase their prices to £3.50 (adult single), which is almost 2 Bee Network adult tickets if the passenger wishes to travel in Lancashire on the bus.

Yeah, it's wild. However, I assume the new routes for Preston Bus will be amongst the £1 cap after 7pm and on Sundays, because it's an LCC funded route, not a Preston Bus funded one. I do wonder though if that means the section covered by Bee tickets will be £1 or £2

 

[johncrossley]

Only upto Horrocks Fold, just before the junction of Scout Road on Belmont Road. Belmont is part of Blackburn with Darwen/Lancashire.

You can get the AnyBus ticket if you want to go as far as Belmont Turning Circle. Single is still £2 and a day ticket is still £5 but AnyBus weekly or longer tickets cost slightly more.

Greater Manchester boundary and AnyBus ticket boundary

Greater Manchester boundary and AnyBus ticket boundary

tfgm.com

 

[MCRTransitYT]

You can get the AnyBus ticket if you want to go as far as Belmont Turning Circle. Single is still £2 and a day ticket is still £5 but AnyBus weekly or longer tickets cost slightly more.

Greater Manchester boundary and AnyBus ticket boundary

Greater Manchester boundary and AnyBus ticket boundary

tfgm.com

That's because the 535 right now is a Bee Network service.

 

[johncrossley]

That's because the 535 right now is a Bee Network service.

I'm talking about the future when it is no longer a Bee Network service. Then the "AnyBus" rules will apply. This is only relevant for the locations where the AnyBus boundary extends slightly beyond the Greater Manchester boundary. This does seem an unnecessary complication.

 

[Leedsbusman]

Not sure if it's been mentioned here already, sorry if it has. It seems the 535 will be replaced by a new one funded by Lancashire Combined County Authority, meaning the route once again will link Bolton and Blackburn via Belmont. The change is apparently due to start 29th November. It seems to be the current 535 and the M11 services being merged into one through route.

LCCA page, 535 is mentioned at the bottom;

Proposed changes to bus services in Blackburn with Darwen | Lancashire Combined County Authority

Consultation opens on proposed changes from 29 November 2026

lancashire-cca.gov.uk

As far as I’m aware this is additional to the existing 535 - making an hourly service from Belmont to Bolton.

 

[NWSpotting]

As far as I’m aware this is additional to the existing 535 - making an hourly service from Belmont to Bolton.

It says on the LCCA site that it replaces parts of the M11, and the current 535

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Does anybody have a full list of routes (with PVRs if possible) that will move from Diamond Bolton Goodwin Street (and I heard 126 and 132 too) to GNW Bolton Nelson Street & Leigh depots?

 

[mattyharding]

How likely is it that a bus route could switch depot/operator within the next 12 months

 

[MCRTransitYT]

How likely is it that a bus route could switch depot/operator within the next 12 months

Given that there has been a reshuffle mentioned within the past week/two weeks, I would guess 100%?

 

[mayneway]

How likely is it that a bus route could switch depot/operator within the next 12 months

Some of the drivers supposedly effected have been spoken to and told there will be an opportunity to move over, January was cited as the date for the reshuffle so watch this space. It does seem to be more than a wild rumour at this stage!