£20m funding announced for Manchester transport improvements

Improvements to Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network are to be made as part of a series of investments in the region’s transport system.

Members of the Bee Network Committee have approved the release of more than £20m to progress with key transport infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester.

Among the projects to be invested in is the delivery of contactless pay-as-you go across bus and Metrolink services, with £7.3m approved to run this. The funds will also be spent on helping combat fare evasion, with new devices to check whether passengers have paid via contactless, along with a new feature that will enable passengers to see their journey history in the Bee Network app.

The Bee Network Committee has released £2.1m of funding for improving the reliability of bus services between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton, along with bettering connections to and from bus stops and the environment along key routes. The route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton is currently the busiest on the franchised network. Construction of the main scheme in Rochdale is anticipated to commence in Autumn 2025, subject to further approvals.

The funding will also be invested in active travel schemes.

“Over the next few years more than £1bn will be invested to improve peoples’ journeys” – Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are moving at pace to bring about improvements that will make a real difference to how people get around Greater Manchester using public transport or when walking, wheeling or cycling.

“Over the next few years more than £1bn will be invested to improve peoples’ journeys, and the scale of ambition is reflected in the drawdown of these funds, that support continued delivery of the Bee Network.

“We are taking forward an exciting range of schemes that will be truly transformational to people right across the city-region.”