Bee Network advances tram expansion plans

Transport for Greater Manchester signals which Metrolink lines will be studied as business cases, including an airport link and a northwest route.

Bee Network Advances Tram Expansion Plans

Transport for Greater Manchester has signalled the Metrolink lines it wants to push into business cases, focusing on an airport extension and a northwest link. The proposal will be reviewed at the upcoming Bee Network committee meeting, with the GMCA deciding whether to advance the recommendations. For the airport line, three options are on the table: a Stockport to Manchester Airport tram-train, a western leg that would serve Wythenshawe Hospital and Davenport Green, and an Altrincham to Manchester Airport tram-train that could connect to mid-Cheshire.

Regarding the northwest extension, the committee is weighing three possibilities: a tram from Salford Quays to Salford Crescent, a link from the regional centre to Salford Crescent, and a tram-train from Wigan via Atherton to Bolton or Leigh. The report sets the stage for a surface-operations concept (SOC) start next summer. It also outlines pre-SOC strategic assessments for Middleton and the Northern Gateway plus sites like Trafford Waters, Port Salford, and the Western Gateway, expected to wrap up by autumn. The Bee Network is also pushing for very early work on an underground system. In parallel, the plan covers the Stockport Metrolink expansion and the Pathfinder tram-train project (Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood, and Bury), with Stockport SOC due this autumn and Pathfinder outline due in 2026, aligning with construction goals in 2028 and 2030 respectively.

The cluster of projects shows a clear preference for modular growth: some lines could be built sooner as tram-trains while others require deeper studies and larger capital decisions. That staged approach helps manage costs and political risk, but it also relies on steady funding and strong local backing. The underground study push hints at a longer horizon where the network aims to reshape core travel corridors, not just add lines. If the plans move from study to shovel-ready status, the region will need transparent cost trajectories and credible delivery milestones to keep public confidence intact.

Highlights

Public transport plans at this scale test patience and purse strings alike, but they also hold a promise of faster, cleaner travel for a growing city.