If the most recent plans from transport officials materialise as promised, the Metrolink may soon reach Middleton and Heywood. These plans have been praised as ‘critical’.
Both towns are included in the Metrolink expansion plans for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which were made public last week. Referred to as “The Rapid Transit Strategy,” it illustrates the planned construction of additional tram lines to Heywood, Middleton, and Stockport—the latter two of which have inadequate transportation connections.
In order to connect the light and heavy rail networks, it also entails the construction of tram-train services that will connect Bury, Heywood, Rochdale, and Oldham with the Atom Valley business site. Additionally, there may be a significant increase in tunnel capacity. One of the eight train corridors that will be incorporated into the Bee Network transport network by 2028 is Rochdale.
The leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Coun Neil Emmott, stated that the plans would be “essential” in aligning with the borough’s growth plans. He went on to say that it would be a huge help for the Atom Valley project, which aims to bring in 1.6 million square metres of new workspace, 20,000 jobs, and 7,000 new homes for Rochdale, Bury, and Oldham.
Coun. Emmott expressed her delight at the mayor giving Heywood and Middleton priority over other areas. These two significant communities have endured years of persistent underfunding of their public transport systems.
“Northern Greater Manchester boroughs like Rochdale still do not experience the same degree of economic prosperity as the conurbation’s southern residents, and a significant improvement in the region’s public transport system will help to rectify this imbalance.
Given the emergence of Atom Valley, Greater Manchester’s greatest growth potential, the urgency of expediting this transport revolution has increased. The revolutionary project, which is expected to infuse the borough with millions of pounds in investment and thousands of jobs in advanced manufacturing, will only heighten the strategic significance of places like Heywood and Middleton to the economy of the nation and the larger region.
“To match our world-class growth ambitions, it is imperative that we have world-class transport infrastructure.”
At the most recent GMCA meeting, Mr. Burnham informed the council bosses that the eight rail networks they want to integrate into the Bee Network would “essentially double” the amount of Metrolink that serves the area in addition to the expansion of Metrolink. The mayoral team thinks that this manifesto promise can be fulfilled in the upcoming four years.
“We know there are a lot of places in Greater Manchester that don’t yet have the Metrolink and still don’t have regulated bus services and are patiently waiting for change,” Andy Burham said in his speech at the GMCA meeting on July 12. That shift must occur.
In light of this, the Rapid Transit Strategy’s future becomes crucial. We have to examine our goals and sort through our current plans because we are unable to pay for everything at this time.
“We must be realistic about the candidates we can advance, and 15 have been determined to have the best chance of doing so during this time frame.
“Going north of the city-region and considering our goals for Atom Valley, considering Middleton—as requested by the leader of Rochdale Council—and Heywood as two locations in need of improved connectivity.”
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