The Bus Chronicles: The annual bus ticket

On Saturday 18th January I travelled to Stockport Interchange on the (15 minutes late) 385 and handed over £800 to TfGM to purchase the newly created Bee Network Annual pass. 

It has been a long time coming.

Years ago, in the wild west of post 1986 de-regulation, and amidst round 3 of the 192 bus wars, I had purchased first a monthly, then an annual, System 1 Anybus Pass.* This entitled the bearer to travel on any bus in Greater Manchester, regardless of who was running it, at any time during the issue period. I purchased the annual System 1 for years, until it was scrapped. 

After the System 1 was scrapped I bought Stagecoach annual passes** on the basis that they were cheaper and less hassle than traipsing to Stockport bus station every month to buy a monthly System 1. Also, I was living in Heaton Chapel at the time and Stagecoach had the monopoly on all the routes between Stockport and Manchester which meant that the only bus company I was using was Stagecoach. 

But I have always really missed having an Anybus pass. 

When I moved house last year and found myself in an area of Stockport not under total control of Stagecoach, I quickly concluded that I was going to need to purchase the monthly Anybus pass, entailing a monthly trip to the newly built Stockport Interchange, as this would enable me to use both the 383 and 385 without having to purchase multiple tickets. As much as I enjoy visiting Stockport Interchange, it was a relief when it was announced in October 2024 that one of the new changes that the Bee Network would introduce would be a new Annual pass that could be paid for outright or purchased in instalments via credit unions. I was overjoyed. 

The member of TfGM staff who sold me my annual pass seemed similarly excited about it's creation, remarking that they are proving very popular and providing me with a yellow Bee Network card holder and, despite the recent travails with my commute, I went away with a skip in my step.

* - My employer at the time purchased my System 1 bus passes for me, and I paid them back in instalments via PAYE.

** - I paid for these myself using money from my savings account, which I then paid back in instalments throughout the year. I am using the same system to fund my £800 Bee Network pass.