Greater Manchester Plans Tramline Connecting Oldham, Heywood, Bury by 2028

Significant developments are underway in public transit across Greater Manchester and surrounding areas, including the planned extension of the Metrolink tram service to Heywood, with construction expected to start by 2028. This expansion is part of a £6 million funding initiative to grow the Bee Network, aiming for 90% of residents to be within a five-minute walk of frequent bus or tram services by 2030. Complementing this, a new tram line connecting Oldham, Heywood, Rochdale, and Bury is progressing through its business case stages, targeting a 2028 construction start and 2030 openings of new stops, supported by substantial funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements programme. Moreover, historic tramlines have been unearthed during roadworks in Farnworth, Bolton, stirring local nostalgia about the area's tram heritage. These efforts reflect a broader regional strategy to enhance connectivity, increase public transport capacity with next-generation trams, and support expected population and job growth.