The Bee Network just keeps getting bigger with a new fleet of eco-buses having now rolled out in Oldham and Rochdale as Greater Manchester continues to integrate its new transport network.
With many city centre buses having been franchised across the likes of Wigan and Bolton since the Bee Network officially launched back in September 2023, the new centralised public transport system is becoming a real hive of activity (pardon the pun).
Now making up approximately more than half of the region’s wider bus network, with more bright yellow buses put into service across the likes of Bury and Salford as well, the vision for the Bee Network is slowly starting to take shape.
Celebrating this latest phase in the long-term plan for a universal and centralised public transport network across all ten boroughs, Mayor Andy Burnham hopped on board one of the new vehicles to show off the improvements made to bus journeys here in Greater Manchester.
As you can see, not only are the new Bee Network buses an obvious upgrade on many existing lines running in and around the city centre for the past two decades, but there are more of them on more key routes, including 50 new zero-emission vehicles and 84 new, best-in-class low emission buses too.
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Reducing costs for the likes of those travelling in and out of Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Salford is also a massive win since these routes have come under local control too, with the combined tram and bus tickets – making most journeys 20% cheaper, to be more precise.
As per the latest stats from Transport for Greater Manchester, the Bee Network is already proving to be offering more reliable service than prior to franchising, with 74.30% of buses on time between 1 January and 19 March compared to 67.62% of commercial services and 62.75% during the same period in 2023.
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The number of people using Bee Network services has also increased, with the average number of weekday passengers having grown by over five per cent and hitting a high of 141,720 on 6 March across more than 17 million journeys since it began. The results are plain to see and they’re stopping there.
The goal is to have all of Greater Manchester‘s buses fold into the Bee Network by January 2025 and whilst we’re still in the early days of this centralised shift, it’s great to see such progress being made so far and how it’s already benefiting locals around the region.
This latest chapter comes just a week or so after the brand-new Stockport Interchange was officially opened to the public as well, a borough which is also hoping to see more buses and potential plans for an extension of the Metrolink tram system coming their way.
Featured Images — Bee Network/Michael Ely (via Geograph)
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Teenager jailed for 21 years after murdering man in Atherton last year
Emily Sergeant
A teenager has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a man in Atherton last year, it has been confirmed.
The 17-year-old – who can now been named as Jordan Rance, following reporting restrictions against him due to his age, having been lifted by a judge – appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 8 May), where he was sentenced to a minimum term of 21 years after being found guilty of murdering Paul Marsh last year.
The sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called reports of a man being unconscious at a property on Samuel Street in the Greater Manchester town of Atherton at around 6:08pm on the evening of 17 November 2023.
Police attended the scene to find that a 49-year-old man had sustained an injury described as being “serious”.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency services who attended the scene, Mr Marsh tragically passed away a short time later.
GMP’s Major Incident Team subsequently launched a murder investigation launched a murder investigation following the incident – which concluded with Rance, who was 16-years-old at the time, being charged with murder.
Following Rance’s sentencing yesterday, GMP has now released further details of the incident.
The police service explained that the victim and Rance had been at the address in Atherton together, along with others, when an argument commenced between the pair that eventually escalated and Rance was witnessed to “lunge towards the victim with a knife” and stabbed him in the shoulder.
Rance and his friend immediately ran from the scene, GMP revealed, while others at the address called for an ambulance and attempted first aid.
During the sentencing yesterday, the court was shown an image of Rance holding a knife that he had taken on his phone, and this image has now also been released by GMP to the public.
Speaking following Rance’s sentencing yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, branded this a “tragic case”.
He continued: “A seemingly innocuous exchange has escalated and resulted in a loss of life, and our thoughts remain with Paul’s family at this time.
“We also have a young person going to prison for a long time, so this case should serve as a stark reminder that carrying a knife is illegal and you could be jailed if you’re found to be in possession of one.
“No good can come from carrying a knife and self-protection is not a reasonable excuse.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Man City star Jack Grealish handed hefty fine for speeding in 30mph zone
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been fined for speeding in 30mph zone, it has been revealed.
During a hearing at Worcester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (8 May), where the Manchester City and England midfielder pleaded guilty, the court was told that Grealish was caught speeding by a mobile speed camera on Station Road, in the Wythall area of Worcestershire, while driving a Range Rover Sport on the morning of 17 July 2023.
The 28-year-old – who was said to have had a full, clean driving licence at the time of the speeding offence – was caught driving at 44mph in a 30mph zone.
After pleading guilty through his barrister at the hearing, of which he did not attend, the Birmingham-born footballer has been fined £666 for speeding, ordered to pay £110 in court costs, and a victim surcharge of £266 – which leaves him with a total bill of £1,042.
Station Road in Whythall, where the speeding offence took place / Credit: Google Maps
He was also handed five penalty points for the speeding offence.
A charge of failing to give information to the police relating to the identification of the driver, however, was withdrawn.
Grealish’s barrister, John Dye, explained that the sports star “means no discourtesy by not attending” the hearing yesterday, according to Sky News and BBC News reports, and that he was “instructed to enter a guilty plea in relation to speeding” on Grealish’s behalf.