Greater Manchester seeks rapid transit expansion with tunnels as 0.6m more daily trips set to be made

Transport for Greater Manchester will seek to accommodate 600,000 extra daily trips in less than two decades fuelled by population and economic growth with increased capacity for tram-train or bus-based rapid transit and more and longer radial cycle routes.

The aim to support growth is contained in the new Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040, which TfGM said was "radical" and would allow the conurbation's population to exceed three million compared to 2.7m today without a corresponding increase in car use. Short-term measures would improve access to key employment sites particularly by public transport and by bike, whilst highways measures will be focused on improving reliability and will be supplemented with transport demand measures such as engaging employers to change travel behaviour.

TfGM will explore the feasibility of tunnelling in order to increase capacity for rapid transit, support the redevelopment of Manchester Piccadilly, aim to reduce cycling and pedestrian casualties and will seek "an affordable" transport system with bus franchising powers.