The big plans for better ‘orbital’ transport routes around Greater Manchester

Expanding the Bee Network and improving Greater Manchester’s roads are both part of the plan to boost orbital transport around the region, Bev Craig has said.

The mayor of Greater Manchester pointed to a number of announcements which have already been made to make life easier for people travelling between the region’s boroughs, including new bus and tram routes.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I know how important orbital routes are and that’s why in August we introduced an extension of the 615 now connecting Wigan and Bolton via Middlebrook and earlier, later and more frequent buses on the 471 linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale.

“I am also investing heavily in our roads to make them more reliable, with more than £60m from my new pothole fund.

“It’s really important that people can get where they need to go – whether that’s in and out of the city centre or across Greater Manchester – and we know that there’s more to do.”

The mayor added that plans in the pipeline include expanding the Bee Network with new bus, tram, and tram-train links around the region, such as a new Metrolink route connecting Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood and Bury.

Orbital transport links were a major issue in the Greater Manchester mayoral election in July, which Bev Craig won.

Phil Eckersley, the Conservative Party candidate in the race, said at the Manchester Evening News hustings event in July that there had been a ‘drain of human resources from the outer boroughs into Manchester city centre’, adding: “We need to have buses that meet the outer areas and boroughs, and we need to connect our external boroughs together.”

A number of steps have been taken by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to improve orbital links around the region, which transport bosses have described as a ‘key feature’ of its plans to develop the network in future.

Extra buses were added on several services last year including the 409 which serves Ashton-under-Lyne, Hathershaw, Oldham, Royton and Rochdale.

TfGM also added extra buses in August to run during daytime hours on the 471 route to improve capacity. Services increased in the early morning, evening and on Sunday to improve the route linking Bury, Bolton and Rochdale.

Looking ahead, improved connections between Stockport, Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport are coming in spring 2027 by increasing frequency on the 368 service.

New tram stops will also be opening at Sandhills in Manchester, Elton Reservoir in Bury, and Cop Road in Oldham.

It is understood that there will be investment in new bus lanes and smart traffic signals that give buses priority at junctions.