School Bus Information

Changes - March 2025

Important changes to Bee Network child tickets 

From 23 March tap and go contactless payments are being introduced across Bee Network buses and trams for full fare paying adults only.  

Child tickets are not available using tap and go. Children can continue to use their current method of payment for travelling to school or leisure (e.g. cash, contactless).  

At the same time, we’re making it even easier to pay for child tickets on the Bee Network app. 

Single child hopper tickets will be available on the app, alongside a range of other child tickets. It’s the safe, cash-free way to pay for travel. 

Here’s our top tips for paying for child fares from 23 March: 

·       Download the Bee Network app to pay for a range of child tickets. 

·       When paying with contactless always ask the bus driver for a child ticket before tapping your card (to avoid getting charged adult fare). 

·       Keep your TfGM travel pass (igo card, Our Pass) separate from bank cards when you tap the card reader, to avoid your bank card being charged an adult fare.  

As always, your one-stop-shop for travelling to school information is available at www.beenetwork.com/schools  

If you have any further questions or want to speak to someone, please get in touch with the Bee Network Contact Centre online or call: 0161 244 1000.

What is the Bee Network?

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's vision for a joined-up London-style transport system. Eventually it will offer safe, seamless and affordable end-to-end journeys across public transport and active travel (cycling, walking and wheeling).

Through the Bee Network we are gradually bringing all local bus services under local control through a system called ‘bus franchising’. This is a major step on Greater Manchester’s journey to delivering a joined-up transport system.

Your child will be able to continue using their school bus services as normal.

Some school bus service numbers and timetables may be slightly different to meet new school start and finish times. But most routes and timetables won’t change. See North Chadderton School | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM for the new timetable.

Will fares and tickets be restructured?

Your child can also continue to pay low fares and use their igo cards igo card | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM on school services.  Bringing bus services under local control as part of the Bee Network has allowed us to introduce consistent fares across all of our schools services.

Bee Network school service fares remain available at the following prices for pupils with igo cards. All the ticket types in the table below (with the exception of the £1 single fare) are only available and valid on bus services numbered 700 and above.

Under the Bee Network we are offering a simplified range of capped, value for money low bus fares. Fares are currently capped as follows:

*Bee AnyBus tickets are available (and accepted) on Bee Network school services to support children travelling on the wider bus network in Greater Manchester. These can be bought on the Bee Network app, and on any bus in Greater Manchester.

What should I do if my child loses something on a Bee Network school service?

If a student has lost something when travelling on a Bee Network school bus, then please get in touch with the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre:

Online - using the Bee contact form Report lost property | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

Telephone – 0161 244 1000

In person – at an Information and Ticket Office Where to find us | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

A responsible guardian/adult will need to make the enquiry on behalf of under 13-year-olds.

Read more about lost property on Bee Network bus services. Lost property on Bee Network stations and services | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

Other Information

The new Bee Network app is supporting customers in making seamless journeys. Customers can use it to plan journeys, get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations, buy from a range of buy bus and tram tickets, see travel alerts, quickly rate their journeys and get contact information.

TfGM/Bee Network have a new webpage https://tfgm.com to help give information and advice about school services in areas joining the Bee Network. The following link will direct you to School Bus Services: beenetwork.com/school-bus-services

More generally, you can also see their school travel pages on the following website: https://tfgm.com/travelling-to-school

We expect students to:

• Communicate with the driver politely and respectfully
• Show any bus passes or provide the fare for any journey undertaken
• Sit calmly on a seat wherever possible
• Avoid any behaviour which may disturb the concentration of the driver, or may damage the bus environment, such as throwing food or tampering with the emergency exit
• Refrain from smoking on the bus
• Show respect for all other passengers travelling on the bus

Any student who does not adhere to these expectations will have a consequence in line with the school standards and expectations policy. This may involve banning a student from using the bus for a determined period of time.

This is in line with Government guidance, which refers to school’s power to sanction students for “misbehaviour" when the pupil is:

• Taking part in any school-organised or school-related activity or travelling to or from school or wearing school uniform or in some other way identifiable as a pupil at the school or misbehaviour at any time, whether or not the conditions above apply, that could have repercussions for the orderly running of the school or poses a threat to another pupil or member of the public or could adversely affect the reputation of the school.

Before travelling to and from school it is important to plan-ahead and consider different options. 

If you can, please consider whether your child can walk or cycle to school – it can be a safe and healthy way to make shorter trips. With new cycling and walking routes popping up across the region, it is safer and easier than ever to get about on foot or by bike.  

If you do need to drive, please switch off your engine when waiting outside to reduce air pollution and, if possible, try parking further away and walking the last part of the journey.  

School Bus Timetable

Travel Information