Minister puts Bee Network in driving seat for 'bust revolution'

Transport Secretary thinks devolved model could work for other areas

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

JUST one week into the job and the new transport secretary wants to kickstart a 'bus revolution' inspired by Greater Manchester's Bee Network.

Last September, bus franchises were brought back under local authority control for the first time in decades outside London. This has seen growing passenger numbers and improving reliability of local services.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh visited the depot in Oldham to chat to GM mayor Andy Burnham about how this has been achieved.

Ms Haigh wants to see the Bee Network model made available for other local authorities.

She heard how the city region endured a six-year slog to deliver local control of bus services due to unnecessary barriers something the new government promises to remove so better buses can be delivered faster.

Ms Haigh took to the driver's seat of one of the new electric buses, emblazoned with 'All Change' as the destination on the front, but there was still no movement on her stance regarding funding for transport infrastructure in Manchester.