Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled a three-phase plan for incorporating the city’s railway lines into its Bee Network by the end of 2028.
A total of 96 stations across eight lines are set to be moved under Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) control as part of the authority’s plans to boost passenger numbers by 1.3 million each year and integrate public transport.
Phase one will involve contacting ticketing being rolled out at stations on the Manchester Victoria-Stalybridge and Manchester Piccadilly-Glossop lines by December 2026. Within 12 months they will be followed by lines connecting Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, Alderley Edge and Buxton via Stockport.
By the end of 2028 the final routes to Rochdale, Wigan via Atherton and Bolton and Golborne will also be included. In total 64 stations will join the Bee Network by then before the remaining 32 stations are incorporated over the following two years.
TfGM has also said 60% of stations on the eight lines within its network will have step-free access by 2028 compared to 43% at the end of last year.
The outline business case for a new £32 million station in Golborne has also been approved. It’s hoped work will begin in 2026 in time for a 2027 opening.
TfGM has said its aim simplifying fares to a tap in and tap out system, which would have a daily and weekly cap and be integrated with trains and buses, would be “subject to agreement with government in the approach to national fare reform”.
Burnham said: “Our plan puts passengers first by delivering a simplified, joined-up public transport network, with better services, stations and overall experience. Only by making travel by train more reliable, simpler, flexible and accessible to everyone, will we convince more people to leave the car at home and make the switch to the Bee Network.
“Delivering change on the railways is notoriously complex, but our phased plan has been drawn up with and has the backing of the rail industry. We’ll continue to work with government - as Great British Rail is established – to support them on the national reform of the railways, enacting the rail powers outlined in the English Devolution White Paper and supporting the Government’s agenda.”
Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester Transport Commissioner, said that bus punctuality, passenger numbers and revenue were all up since the launch of the Bee Network.
““With a more seamless and integrated experience for passengers, more people will choose the train for commuting and leisure, helping reduce the call on public subsidy for rail,” he added.
“This plan also needs to be developed in parallel with national reform of rail, with a clearly defined role for mayoral combined authorities in the running of services. We look forward to working closely with Government to finalise those arrangements.”\
TfGM expects combined capital infrastructure costs to be around £114m in the period to the 2028/29 financial year, with £34m spent in the period up to March 2027.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority committee will be asked on January 31 to approve an allocation of £34m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements 1 fund to support the development and delivery of the programme. It will also be asked to approve an indicate allocation of £80m from the second fund to support the rest of the work due to be completed by late 2028.
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