Greater Manchester has reached a major public transport milestone with the arrival of its 500th zero-emission bus, reinforcing the city region's ambition to operate a fully electric bus fleet by 2030.
The landmark vehicle, built by UK manufacturer Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has been delivered to Stagecoach's newly electrified depot in Oldham and is now in passenger service on the Bee Network.
The achievement highlights the rapid transformation of Greater Manchester's bus network since the start of bus franchising. Just three years ago, when Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) began bringing services under public control, only 35 electric buses were operating across the city region.
Today, 99 Bee Network routes are served entirely by electric buses, following significant investment in fleet upgrades and depot electrification programmes.
The latest milestone follows extensive work to upgrade key bus depots across Greater Manchester, enabling more electric vehicles to enter service.
With additional charging infrastructure now in place, a further 163 electric buses are expected to join the Bee Network fleet. The three most recent bus orders placed this year have all been awarded to Wrightbus, supporting UK manufacturing while helping accelerate the transition to cleaner public transport.
The expansion is central to Greater Manchester's wider decarbonisation strategy and is expected to deliver substantial environmental benefits. Once the full programme is completed, it is projected to remove more than 76,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 280 tonnes of nitrogen oxides from the region's transport network annually.
The Stagecoach depot in Oldham is the latest facility to be upgraded, following electrification work at Metroline's Hyde Road depot in Manchester.
New power supplies and charging systems have also been installed at bus depots in Ashton, Bolton and Middleton, creating the infrastructure required to support a rapidly growing electric fleet.
Oldham-based construction firm Willmott Dixon delivered the depot electrification programme and has previously partnered with TfGM on major transport projects, including the £113 million Stockport Interchange, which opened in 2024.
Design work is already underway for the Bee Network's remaining depots, with further electrification works scheduled to begin next year.
As electricity demand increases across the expanding electric fleet, TfGM has also secured a long-term renewable energy agreement that will supply clean electricity at a fixed price, helping shield the transport network from future energy market fluctuations.
Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner, said:
“It’s great to see the depot in Oldham join the growing list of bus depots in Greater Manchester to be electrified. This means even more zero emissions buses can join the Bee Network and keep us on track to have a fully electric fleet by the end of the decade.
“This electrification work is a crucial part of our investment-led approach to improving air quality which is working. By taking old buses off our streets and keeping fares on the Bee Network affordable, we’re improving the experience of getting on board the bus for communities right across the city region.”
Image credit: iStock
