Heywood MP welcomes tram extension progress

Tuesday, 26 August 2025 14:27

By George Lythgoe

Credit: David Murphy / Roch Valley Radio

Heywood could see work to build its new tram service start as soon as 2028.

This latest estimate for the Metrolink extension comes as Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) put together its business case for the Heywood project. It would form part of £6m funding to develop the expansion of the Bee Network and the proposals for new tram and tram-train lines.

The business case for Heywood is expected to be completed in 2026, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham announced on Friday (August 22).

This news has been welcomed by the town’s MP, who is excited to see spades in the ground in three years time.

Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton North, said: “There is real excitement for Metrolink to come to Heywood. Now it is happening for real, local people want to trust that it will come as promised, which is why it’s important to have a realistic timetable to stick to.

“The government has confirmed the money will be there, so it’s great to see that Andy Burnham is keeping Metrolink on track with clear open and transparent milestones.

“The business case should be out next year, and we are really excited for spades in the ground in 2028.”

Transport leaders have confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future, with funding signed off by the Bee Network Committee last week.

Launched as part of the Greater Manchester Strategy in July, the mayor and local council leaders pledged for 90 per cent of people in the city-region to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes by 2030.

The work is all part of a plan to link every borough in Greater Manchester to the Metrolink network, with a long-term plan for major expansion of the Bee Network.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting last week was also told of plans to buy ‘next generation’ trams to complement the existing fleet. These would be double-length and fully ‘walk-through’, offering extra capacity to meet increasing demand.

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Every part of our city region needs to feel the benefits of Greater Manchester’s growth. To make sure that happens, we’ve pledged to connect our people and communities to new opportunities better than ever before.

“We’re planning to connect all ten boroughs to the ever-popular Metrolink network as part of a long-term, sustained expansion of the Bee Network.

“This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are in.

“More people are getting on board the Bee Network, but we can’t afford to be complacent.

“We need to plan ahead to accommodate continued growth, with more tram, bus and train routes giving people a viable alternative to the car.”

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