9.30am Bus Pass Restriction to Be Removed on Bee Network from March 1

Pensioners and disabled residents across Greater Manchester will be able to use their concessionary bus passes without time restrictions from Sunday, March 1.

The change applies to services operated under the Bee Network and means older and disabled passholders will be able to travel free of charge at any time, seven days a week.

Passengers using services not yet incorporated into the Bee Network may still be subject to the current 9.30am weekday restriction until those routes transfer to local control.

Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, free travel for eligible older and disabled passengers is typically restricted before 9.30am on weekdays. From March 1, that limitation will no longer apply on Bee Network buses.

The move follows pilot schemes in August and November 2025, during which around 400,000 residents were permitted to travel without time limits. According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the trials helped distribute passenger demand more evenly and reduced overcrowding on the first services after 9.30am.

Andy Burnham said feedback from older and disabled residents and campaign groups had informed the decision.

“I’m really pleased to confirm our intention to make this major change to give older and disabled people unlimited free bus travel on the Bee Network,” he said.

“Removing the restriction is the right thing to do and we’ve heard loud and clear from our residents the positive impact it will have on their lives.”

He added that lifting the restriction would make it easier for people to attend early medical appointments, volunteer, work and stay connected with their communities.

The concessionary travel announcement was made alongside confirmation that bus and tram fares across Greater Manchester will be frozen until the end of 2026. This includes the £2 single Bee Network bus fare, which will remain in place for a fourth consecutive year, and a sixth year of frozen Metrolink tram fares. Prices for 7-day, 28-day and annual bus tickets will also remain unchanged.

The older person’s bus pass is free, valid for five years before renewal and available to those who have reached state pension age.

Since buses returned to local control in January 2025, more than 34 million single and ‘hopper’ journeys have been recorded across the network. Residents can check which services are part of the Bee Network via the TfGM journey planner.