Greater Manchester is taking steps to expand its Bee Network, aiming to create the first fully integrated public transport system outside London by 2028.
Mayor Andy Burnham has called on the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, to support the integration of eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network. This initiative builds on the region’s success in bringing its bus services under local control.
Burnham has outlined the benefits of local oversight of rail services, including improved reliability, enhanced passenger experiences, and better connectivity between buses, trams, and trains. A timeline for the integration is expected to be published in January 2025.
“We’re just one month away from bringing all buses under local control, delivering a major part of our London-style public transport system on time and on budget by 5 January. It will be a worthy addition to Greater Manchester’s long track record of firsts.
“Next year will be one of real change for Greater Manchester, as we encourage even more people onto public transport to build a low-cost, high patronage network.
“But we’re not stopping at buses – we want to do more. Our unreliable rail services are a brake on growth and we deserve better. By bringing them into the Bee Network we can deliver real change for our residents, increasing reliability and ultimately getting more people out of their cars onto public transport.
“We’ve shown we can deliver – now we’re ready to apply the same focus, momentum and pace to rail reform as we have with buses.
“I’m this week writing to the transport secretary to set out how we plan to approach bringing rail into the Bee Network, to create a true London-style public transport system. We’re committed to working with Government and the rail industry to agree and publish a clear timeline in January of how we’ll make this critical next step a reality.”
The Bee Network’s bus franchising programme is set for completion by 5 January 2025. This will bring more than 250 bus routes in Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and parts of Manchester and Salford under local control. The initiative has already demonstrated improvements in service frequency, reliability, and passenger satisfaction.
Building on this success, Greater Manchester is set to begin integrating eight local rail lines into the Bee Network. It will commence with the introduction of contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing between Glossop and Manchester, and Stalybridge and Manchester by 2026.
The remaining lines will follow by 2028. Upgrades will also be made to stations, with a rolling programme to ensure accessibility. Current projects include step-free access at Daisy Hill and Irlam stations, with further upgrades planned for other locations by 2028.
