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The Bee Network launched in Wigan, Bolton and parts of Bury, Salford and Manchester in September last year as Greater Manchester became the first area to bring buses under local control following de-regulation in 1986. Now, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has announced a major expansion of the Bee Network in the region, with plenty of enticing prospects to come, with a map that features new Metrolink lines and a potential underground plan.
Andy Burnham said: “Nowhere else in the country is delivering a plan as ambitious as here in Greater Manchester, and in Dame Sarah Storey and Vernon Everitt we have two of the most knowledgeable and experienced people in their field to help us on our journey to transform public transport and active travel.
“Safe, affordable and reliable transport – connected together by quality routes for walking, wheeling and cycling – are key to ensuring a healthier, more prosperous city-region.
“With ambitious plans for housing, education and skills we are looking in detail at how we better connect Greater Manchester in the future – both across our towns and cities but also with other parts of the north.
“When we succeed the country succeeds and I look forward to working with this new government to ensure we maximise our role as a leading contributor to sustainable regional and national economic growth.”
Greater Manchester is working with the rail industry – and the new government – to deliver this transformational expansion across train services, by bringing eight lines into the Bee Network by 2028, with other lines joining by the end of the decade. The eight key train lines to join the Bee Network by 2028 are:
- Rochdale stopping services
- Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge
- Glossop, Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge
- Alderley Edge and Buxton via Stockport
- Airport stoppers
- Wigan via Golborne
- Wigan via Atherton*
- Wigan via Bolton*
* continuing to Southport
A customer-focused plan, based on Bee Network principles has been developed for rail integration as part of the expansion which will boost ridership and serve as a catalyst for economic growth, including:
- Service improvements, with a minimum of two trains an hour at all stations where possible
- New, environmentally friendly trains, with improved on-board facilities and better accessibility
- More fully accessible stations across Greater Manchester
- Integrated fares, clear Bee Network branding across trains and stations and better customer information
- Modern new train stations at Golborne and Cheadle
Beyond the integration of train services, the draft ‘Rapid Transit Strategy‘ sets out how TfGM will seek to:
- Sustain a well-maintained, resilient and reliable system – including continuing to invest in Metrolink renewals
- Accommodate growth in passenger numbers with a new fleet of next-generation Metrolink vehicles that have tram-train capability
- Drive growth in passenger numbers by opening new stops and stations, and improving existing ones with access improvements, upgraded facilities and better connections
- Transform connectivity – with around 15 emerging priorities identified for new, extended and converted lines, including introducing tram-train services to join up the light and heavy rail networks, and the potential for major new tunnelled capacity
Areas set to benefit from this new tram-train service include Stockport, Warrington, Middleton and Bolton, and a much asked-for Tram connection from Salford Quays to Salford Crescent.
Over the past six months, the number of people using buses in the areas where the Bee Network has been rolled out has increased by 5%, with the week ending 18 May recording the highest weekly patronage to date since franchising started, with over 849,000 passenger journeys.
The punctuality of services is also consistently outperforming both the current non-franchised network, and the pre-franchised network, and record numbers of people are also travelling by tram, with usage up by more than 20% over the past year and more people travelling on Metrolink throughout May than any other month in its 32-year history.
Ensuring there is enough space on the region’s buses, trams and trains is essential to support growth and increased demand, with the number of rapid transit trips expected to double by 2040, helping to enable sustainable economic and housing growth and support our city-region’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2038.