Greater Manchester to Invest £6 Million into Tram & Tram-Train Network

Plans for a slew of new tram and tram-train connections across Greater Manchester are set to be boosted by an investment of over 6 million GBP, as transport leaders have confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future.

Funding for the expansion has been signed off by the Bee Network Committee, and plans have now been formally discussed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Projects set to benefit from the 6 million GBP include advanced planning work on major tram and tram-train projects such as the finalising of the Strategic Outline Case for the extension of Metrolink to Stockport from East Didsbury and the beginning of a Strategic Outline Case for the completion of the Metrolink Airport Line ‘Western Leg’, which aims to serve a number of key growth areas at the Airport, Wythenshawe Hospital and Davenport Green.

Preparation will also begin on the Strategic Outline Case for the expansion of Metrolink connections to Salford Crescent and Salford Quays, and out to the North-West of the city-region including options for links to Leigh, Wigan and Bolton, further work to assess available options for Middleton & the Northern Gateway and Trafford Waters, Port Salford & the Western Gateway and shape their business cases, ongoing work to protect routes for longer-term schemes to Glossop, Hadfield, Marple and Warrington and early development work on plans for a new underground system.

Work is also set to continue on plans for a tram-train route between Oldham–Rochdale–Heywood–Bury, with construction hoped to begin in 2028.

Finally, the investment will also be used to purchase a fleet of new, double-length, fully ‘walk-through’ trams to complement the existing fleet, expanding the current capacity.

The funding forms part of the Greater Manchester Strategy, which was launched in July and saw Mayor Andy Burnham, alongside council leaders, pledge for 90% of those living within the city-region to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram every thirty minutes by 2030.

The work is part of a plan to link every borough in Greater Manchester to the Metrolink network.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

Every part of our city region needs to feel the benefits of Greater Manchester’s growth. To make sure that happens, we’ve pledged to connect our people and communities to new opportunities better than ever before. We’re planning to connect all ten boroughs to the ever-popular Metrolink network as part of a long-term, sustained expansion of the Bee Network.

This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are.

More people are getting on board the Bee Network, but we can’t afford to be complacent. We need to plan ahead to accommodate continued growth, with more tram, bus and train routes giving people a viable alternative to the car.