Greybeard33
Established Member
This was buried in a TfGM press release about bus franchising today.
The services listed would all have to share tracks with other services not included in the TfGM "Bee Network", so not a segregated network like Merseyrail. Considering the timescale, these services would presumably still be worked by existing Northern rolling stock and existing Northern traincrew.
Note: this thread is only for discussion of the implications of the TfGM announcement. Ideas for future changes to GM services, rolling stock or infrastructure should be posted in the Speculative Ideas section.
Greater Manchester’s vision for a truly integrated public transport network includes all modes of transport, with ambitions for [rail] services on six key routes to be integrated into the Bee Network once buses are brought under local control from 2025:
- 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, said: “Today’s 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 are seeing a strong increase in the number of customers using Metrolink trams and buses, demonstrating high demand for safe, reliable and affordable public transport in our rapidly growing city-region.
“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 in collaboration with the TravelSafe Partnership.
The services listed would all have to share tracks with other services not included in the TfGM "Bee Network", so not a segregated network like Merseyrail. Considering the timescale, these services would presumably still be worked by existing Northern rolling stock and existing Northern traincrew.
Note: this thread is only for discussion of the implications of the TfGM announcement. Ideas for future changes to GM services, rolling stock or infrastructure should be posted in the Speculative Ideas section.
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