Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured an order for 55 electric buses from Greater Manchester, as the region continues to expand its zero-emission fleet under the Bee Network transport initiative.
The order was announced by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham during a visit to Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena. While the exact model of the newly ordered buses has not been confirmed, Burnham also inspected production of a previous order of 76 battery-electric StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers, which are scheduled to enter service from April.
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With the addition of the latest order, Greater Manchester will have procured a total of 293 buses from Wrightbus for deployment within the Bee Network. The integrated transport system, launched in 2023, aims to connect buses, trams, cycling, and rail services across the metropolitan region, with a target of achieving a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030.
“Through local control of the Bee Network, we’re proving that when you invest properly in public transport, you don’t just transform how people get around, you drive real economic growth,” said Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
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Burnham added that the procurement supports domestic industry. “This is part of our commitment to buy from UK-based manufacturers wherever we can to support and protect jobs, and strengthen our homegrown industries,” he said.
Wrightbus Sales Director for the UK and Ireland, John McLeister, said the order would have broader economic benefits. “We were delighted to welcome Mayor Andy Burnham and show him around the factory here in Ballymena. Orders like this aren’t just about creating jobs in Northern Ireland, this is about the ripple effect they can have across the whole UK supply chain,” he said.
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He added that suppliers across the UK benefit from such contracts, including companies like McKenna Brothers in Manchester, which provide components for the buses.