This time next week pensioner bus restrictions end

Telling residents on his X account, Burnham said: “This time next week we will have removed the 9.30am restriction on older and disabled people’s bus passes – for good.

“24/7 free bus travel for our older and disabled passengers to be made permanent form march.”

From March 1, older and disabled passengers across Greater Manchester will be able to travel free at any time of day, seven days a week, on Bee Network buses.

The long-standing weekday restriction – which prevents free travel before 9.30am under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme – is being permanently scrapped on Greater Manchester’s franchised bus network following successful pilot schemes.

Mr Burnham said the change will make 24/7 free bus travel for older and disabled passengers permanent from March.

The move follows two trials in August and November 2025, during which around 400,000 residents were allowed to use their passes without time limits.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the pilots showed the policy helped spread demand more evenly and reduced overcrowding on the first post-9.30am services.

The change means passholders will no longer need to pay for early journeys to hospital appointments, work, caring responsibilities or morning activities.

Passengers using services not yet part of the Bee Network may still face the 9.30am restriction until those routes join the franchised system.

With just a week to go, the mayor has made clear the change is now imminent, and permanent.