Mayor Andy Burnham shares plans to bring trains into Bee Network from 2026

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has revealed a step-by-step plan for bringing the city region’s rail lines into the Bee Network in 2026.

The first two lines – connecting Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – will join the Bee Network from Sun 13 Dec 2026, and will see contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ ticketing rolled out across 17 stations.

More rail lines will follow in 2027 and 2028, as well as the further rollout of contactless, capped fares, joining buses, trams and trains together to create a fully integrated public transport system.

In a press release shared by Transport for Greater Manchester, over the next 12 months, the plan for bringing rail into the Bee Network is set to deliver:

• Simpler, fairer fares: The introduction of simpler fares on 7 December paves the way for contactless payments and integration with the Bee Network from December 2026.
• Ticket acceptance during disruption: From December 2025, passengers will benefit from ticket acceptance across bus, tram and train when there’s disruption in Greater Manchester.
• Digital improvements: By March 2026, the Bee Network app and TfGM website will feature comprehensive rail station information, from car park and cycling spaces through to step-free access. Real-time rail departure and disruption information will be added by the summer, with journey planning available by autumn next year.
• 24/7 Rail Services: From May 2026, TransPennine Express will run night-time trains to the airport, supporting Greater Manchester’s night-time and visitor economy.
• Station upgrades: From summer 2026, stations on the first two lines will be refreshed with Bee Network branding and new customer information points to make onward journeys between train, tram, buses and bikes even easier. Upgrades to nearby bus and tram stops will provide up-to-date travel information from spring 2026.
• Major Travel Hubs: TfGM and rail industry partners will join forces to enhance the customer experience at Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations, including improved signage, live travel information and Bee Network customer support.
• Accelerating step-free access: Building on the success of delivering step-free access schemes at Daisy Hill and Irlam stations. TfGM and partners have started to deliver improvements at Bryn station in Wigan, with work due to begin at Hindley, Reddish North and Swinton in the year ahead.
• Contactless payments on the first rail lines: Greater Manchester is working with government to roll out tap and go contactless payments at 17 stations on the first two lines by December 2026. The best rail fare will be calculated automatically, with a weekly rail cap.
• New Bee Network ticket: Also from December 2026, a new pre-pay multi-modal ticket will launch, meaning you can use it on any combination of buses, trams and trains across the city region. Similar to the approach taken to Bee Network buses, this will bring bus, tram and train together with a new pre-paid ticket.
• Pilot Projects: From 2027, there will be a pilot of later running services on the Airport, Alderley Edge, and Rochdale stopping lines.
• Fully integrated eight rail lines into the Bee Network: From January 2028, eight rail lines – including 64 stations – will be fully integrated with Bee Network buses and trams, with Tap and Go payments and daily and weekly fare caps. The remaining 32 stations will join the system by 2030.

As part of deepening devolution agreements, Greater Manchester will also pilot a new approach to transport-led regeneration around local rail stations through the creation of the UK’s first Transport-Led Town Centre Regeneration and Growth Corridor. This will be delivered through a Mayoral Development Corporation approach, for Ashton and Stalybridge Town Centres.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “With one year to go until rail joins the Bee Network, we are on the cusp of delivering a fully integrated, world-class transport system for our global city-region. These changes will make everyday journeys easier and open up new opportunities for people across Greater Manchester. I am excited for what the next twelve months will bring as we build a better, more connected future for us all.

“This is just the beginning—more rail lines will follow in 2027 and 2028, as we continue our journey to make travel safer, easier and better connected to local communities, so people feel they are getting good value for money.

“Bringing rail into the Bee Network, alongside our long-term vision for rail in Greater Manchester, are all part of our plan and commitment to maximise good growth across the city region for the next decade and beyond which our residents and businesses deserve. This transformation draws clear parallels with Greater Manchester’s successful bus franchising rollout, which has delivered improved services, simpler fares, and greater local accountability.”