Developed in partnership with the rail industry, Department for Transport (DfT) and Shadow Great British Rail, the plan is aimed at not only improving transport but unlocking major regeneration and housing opportunities on land around the city-region’s stations.
Greater Manchester’s proposition is for eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases, delivering major improvements to the city-region’s train stations, services and passenger experience – including integrated capped fares across bus, tram and train.
Under the plan, 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.
The approach is expected to boost the number of trips by train by 1.3 million each year, with more people choosing public transport and more services running later and at the weekend. Doing so will foster more sustainable economic growth, ensuring residents in new homes have rail connections right on the doorstep, connecting them to even more opportunities.
By 2028, the plan for Bee Network rail integration is scheduled to deliver:
- Tap in, tap out ticketing: First, contactless tap in tap out ticketing will, working with government, be rolled out across commuter rail lines. Passengers will also get a more joined-up experience, with the ability to buy rail tickets through the Bee Network app and travel shops at stations becoming one-stop-shops for all tickets and information across bus, tram and train.
- Simpler fares across bus, tram and train: Greater Manchester’s aim is then to simplify the complex rail fare structure that can put people off travelling. This would be done by expanding the daily and weekly fare caps (already being introduced on Bee Network buses and trams this March) to include train travel. An example of this simplification is that those travelling from Glossop could tap in on the train and then use all buses or trams in Greater Manchester. Rather than worrying about having the right ticket – or buying individual tickets – the best fare would be calculated for them by TfGM. This would have a daily and a weekly cap, give passengers more flexibility and would be cheaper than buying separate tickets. Delivery of such fare capping across bus, tram and train will be subject to agreement with Government on the approach to national fare reform.
- Bee Network stations and trains: All 64 stations on the initial eight lines will be brought up to an exemplar Greater Manchester standard – including Bee Network branding, new safety and accessibility features, upgraded toilet and waiting facilities, and improved passenger information. A trial of Bee Network branded trains will also run in the first of three phases. A further 32 stations will be incorporated by 2030.
- New homes and regeneration around stations: The programme will put the city-region’s rail stations at the heart of connected communities, with underused land around stations identified for employment and regeneration opportunities. This will include a delivery plan to unlock an initial 750 new homes close to rail stations by 2028.
- Service improvements: Greater Manchester leaders will work with the Government and the rail industry to improve reliability and implement service changes to drive growth. Opportunities to optimise both freight and passenger journeys will also be explored – using opportunities such as Old Trafford – with the aim of moving more freight journeys outside the city centre.
- A step-change in making stations accessible for all passengers: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will work with the rail industry to accelerate delivery of accessibility improvements, with over 60% of stations on the eight lines to have step-free access by 2028, compared to 43% at the end of 2024. Work at Irlam and Daisy Hill stations is set to complete this year, with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) set to consider funding allocations for further priority stations at a meeting next week.
- New rail stations: 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.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, 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.”
A phased approach to Bee Network rail
The Mayor has committed to approaching the expansion of the Bee Network with the same rigour and pace applied to bus franchising, which made history when completed on time and on budget earlier this month (5 January).
Getting more people onto public transport will not only make rail services more financially sustainable – reducing the need for Government subsidies – but will play a major role in reaching net zero targets. Integrating the eight rail lines alone is expected to take over 7 million cars off the road, saving around 700 tonnes of carbon.
It is planned for Greater Manchester leaders to work closely with the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Shadow Great British Railways and Train Operating Companies to further develop and implement the three-phase plan as follows:
- Phase 1 [By December 2026]: Contactless tap in tap out ticketing across 17 stations on the first two lines between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, and Manchester Piccadilly and Glossop. Passengers will also see a trial of Bee Network branded trains, stations brought up to Bee Network standards, and flagship stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge showcasing the integrated approach in action.
- Phase 2 [By December 2027]: Rollout of tap in tap out ticketing on a further two lines, including services connecting Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport, Alderley Edge and Buxton via Stockport. The stations on these corridors will join the Bee Network, with a flagship station at Manchester Airport, creating an international travel hub as the gateway to the city-region.
- Phase 3 [By December 2028]: 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, with these stations being upgraded to the new standard.
The same approach will then be applied to the remaining Greater Manchester stations by 2030.
Whilst Greater Manchester’s ambitions to integrate the eight lines will signal a significant change for passengers, fundamental reform is needed to give the city-region further powers to realise its plan in full. Progress is being made in this area, with the Rail Reform Bill and English Devolution White Paper (published in December) proposing a formal statutory role for Mayoral Combined Authorities.
Greater Manchester is working with government to shape new arrangements on funding, governance, services, fares and network specification, supporting the national agenda to reform how the railways are planned and run.
Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester Transport Commissioner, said:
“This ambitious plan maintains the momentum behind the integrated Bee Network to power Greater Manchester’s sustainable economic growth and higher productivity and greater opportunity for all.
“We have demonstrated what can be done with greater local control and accountability for tram, bus and active travel. As a result, bus punctuality, passenger numbers and revenue are all up with work underway to make continuous improvements to the service. The focus now shifts to working closely with the rail industry and Government to build on that and present a fully integrated transport system to the people and businesses of Greater Manchester.
“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. 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.”
Rob McIntosh, North West & Central Managing Director at Network Rail, said:
“Network Rail is committed to a process of devolution that benefits our passengers, partners and the taxpayer.
“We know that rail is key to a locally integrated transport system and therefore fundamental to unlocking growth and opportunity.
“That’s why we are delighted to support and help Greater Manchester deliver these Bee Network ambitions.”
