School warning to pupils in case Bee Bus contactless payments are 'not up and running straight away'

A school in Bolton has urged pupils to have cash in case of teething problems with the new Bee buses contactless payments system. St Joseph's RC High in Bolton advised children to have money with them when catching the school bus on Monday morning 'in case the contactless system is not up and running straight away as we have been advised'.

Greater Manchester launched its Bee Network, which promises better, cheaper transport and, eventually a joined-up public transport system combining buses, trains and trams, today (Sunday). The region is the first to bring buses back under public control in England since deregulation in the 1980s.

Speaking this morning as the first bus left Farnworth in Bolton, mayor Andy Burnham described it as a 'truly historic day'. He added: "It's taken a huge amount of effort, persuasion, argument by many people over many years.

Read more: I got up at 3.30am to travel on the first revolutionary Bee Network bus... this is what it was like

Read more: Greater Manchester's new Bee Network - bus fares, the app, what will change and what you need to know from today

"Greater Manchester didn't want to give up control of its buses 36 years ago. It was forced to do that. We've had to fight to win back control but finally, today, Greater Manchester has retaken control of its buses."

Fares will be capped until at least this time next year, with journeys costing £2 for adults and £1 for children. A day of unlimited travel using any bus costs £5 for adults and £2.50 for children, with a week of unlimited travel by bus in Greater Manchester costs £21 for adults and £10.50 for children.

In a post on Facebook St Joseph's said: "Monday 25th September- 930/931/932/933 School Bus services move to be become part of