Bee Network sets next round of tram expansions in motion

Transport for Greater Manchester has signalled its intent regarding what Metrolink lines it wants to draw up business cases for: an airport extension that may feature Stockport, Wythenshawe, and Altrincham, and a north-west link that could include Salford, Wigan, and Bolton.

This latest push will be discussed at next week’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority Bee Network committee meeting, according to a report. The GMCA will decide at that meeting whether or not to progress the report’s recommendations.

The airport line business case has three strong contenders: a Stockport to Manchester Airport tram-train, a Manchester Airport western leg that includes Wythenshawe Hospital and Davenport Green, and an Altrincham to Manchester Airport tram-train. The last would have potential links to mid-Cheshire as well.

Work on an airport line strategic outline business case could begin this autumn, following the submission of the strategic outline business case for the Metrolink’s Stockport connection.

As for the north-west extension, the three schemes under consideration are a tram between Salford Quays and Salford Crescent, a tram between the regional centre to Salford Crescent, and a tram-train from Wigan via Atherton to either Bolton or Leigh.

The report puts the timeline for SOC development for the north-west line as starting next summer.

Next up would be developing pre-SOC strategic assessments for projects in Middleton and the Northern Gateway and for Trafford Waters, Port Salford, and the Western Gateway. These assessments are to wrap up by the end of autumn.

Also on the docket: the Bee Network is pushing to start “very early” development work on a potential underground transport system.

The same committee report also included an update on the business cases for a Stockport Metrolink expansion and the Pathfinder tram-train project that includes Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood, and Bury.

Stockport’s SOC is due to complete in autumn, while the outline business case for the Pathfinder scheme is to be published in 2026.

This lines up for construction to begin on the projects in 2030 and 2028, respectively.