Greater Manchester’s public transport ambitions have received a major boost, with more than £6 million allocated to develop a new wave of tram and tram-train connections across the region.
The funding, approved by the Bee Network Committee and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, will accelerate planning on a series of strategic “rapid transit” projects designed to strengthen connectivity and support future growth.
Projects set to benefit include the extension of Metrolink from East Didsbury to Stockport, with work now underway to finalise the Strategic Outline Case. Planning will also progress on the Airport Line’s “Western Leg”, which aims to create new links to Wythenshawe Hospital, Davenport Green and wider growth areas around Manchester Airport. In Salford, preparation will begin on expansions to Salford Crescent and Salford Quays, alongside options to extend the network further west to Leigh, Wigan and Bolton.
Elsewhere, work will continue to assess potential connections to Middleton, the Northern Gateway, Trafford Waters and Port Salford. Efforts will also focus on safeguarding future routes to Glossop, Hadfield, Marple and Warrington, while early development will begin on proposals for a new underground system serving the city centre.
In parallel, the Oldham–Rochdale–Heywood–Bury tram-train scheme is progressing, with construction scheduled to begin in 2028. The investment will also fund the purchase of new, double-length, walk-through trams to expand fleet capacity and improve passenger experience.
The programme forms part of the Greater Manchester Strategy, launched in July, which set a target for 90% of residents to live within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram service running every 30 minutes by 2030. The long-term vision is to ensure all ten boroughs are fully connected to the Metrolink network.
Mayor Andy Burnham said the funding would help Greater Manchester develop the next generation of public transport. “Every part of our city region needs to feel the benefits of growth. To make sure that happens, we’ve pledged to connect our people and communities to new opportunities better than ever before. This latest funding means we can develop the case for new tram and tram-train lines, extensions, and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre, to deliver a transport system befitting the global city region we are.”