Greater Manchester 2040 transport strategy out for consultation

A draft copy of Greater Manchester’s transport strategy to 2040 has been released today, outlining the long-term plan for all aspects of travel in the city region, from local neighbourhoods to the access of global markets via Manchester Airport.

The strategy covers a series of priorities to be addressed in the city region over the next 25 years. These include a mix of projects which have already been committed to, as well as schemes listed as ‘ongoing’ within the strategy period, which will be subject to feasibility studies.

The transport strategy until 2040 has been released for a 12-week consultation period. Alongside, TfGM is also consulting on the delivery plan for the next five years. This includes:

  • Business case development for road improvements around Port Salford and Manchester Airport
  • Further development of Airport-Piccadilly HS2 route
  • New link from A57 at Mottram Moor to A57 at Woolley Bridge
  • Masterplans for improvements at National Hub stations
  • A Piccadilly Hub masterplan
  • A review of bus routing and interchanges
  • Increasing Metrolink capacity from Manchester to Salford Quays
  • Feasibility studies into tunnels under Manchester city centre to support rapid transit schemes, and orbital links
  • Potential strategic park and ride
  • Development of a Greater Manchester Highways Strategy Delivery Plan
  • Integrated fares and ticketing system, and work with Transport for the North to develop cross-modal payment system across the North

2040 transport strategy circle

Overall, the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 Delivery Plan sets out the following priorities:

Globally connected

  • Better rail services to Airport from the South
  • Tackling motorway congestion around Airport and M60
  • HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail services direct to Airport

City-to-city

  • Electrification of Greater Manchester rail network
  • Improved links to M6, including Junction 25 improvements
  • Improvements to national hub stations for city-to-city links: Piccadilly, Victoria, Stockport and Wigan stations
  • Pan-Northern multi-modal ticketing
  • Early delivery of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse rail to Manchester city centre

Within regional centre (Manchester to Salford)

  • Review of bus routing and interchange facilities
  • Redevelopment of Piccadilly station to integrate HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, and Metrolink
  • Exploring feasibility of new tunnels under Manchester city centre for rapid transit
  • A highways demand strategy to improve reliability on key corridors

Across city region

  • New Metrolink from Trafford Centre continuing to AJ Bell stadium and Port Salford
  • Studies into long term transport challenges on southern approaches to Greater Manchester
  • Provide infrastructure to new developments, as identified in emerging GM Spatial Framework
  • Long-term programme for improvement of facilities at transport hubs

Greater Manchester-wide

  • One integrated GM public transport network
  • Long-term approach to management of rail stations
  • Cashless payment options
  • Develop electric car schemes

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 was developed by Transport for Greater Manchester on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Will Metro Commuters be given free copies to read, whilst they wait in queues & on stopped trams?

By G Stephenson

Hopefully a plan to fill in the potholes on the roads which are now so deep the cobbles from the York to Chester stagecoach days can be seen. Funny how when I was in Portugal recently a country in economic turmoil,I did not see one pothole.Makes you wonder who is paying to maintain their roads to such a high standard?Could it be the country which has had 6 years of austerity,despite being the most successful economy in the G7? The EU has been so good for Britain.

By Elephant

Another brilliant comment Elephant!!! I was reading recently that London buses are way more frequent and cheaper than ours up north. Why is it that EU subsidies get paid to London and not us?!

By Giraffe

Elephant, pot holes are caused by water getting beneath the surface course and wearing it away, aggravated by traffic (particularly HGV traffic). Potholes affecting the base course are typically caused by water freezing and expanding.

Portugal experiences much less rain than the UK, and even less instances of freezing weather. HGV traffic is also significantly lower. Therefore, the differences you describe are attributed to the the UK’s greater susceptibility to pothole formation in the first place, rather than poorer maintenance.

London buses aren’t subsidized by the EU.

By Percy

London buses are subsidised by the rest of the UK.Same companies in rest of Britain overcharge as they cannot in London due to regulation.So next time you go to London and travel for an hour for a £1 remember who is paying the difference.

By Elephant

Elephant – factually incorrect.

1. The word “subsidy” implies state support. Aside from a very small number of non-commercial routes (which also exist elsewhere in the UK, and indeed more widely), London buses are run for-profit, i.e. on a commercial, self-funding basis.
2. Even if you interpret “subsidy” to mean cross-subsidy from other parts of the private business, this would still be incorrect. Public transport companies operate their different regions as independent businesses – which each must stand on its own two feet and make a profit. Why would e.g. Stagecoach allow itself to make a profit on its Manchester businesses and then blow it all “subsidizing” its London business? Doesn’t make sense.

London has a franchising model, which appears to yield more competitive pricing and better service than the on-street competition model applied elsewhere in the UK. It is nothing to do with “subsidy”. London routes typically have higher levels of patronage throughout the day, which also allows services to be offered at a lower cost per passenger.

There is no link between any of this and the EU.

By Percy

A reasoned and considered response – thank you very much Percy.

By Elephant

Cheaper fares please! How come I pay £1.60 (lowest fare on First buses) to go just over a mile, when the flat fare in LONDON is LESS…????

By Schwyz

Percy you are splitting hairs
That other response was not from me.Someone else using my pseudonym. Our bus fares are dear because the companies like First,Stagecoach and Aviva are told how much they can charge in London. I agree it has nothing to do with the EU.It has more to do with the Thatcher government in the 80s treating the other cities in the UK differently to London.

By Elephant

There’s still no element of subsidy then is there? Would agree franchising needs to be applied across the UK, as evidently it works well in London.

By Percy

Disregard my previous response Percy – it turns out it was me, I guess Elephants do forget sometimes. Thank you for your comments.

By Elephant

The strategy delivery plan highlights the need to improve the links between Stockport, Piccadilly and Victoria. There is a railway line that connects Stockport to Manchester Victoria which would be able to supply at transport service to residents of Reddish South and Denton at their railway stations. This would also open up the Eastern side of Manchester. The infrastructure is there ,why does Tfgm ignore something that could be put in place well before 2040.

By Alan

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below