Yellow Bee Network buses rolled through Bolton and Wigan in March, marking phase two of Greater Manchester’s biggest transport overhaul in decades, as Mayor Andy Burnham’s £2.20-per-day integrated ticketing system prepares for spring 2025 launch.

The expansion brought publicly-controlled services to Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Bury and north Manchester, with the final tranche completing January 5 when buses begin serving the new £120 million Stockport Interchange. Passengers can purchase annual passes through credit unions to spread costs, avoiding upfront lump sums while accessing the region’s cheapest daily fare.

Metrolink recorded 4.28 million journeys in November - its highest since the 1990s - despite summer landslides suspending Rochdale to Oldham services. Extensions to Stockport, Heywood and Middleton advanced through business case development, while new stops were proposed for Sandhills in Victoria North, Oldham’s Cop Road, Port Salford and Salford Quays-to-Crescent links. Burnham warned aging infrastructure faces critical maintenance as the system handles unprecedented passenger volumes.

Rail projects accelerated with £32 million Golborne station reopening in 2027, Cheadle’s Chester-Stockport-Manchester Piccadilly halt finishing 2025, and Mossley station relocating 300 meters. Trafford’s freight depot behind Manchester United’s stadium will shift to enable stadium regeneration, while Bolton-Wigan electrification switches on New Year’s Day. Tameside’s 50-year Mottram bypass saga ended with July approval, improving Manchester-Sheffield connections alongside Deansgate and Castleton cycle lane expansions.

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