As we’ve already seen, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has bold plans to improve and enhance transport around the region, and now officials are seeking the views of the pubic with the launch of a major consultation. This consultation is looking for people who live, work, travel, visit, or study in the region to help shape the future of travel by giving their views on the GM Transport Strategy 2050 and the GM Transport Delivery Plan (2027-37).
The consultation was launched on 9th December 2025 and will remain open until Monday 9th March 2026. The plans being looked at have been developed alongside the 10 local councils and through engagement with business, community and stakeholder groups to ensure they deliver for people and places. They set out how the Bee Network could help Greater Manchester continue to be the growth capital of the UK through to the middle of the century.
The plans – which are backed by £2.5bn funding from the government – include a wide range of projects. For Metrolink these include:
- Bury Interchange redevelopment
- Tram-train pathfinder: Heywood to Oldham
- Tram-train pathfinder: Heywood to Bury
- Altrincham line stop improvements
- Bury line stop improvements
- Stockport extension
- New stops at Cop Road (Oldham), Elton Reservoir (Bury)
Longer-term projects could include:
- Metrolink or tram-train to Hazel Grove
- Metrolink Airport line Western leg
- Metrolink or tram-train Stockport to Airport
- Metrolink or tram-train Altrincham to Airport and potential links to mid-Cheshire
- Metrolink or tram-train Stockport to Ashton-under-Lyne
- Metrolink or busway to Middleton/Northern Gateway
- Metrolink to Trafford Waters, Salford Stadium and Port Salford
- Metrolink or tram-train to Wigan
- Metrolink or tram-train to Bolton
- Metrolink or tram-train to Leigh
- Metrolink or tram-train to Marple
- Metrolink or tram-train to Warrington via CLC line
- Metrolink or tram-train to Glossop and Hadfield
- Extension of tram-train pathfinder into Northern Gateway
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “World-class transport is the key to unlocking further sustainable economic growth, higher productivity and reducing inequality. We’re already leading the way through the creation of the Bee Network and seeing the clear benefits it’s delivering. We know there is still a huge amount of work to be done and it is critical that we take a long-term view through this 2050 strategy and delivery plan.
“We’ve got exciting multi-million-pound plans which will improve transport across Greater Manchester, including continuing our work to make sure everyone is safe, and feels safe, using the Bee Network.
“Every voice matters, and we’ve already engaged with communities, businesses and stakeholders to make sure people and places are at the heart of these plans. Now we want to hear what you think, so we can make sure they deliver what every area and community needs now and in the future.”
By 2030, Greater Manchester wants 90% of people in the city region to be within a five-minute of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes, and these plans seek to achieve that.
Whilst many of the plans may never come to fruition (and there is a three phase plan so many will not see the light of day for some time) these ambitious plans are aiming to make major improvements across the Greater Manchester region.
To take part in the consultation visit https://www.gmconsult.org/transport/transport2050/, where you can also find links to the GM Transport Strategy 2050 and the GM Transport Delivery Plan (2027-37).