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Further Bus Industrial Action
25 Sep 2025This is a general update for all GM Secondary Schools. Please note that schools with an attached dedicated school bus service will continue to receive further service specific information sent to their designated school travel contact from the TfGM bus team.
Dear Greater Manchester Secondary Schools,
Bus passengers are again being urged to plan their journey ahead of further industrial action expected to take place next week in Greater Manchester.
If your school, staff, parents/guardians and pupils are likely to be affected, please use the below copy to inform them of the planned industrial action so they can prepare alternative ways to get to school, if necessary.
| Staff at some Bee Network bus operators – First, Metroline and Stagecoach – have announced strike action from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October (inclusive). During this period of industrial action passengers can expect the following: Impact on ServicesBus services not expected to run: Around two-thirds of Bee Network buses will not operate, including some school services. Some early morning services on Friday 3 October may also be affected. A full list of impacted services will soon be available on the dedicated page on the TfGM website and customers can use the search function to quickly check if their bus is affected. Bus services that will run: Services in Bolton and Wigan, some routes in north Manchester, and the free bus in Manchester city centre should continue to operate. Local Link and Ring and Ride services should also run as normal. Trams and trains: Metrolink and train services will operate as planned. Ticket Acceptance Passengers affected by industrial action with valid 7-day, 28-day, term-time or annual bus passes, as well as concessionary passes (including Our Pass), can use them across the three strike days on: The entire Metrolink network All Northern train services in affected areas TransPennine Express services between Greenfield and Manchester Piccadilly and from Castleton to Manchester Piccadilly Please note: Ticket acceptance will not apply on trains serving areas where bus services are still running (e.g., Bolton and Wigan) and only applies to stations within Greater Manchester. Travel AdviceWe are encouraging passengers to check before they travel and allow extra time for essential journeys. Services will be busier than normal; passengers should travel outside peak times (7–9am and 4–6pm) where possible. Local roads traffic and demand for hire bikes are likely to increase. Further Information A dedicated webpage has been set up at www.beenetwork.com/bus-industrial-action, which will soon include: A full list of affected services Ticket acceptance details Other travel advice Passengers can also call the Bee Network Contact Centre on 0161 244 1000 (extended opening hours during strike days). |
If your school has pupils and parents where English is not their first language, we have attached a translation document to support messaging to those communities.
We have also attached a poster to further assist sharing this message and please use this as you see fit. You may be able to send messages through your school app, text messages, or newsletters and direct e-mail.
The www.beenetwork.com/bus-industrial-action webpage will continue to be updated and will be the best source of current information.
If you have any questions, please contact our Bee Network Customer Call Centre on: 0161 244 1000