GM plans to integrate 20% of train services into Bee Network

Greater Manchester’s vision for a fully integrated public transport network includes ambitions for services on six rail key routes to be integrated into the Bee Network once all buses are brought under local control from 2025:

The routes are:

? Wigan – Victoria, which includes the development of a new station at Golborne anticipated to open late 2025 subject to DfT and industry approvals

? Stalybridge –Southport

? Glossop – Hadfield – Piccadilly 

? Rose Hill – Piccadilly

? Buxton – Piccadilly

? Alderley Edge – Piccadilly

The move would see around one in five local train services integrated into the Bee Network, with a focus on performance and reliability, improved train station accessibility and a pilot of pay-as- you-go fares, similar to Metrolink’s touch-in/touch-out system.

Greater Manchester plans to explore these proposals with the rail industry as part of discussions about longer-term devolution of rail to the city-region, which would see larger parts of the network integrated into the Bee Network by the end of the decade.

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Vernon Everitt, who moved to his position from TfL last year, said: “The announcements on bus franchising and our ambitions for local rail services demonstrate further strong momentum towards delivery of the Bee Network – an integrated London-style transport system.

“We will progressively make it easier for everyone to use our services with simplified and joined-up fares, ticketing and information provision across bus, tram, rail and cycle hire. We will also continue to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and support vulnerable people on the network.”