Bus punctuality report: 1 - 7 December 2024
Summary:
Overall, Bee Network services continue to be on time more often than both non Bee Network services over the period 1st – 7th December and compared with the same period as last year.
Bus punctuality was 78.7% across tranche 1 services and 65.7% across tranche 2 services.
This was in part due to the continuation of increased congestion within the regional centre, which had a knock on effect on cross-city bus performance, particularly on Tranche 2 services.
In addition, a yellow weather warning was in place for wind and rain across Greater Manchester from Thursday 5th December to Sunday 8th December, which resulted in delays across the network.
About the data:
The Bee Network Punctuality charts have three columns showing the percentage of bus services running ‘on time’ each day in a 7-day period.
It shows:
- Pre-Bee Network punctuality: Results for the same period in 2023, before those bus services joined the Bee Network.
- Bee Network punctuality: Results for current Bee Network services.
- Non-Bee Network punctuality: Results for buses in Greater Manchester that are not yet part of the Bee Network.
This allows you to compare past and present performance. The Senior Traffic Commissioner (responsible for licensing and regulating bus services) classes services running between one minute early and five minutes late as ‘on time’. This allows for road traffic conditions which can affect bus running times.
Which districts are included in each 'tranche'
- Tranche 1 = Bolton, Wigan, and parts of Salford, Bury and Manchester - joined the Bee Network on 24 September 2023.
- Tranche 2 = Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester - joined the Bee Network on 24 March 2024.
- Tranche 3 = Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and the remaining parts of Manchester and Salford - joining the Bee Network on 5 January 2025.
Bee Network daily bus punctuality - % on time
The charts show daily punctuality data for Bee Network services and non-Bee Network services. They also shows punctuality data for the same services that are now part of the Bee Network, before they came under local control.
The chart below includes all services under local control
The chart shows daily punctuality data for all Bee Network services and non-Bee Network services between 1st and 7th December 2024. It also shows punctuality data for the same services that are now part of the Bee Network, 12 months previously.
The daily punctuality data shows that Bee Network services were on time more often than both non Bee Network Services over the period 1st and 7th December 2024 and compared with the same period as last year.
The chart below only includes services that joined the Bee Network on 24 September 2023
The chart shows daily punctuality data for T1 Bee Network services which joined the Bee Network on the 24th September 2023 and non- Bee Network services between 1st and 7th December 2024. It also shows punctuality data for the same services that are now part of the T1 Bee Network, 12 months previously.
The daily punctuality data shows that the T1 Bee Network services were on time more often than both non-Bee Network Services over the period 1st and 7th December 2024 and compared with the same period as last year.
The chart below only includes services that joined the Bee Network on 24 March 2024
The chart shows daily punctuality data for T2 Bee Network services which joined the Bee Network on the 24th March 2024 and non- Bee Network services between 1st and 7th December 2024. It also shows punctuality data for the same services that are now part of the Bee Network, before they came under local control.
The daily punctuality data shows that the T2 Bee Network services were on time more often than both non Bee Network Services over the period 1st and 7th December 2024 and compared with the same period as last year.
With the exception of Saturday 7th December 2024, T2 performance was below 70% throughout the week. In addition to the impact of increased travel within the Regional Centre, there were a number of incidents and events which affected performance. These included:
- Roadworks on the A663 Shaw Road/A671 Oldham Road and on Ripponden Road (Oldham),
- The closure of Milnrow Road (Oldham) due to a burst water main, and
- A yellow weather warning, which was in place for wind and rain across Greater Manchester, from Thursday 5th December to Sunday 8th December.
We are continuing to work with operators and Local Authorities to understand and address recurrent issues.
Bee Network weekly bus punctuality - % on time
The chart shows weekly punctuality data for all Bee Network services and non-Bee Network services between the week ending 26th October 2024 to the week ending 7th December 2024. It also shows punctuality data for the same services that are now part of the Bee Network, 12 months previously.
This weekly punctuality data shows that all Bee Network services were on time more often than both non-Bee Network services over the weekly period from the week ending 26th October 2024 to the week ending 7th December 2024 and compared to the same weekly period last year.
Bee Network daily operated kilometres
The below chart shows the actual volume of services delivered compared to what was scheduled (operated kilometres)*. Scheduled kilometres may not be met because journeys are fully or partially cancelled due to:
- Traffic congestion.
- Available staff.
- Engineering or fleet issues.
*Operated kilometres are provided by the bus operators.
Daily operated kilometres
The chart shows daily percentage of operated KM for all Bee Network Services between 1st and 7th December 2024, based on data provided by the bus operators.
The percentage of operated KM was above 97% on three out of the seven days last week.
Weekly operated kilometres
The chart shows weekly percentage of operated KM for all Bee Network Services between the week ending 2nd November 2024 and the week ending 7th December 2024, based on data provided by the bus operators.
The weekly percentage of operated KM has generally been above 97% for all the Bee Network services as well as tranche 1 and tranche 2 services separately.
Cause of highway delays
Most delay on the highway network was due to peak time traffic volumes and travel behaviour. The pie chart shows the estimated causes of delay (above recurrent) on a sample of roads on Greater Manchester’s Key Route Network.
The main causes of delay (above recurrent) on highways over the seven days ending 7th December were Roadworks (45%), Other (Including Seasonal Congestion) (29%), and Events (16%).
City centre congestion
The graphic and chart below show Journey Time Reliability and Journey Time Rate within the regional centre on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December 2024. This shows an overall poor level of journey time reliability on key routes in the city centre alongside a higher than expected journey time, particularly in the late afternoon and evening. This reflects the increased footfall/demand for the Christmas Markets and wider retail/hospitality, which had a knock-on effect on cross-city buses and trams, leading to some delays and diversions.
Journey Time Reliability (JTR) is measures as the percentage of journeys competed within the expected journey time (for that location, time of day and day of the week), plus a buffer of 25%.
