Hundreds of thousands of people in Stockport and Greater Manchester will get free round-the-clock bus travel from November.

Currently, older and disabled people get unlimited travel on the Bee Network between 9.30am and midnight on weekdays.

However, from 1 November those passengers will get access to free bus travel at any time of day.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the move is about offering better access to healthcare, leisure and retail opportunities.

Andy Burnham with Judie Collins, part of Greater Manchester Older Peoples Network, Angela Maynard – a member of TfGM's Disability Design Reference Group and Nakib Narat, Chair of GM Older People's Equality Panel (Image - TfGM)

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: "The last trial in August was a brilliant success, which saw more than 100,000 journeys made by our older and disabled people before 9.30am.

"We are now carrying out this second trial, at a busier time of year, to see whether we can safely remove the restriction permanently and help our older and disabled people to get to work, go shopping and get to medical appointments such as at the GP.

"We want the Bee Network to be the best public transport system possible and this means it needs to support all of our residents and communities, including our 'Twirlies', to make the journeys they need to make and use the bus more."

Nakib Narat, Chair of GM Older People's Equality Panel, added: I think it's a brilliant initiative being able to use the buses before 09:30am it's fantastic for mental health and integrating older people."

Lauren McKechnie, Chair of Age UK Greater Manchester, also said: "We're really encouraged to see the Bee Network place older people's voices at the heart of this next phase.

"This pilot isn't just about feasibility — it's about accessibility, equality, and ensuring that older people can stay active, connected, and purposeful members of our communities.

"The lived experience of older residents is vital in shaping fair, inclusive transport policy, and we're proud to see that commitment in action across Greater Manchester."

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