Mayor Andy Burnham reveals plans for Bee Network rail

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has set out plans for local rail services in the city-region to be integrated into the Bee Network, with eight routes brought under local control by 2028.

The move sets out the next steps in bringing a London-style public transport system to Greater Manchester after the completion of bus franchising at the beginning of 2025. Plans aim to not only improve transport, but unlock major regeneration and housing opportunities on land around the city-region’s stations, and have been developed in partnership with the rail industry, Department for Transport (DfT) and Shadow Great British Rail.

Greater Manchester’s proposition is for eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases by 2028, delivering major improvements to the city-region’s train stations, services and passenger experience – including integrated capped fares across bus, tram and train. A further 32 stations and all lines within Greater Manchester would join by 2030.

Under the plan, the first two lines – connecting Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop and via Woodley and Romiley to Rose Hill Marple; and from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge – will join by December 2026.

A second phase that will complete by the end of 2027 will the majority of the remaining local services in Stockport come under the Bee Network, including routes from Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton via Hazel Grove, to Alderley Edge via Cheadle Hulme, and to Manchester Airport via Gatley and Heald Green. A flagship station at Manchester Airport will also create an international travel hub at the gateway to the city-region.

A third phase from March to December 2028 would add services to Rochdale and to Wigan on routes via Bolton, Atherton and a new line through the proposed Golborne station currently in development.

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. The same approach will also be applied to the remaining Greater Manchester stations by 2030.

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.
• Simpler fares across bus, tram and train: Greater Manchester’s aim is then to simplify the complex rail fare structure and expand the daily and weekly fare caps (already being introduced on Bee Network buses and trams this March) to include train travel.
• Bee Network stations and trains: All 64 stations on the initial eight lines will gain 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.
• 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.
• 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. Plans for a new station in Cheadle on the Mid-Cheshire Line to Chester are also in the works, with this route to come under the Bee Network in 2030.

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.”

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.”