The Mayor of Greater Manchester has revealed a step-by-step plan for bringing the city region’s rail lines into the Bee Network to create the first truly integrated public transport system outside London. With just one year to go until the first rail services start joining the Bee Network, Mayor Andy Burnham and industry leaders unveiled a new yellow Bee Network promotional train and set out how passengers will benefit from new services, improved stations and simpler fares and ticketing in the months ahead.
When will Greater Manchester trains join the Bee Network?
The first two lines – connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will join the Bee Network from 13 December 2026, and will see contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ ticketing rolled out across 17 stations.
This is just the beginning with more rail lines to follow in 2027 and 2028, and the further roll out of contactless, capped fares, joining buses, trams and trains together as Greater Manchester continues its journey to deliver an affordable, accessible and joined-up transport network.
In phase 2, services connecting Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport, Alderley Edge and Buxton via Stockport will join by December 2027. Services on the Rochdale, Wigan via Atherton (onward to Southport), Wigan via Bolton (onward to Southport) and Wigan via Golborne lines enter the Bee Network by December 2028. A further 32 stations and all lines within Greater Manchester will join by 2030.
Map of train lines joining the Bee Network
Stalybridge will have one of the first Bee Network integrated rail lines
The Mayoral Development Corporation approach for Stalybridge will see the area connected to the regional centre through one of the first rail lines being integrated into the Bee Network.
This integration will boost ridership, increase revenue, and unlock broader socio-economic and environmental benefits, accelerating the delivery of new homes around existing transport hubs, and improving access to employment opportunities across the city region.
Greater Manchester Strategy
The ambitious programme is central to the Greater Manchester Strategy, aiming to make the Bee Network a transport system fit for a global city-region – supporting growth and opening up opportunities for all.
In the next 12 months, the plan for bringing rail into the Bee Network is set to deliver:
Simpler, fairer fares
The introduction of simpler fares on 7 December paves the way for contactless payments and integration with the Bee Network from December 2026.
Ticket acceptance during disruption
From December 2025, passengers will benefit from ticket acceptance across bus, tram and train when there’s disruption in Greater Manchester.
Digital improvements
By March 2026, the Bee Network app and TfGM website will feature comprehensive rail station information, from car park and cycling spaces through to step-free access. Real-time rail departure and disruption information will be added by the summer, with journey planning available by autumn next year.
24/7 Rail Services
From May 2026, TransPennine Express will run night-time trains to the airport, supporting Greater Manchester’s thriving night-time and visitor economy.
Station upgrades
From summer 2026, stations on the first two lines will be refreshed with Bee Network branding and new customer information points to make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier. Upgrades to nearby bus and tram stops will provide up-to-date travel information from spring 2026.
Major Travel Hubs
TfGM and rail industry partners will join forces like never before to enhance the customer experience at Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations – two major gateways into the city. The collaborative approach will create a truly seamless journey for all passengers (including visitors to the city), including improved signage, live travel information and Bee Network customer support.
Plus:
- Accelerating step-free access
- Contactless payments on the first rail lines
- New combined Bee Network ticket
- Pilot Projects including additional and later running services on the Airport, Alderley Edge, and Rochdale stopping lines.
- Fully integrated eight rail lines into the Bee Network from January 2028 – the remaining 32 stations will join the system by 2030.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “With one year to go until rail joins the Bee Network, we are on the cusp of delivering a fully integrated, world-class transport system for our global city-region. These changes will make everyday journeys easier and open up new opportunities for people across Greater Manchester. I am excited for what the next twelve months will bring as we build a better, more connected future for us all.
“This is just the beginning—more rail lines will follow in 2027 and 2028, as we continue our journey to make travel safer, easier and better connected to local communities, so people feel they are getting good value for money.”