Bee Network set to expand again with 25 new projects up for consideration

25 new cycling and walking schemes worth a combined total of £154M are set to be considered by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as part of the continued development of the Bee Network.

The schemes up for consideration include 18 minor schemes, and five major schemes in areas including Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Stockport, Manchester and Trafford. In addition, there are also several schemes covering Greater Manchester as a whole - including one aimed at upgrading the national cycle network in key locations and another introducing special new Bee Network crossings. 

The proposals are included in the latest update about the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund which will go to GMCA for discussion on Friday 29 November.

If approved, it would mean a total of 82 schemes will have been entered into the development pipeline for the Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF), with a total of £493M – around a third of the total funding package of £1.5bn forecast to deliver the Bee Network as a whole across Greater Manchester.

Chris Boardman, Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “We are working very closely with Local Authorities across Greater Manchester to identify key routes, develop new schemes and encouraging them to submit their bids.

“We have shortlisted 25 new schemes which will deliver huge benefits – making cycling and walking a real choice for many,  improving people’s health and helping to tackle congestion and poor air quality. GMCA will now be considering them for programme entry.  

“The Bee network will be transformational for Greater Manchester and will deliver real benefits for everyone. I believe the number and scale of the schemes we have now got in development really shows our commitment and ambition and we are determined to deliver.

The paper also provides an update on the 57 schemes that have already been approved for programme entry, as well as outlining how the Mayor’s initial funding commitment of £160M from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund,  will be prioritised and spent.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Cycling and walking will play a key role in our plans to rise to the climate challenge in Greater Manchester, as a part of a London-style integrated transport system.

The Bee Network will open up active travel for thousands of people who are currently trapped in their cars.

But, to make the Bee Network a reality, we need the Government to get behind it and help fund its continued expansion.”

The approved schemes already in the pipeline are made up of 12 major schemes (over £5M of funding sought) and 45 minor schemes (less that £5M of funding sought). So far, of the schemes, the first to be completed was the Muddy Mile, in Astley, Wigan along the Bridgewater Canal which launched in August 2019.

Work on Chorlton Cycleway, a major scheme providing a link to Manchester city centre, is now underway on the stretch between Chester Road roundabout to Stretford Road. This includes the creating of an innovative CYCLOPS junction at Royce Road and is expected to complete in March 2020, with further sections of the scheme undergoing design review following public consultation feedback.

Contact Information

Ellie Stott

Ellie.Stott@tfgm.com

Contactless journeys pass the million mark

Metrolink’s contactless payment system hit the million-journey mark at the weekend, just four months after its launch on 15 July.

This milestone for the new payment system shows that people are quickly adopting the easy-to-use way to pay.

Contactless cuts out the need to buy a paper ticket or download the app - passengers simply use a contactless-enabled device, such as a bank card, phone or smart watch, to ‘touch-in’ and ‘touch-out’ at tram stops at the start and end of their journey, with the system working out their fare, up to a daily cap.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I’m pleased that Greater Manchester residents and our many visitors are taking advantage of contactless payments on Metrolink.

“It’s making tram travel easier, and opening up our region to jobs, leisure, skills and education opportunities. This is another step on our way to the integrated, London-style transport system we want to see here.”

December is Metrolink’s busiest month, with approximately 300,000 extra journeys expected to be made, and Transport for Greater Manchester’s Christmas campaign is full of inspiration to help customers get the most out of their Metrolink ticket.

TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said: “Christmas is the busiest time of year for Metrolink, with lots to see and do right on our doorstep.

“We expect to see somewhere in the region of 10 thousand extra journeys being made every day throughout December.

“Many of those customers will be occasional users visiting the festive markets, socialising, or working in seasonal jobs, and contactless is the ideal way for these people to pay for their travel.”

For more information about travelling with contactless visit our website – tfgm.com

Trafford Park tram testing marks end of an exciting week

The first test tram has traversed the Trafford Park line track, capping a landmark week for the £350m Metrolink extension project.

To download Sharefile footage of the trams being tested, click here

Travelling along Trafford Wharf Road between the Pomona Metrolink stop and Warren Bruce Road overnight on Sunday, the short journey kick-started an extensive safety and testing process that will start with the development of signalling and control systems infrastructure. A team of engineers accompanied the tram and carried out essential safety checks as it travelled at walking speed.

Testing is expected to last over several months before driver training can take place ahead of the line opening in the first half of 2020.

Earlier in the week, contractors M-PACT Thales completed the final piece of track construction work outside of ITV studios, while Trafford Wharf Road and Village Way* have now reverted to two-way operation following two-and-a-half years of traffic restrictions.

Greater Manchester Transport Committee Chair, Councillor Mark Aldred, said: “The development of the Trafford Park line is excellent news for Greater Manchester, and I’m delighted to see it progressing with the start of tram testing.

“When the line opens next year, it will provide a major boost to regional regeneration and economic growth by improving access to the large amount of retail, leisure, business and employment opportunities that exist in Trafford Park.

“It will also help towards reducing congestion and tackling air quality as we give people another, more environmentally-friendly alternative to the car.”

Transport for Greater Manchester Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said: “Last week we poured the final bit of concrete, all but marking the end of construction, and this week we’ve undertaken the first tram testing.

“This is another significant moment on our journey towards completion, as our focus now turns to the safety critical signalling systems and driver training.

“We’ve still got quite some way to go, but things are progressing very well and people can expect to start seeing a few more trams running up and down the line over the coming weeks and months ahead of the line opening in the first half of 2020.

“None of this would be possible without the work of our partners, including contractor M-Pact Thales (MPT) and the operator KeolisAmey Metrolink, and my thanks go to all those involved.”

The Trafford Park Line is due to open in the first half of 2020. There will be six new stops throughout Trafford Park, as far as intu Trafford Centre.

For more information, visit https://tfgm.com/trafford-park-line

*The roads were made one-way eastbound on Monday 19 June 2017 to allow utility and construction work to take place.

Extra services give festive boost to Metrolink customers

Metrolink customers will have reason for a little extra Christmas cheer, with additional and later running trams set to operate throughout the festive period.

From Saturday 23 November until Sunday 22 December, Metrolink’s busiest lines will run a six-minute service for up to two-and-a-half extra hours* in the evening, until 9pm (Thursday - Saturday) – allowing customers to take advantage of increased capacity and more frequent services.

Trams will also continue to run at least an hour later** on Friday and Saturday nights.

As well as giving people enjoying a night out on the town a chance to catch a later tram home, the move will be a boost to some of the 414,000*** people that work in jobs or businesses at night – around 33% of Greater Manchester’s workforce.

Employment in the night-time economy has grown 45% faster in Greater Manchester since 2001 compared to the economy as a whole.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “I am committed to improving Greater Manchester’s transport system and one of the things I want to see is later running public transport.

“I’ve been working closely with TfGM and Sacha Lord to look at how we can improve night-time transport and help people get home quickly and safely after work or after a night out. So, I’m really pleased we can introduce these enhancements, which will be a welcome boost for the many people that will be working, shopping or socialising over the Christmas period.

“We will be closely monitoring the uptake to help inform our long-term plans, and ensure we have a transport system that works for everyone.”

The Christmas season is the busiest time of year for Metrolink – an additional 300,000 passenger journeys are made during December (approximately 10,000*** extra trips a day) compared to the annual monthly average.

A recent survey about night-time transport across Greater Manchester saw almost than 11,000 people respond.

Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Transport for Greater Manchester extend the Metrolink service during the festive period.

“Accessible and safe public transport is vital to a thriving night-time economy, for people going out and for the hundreds of thousands of people in Greater Manchester who work at night.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to all of the people who responded to our recent night-time transport survey, and told us of your experiences of travelling at night, and also the Metrolink staff who will be working to ensure we can all take full advantage of this fantastic later night transport offer.”

The move complements the recent introduction of later running free bus services in the city centre. The service is provided by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council and serves some of Manchester’s most popular destinations until midnight.

Customer Services Representatives and TravelSafe Officers will continue to work during the extended hours to help customers on their Metrolink journeys.

Guillaume Chanussot, Managing Director of KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “KeolisAmey Metrolink is pleased to be supporting Greater Manchester’s night-time economy over the busy festive season. This is an excellent opportunity to work with our partners and stakeholders and deliver a great service for our customers.”

Details of the enhanced timetable will be available from www.tfgm.com from 17 November. 

*Services that will run until 9pm (Thursday to Saturday) are below. All currently run until approximately 8pm Monday – Friday and 6.30pm on Saturdays.     

• Bury – Altrincham

• Ashton – Eccles

• East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton

**Example of last services below. St Peter’s Square (SPS) tram stop used for illustrative purposes.

*** GM’s cultural and leisure offer (as well as the retail sector and infrastructure supporting this) account for about 44% of employment in the NTE (181,000 jobs). 24-hour health and social care accounts for 32% (132,000), and other night-time economic activity (eg manufacturing and logistics) account for 24% (101,000).

**** 300,000 trips across 30 days in December (Metrolink services do not run on Christmas day).

Landmark week for Trafford Park Metrolink line

Two key landmarks have been reached marking a significant step towards completion of the Trafford Park line project.

The final concrete pouring of the £350m project, due to open in the first half of 2020, took place earlier today on a 15-metre stretch of track by ITV studios. It takes the total volume of concrete used on the project to 21,100 cubic metres, the equivalent of more than eight Olympic-sized swimming pools.

On Sunday (3 November) travel restrictions on Trafford Wharf Road were lifted, returning the road to two-way operation for the first time in two and-a-half years. The road was made one-way eastbound on Monday 19 June 2017 to allow utility and construction work to take place. Village way will also revert to two-way operation within the next week*.

Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Chair, Councillor Mark Aldred, said: “This really is an exciting week for the Trafford Park line with the final pieces of the construction jigsaw put in place, paving the way for tram testing along the line.

“Moreover, the return of a major local road to two-way operation will provide a boost to motorists and I’d like to thank them for their patience during the essential one-way restrictions.

“Once open, the Trafford Park line will enable much improved access to Europe’s largest industrial estate and some of the region’s biggest visitor attractions.”

Councillor Andrew Western, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “The scheme is hugely important for Trafford Park and the areas around intu Trafford Centre, both of which are essential to Trafford’s economy; not only do they provide thousands of jobs, they also attract a significant number of visitors while also delivering continued growth, regeneration and investment.”

During construction, the 4.5km of highways that run alongside the track have also been improved or renewed and an additional 4.2km of cycling lanes have been provided, doubling the existing provision.

The Trafford Park Line is due to open in the first half of 2020. There will be six new stops throughout Trafford Park, as far as intu Trafford Centre.

For more information, visit https://tfgm.com/trafford-park-line

*Subject to final inspection.

Contact Information - Transport for Greater Manchester Press Office

0161 244 1055 - mediarelations@tfgm.com

Motorists are 48% more likely to be involved in accidents after winter clock change

Motorists are being encouraged to take care on the roads as the days get shorter and winter weather sets in.

As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer motorists across Greater Manchester are being reminded to take extra care on the region’s roads.

This Sunday (27 October) the clocks go back, and while many of us will welcome the extra hour in bed, the change isn’t quite so positive for motorists.

A recent study carried out by insurance company, Insure the Box, reveals that in the weeks that follow the winter clock change, motorists in the North of England are 48% more likely to be involved in an accident during the evening peak, 5pm to 8pm, with an 8% increase during the morning commute.

The evening commute figure for the North is significantly higher than the UK average of 36% for the same time period. Irrespective of time of day, there is a 14% increase in the number of road traffic accidents across the UK during the winter months.

Young drivers, aged between 17 and 25, generally have less experience on the roads and so they are more are likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group - especially when experiencing wintry driving conditions for the first time.

Peter Boulton, TfGM’s Head of Highways, said: “We’re all aware that driving at night is more hazardous during the winter months but it’s sometimes worth reminding motorists to be extra vigilant when driving after the clocks go back.

“The figures released by Insure the Box certainly bear this out and it’s a real eye opener when you consider the number of vehicles out on Greater Manchester’s road network.

“There’s plenty of things we can all do as motorists to help prevent collisions and breakdowns, ranging from avoiding unnecessary travel during peak times and watching our speed through to ensuring that our vehicles have good tyre tread and that oil levels are topped up.

“But the most important advice, as is evidenced through this data, is that everyone should just take extra care when driving at night especially given the reduced visibility and that vehicles are well maintained and able to deal with the winter weather.”

With a number of major events and highway improvement schemes set to get under way this winter, key routes are getting busier and will continue to do so as we head into 2020. Motorists are urged to take extra care on the roads and to plan their journeys before setting off.

For the very latest travel advice, visit www.tfgm.com and follow @OfficialTfGM for regular updates.