Greater Manchester Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt awarded CBE for services to public transport

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his significant contributions to public transport.

In his role as Transport Commissioner and Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Executive Board, Everitt has been instrumental in driving major transport initiatives across the city region. He has advised Mayor Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority while overseeing the development and rollout of the Bee Network, a fully integrated public transport system uniting buses, trams, and trains with improved customer service, modern ticketing, and enhanced data analytics.

Everitt has led these initiatives during a period of substantial change, including the local recontrol of bus services, delivering what officials describe as one of the largest public transport transformations outside London in decades.

Mayor Andy Burnham said:“This recognition is well-earned. Vernon’s leadership has been central to the success of the Bee Network, which has become a model for transforming public transport across England. We congratulate him on his CBE and look forward to working together to integrate rail services into the network next year.”

Everitt commented:“I am grateful to the Mayor, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Transport for Greater Manchester for allowing me to play a role in developing the Bee Network. Significant progress has been made thanks to the dedication of local leaders, transport staff, industry partners, and the region’s districts. There is still work to be done, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to improve public transport for residents and businesses.”