Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has revealed a three-phase plan, working with the rail industry, to bring rail services and stations into the Bee Network by 2028, building on the successful approach to buses.
His plans include flagship travel hub stations, tap in tap out tickets, integrated fares, accessible stations and trial of Bee Network branded trains.
if all goes to plan the first phase will see services from Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge, scheduled to be completed by December 2026.
The proposition is for eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases
the first two lines – connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will join by December 2026. A further 32 stations and all lines within Greater Manchester would join by 2030.
Plans for a new train station in Golborne have also taken a major step forward, with Government approving the outline business case.
The £32 million station will reconnect Golborne to the railway for the first time in more than 60 years. With the Department for Transport green light, TfGM, GMCA and Wigan Council can now develop a full business case and detailed design this year. Subject to approvals, work is expected begin in 2026 with the first trains hoped to stop there in 2027
Andy Burnham, said:
“Our rail system today is acting as a brake on growth and, as the UK’s fastest growing city-region, Greater Manchester deserves better. We need a railway that is reliable and fully integrated with the rest of the Bee Network to drive growth and deliver new homes with public transport connections on the doorstep.
“Building on the success of bringing our buses back under local control, we’re planning a phased approach to bringing eight commuter lines and their stations into the Bee Network. It will start with lines between the city centre and Glossop and Stalybridge and then expand each year between now and 2028.
“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.”
