Bee Network rail integration: first lines join in Dec 2026

Bee Network rail integration is entering a new stage. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has set out how local rail services will be brought into the Bee Network from December 2026, according to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Mayor Andy Burnham presented the plan at Manchester Piccadilly alongside rail industry leaders, where a yellow-branded Northern train was unveiled to mark the countdown to joining up buses, trams, trains and active travel.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Bee Network rail lines December 2026: what happens first

The first routes set to move into the integrated system are the Glossop and Stalybridge lines. From 13 December 2026, these services will run within the Bee Network and 17 stations will take on new branding and customer information points, as reported by Railway-News. Rail travel on these lines will also shift to contactless tap in tap out payments, backed by weekly fare caps.

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After that initial step, the plan is to bring more routes into the network in 2027 and 2028, extending the contactless system and integrating fares across modes. By January 2028, the programme expects eight rail lines covering 64 stations to be part of the Bee Network, with the remaining 32 stations joining by 2030—a timeline also discussed by Railway Supply.

Greater Manchester Bee Network rail integration plan: Mayor’s view

Andy Burnham said the city-region is approaching a major milestone, with rail joining the Bee Network within the next year. He described the programme as a step toward a fully integrated, world-class transport offer that should make everyday journeys easier and open up new opportunities across Greater Manchester.

He added that the December 2026 start is “just the beginning,” with more lines planned in 2027 and 2028 as the region aims to make travel safer, easier and better connected to local communities so passengers feel they are getting good value for money. Burnham also linked the rail programme to Greater Manchester’s wider long-term transport vision and compared it with the region’s bus franchising rollout, which he said has delivered improved services, simpler fares and greater local accountability.

Key changes ahead of integrated contactless ticketing in 2026

Over the next 12 months, TfGM’s roadmap lays out steps intended to prepare the ground for integrated contactless ticketing in 2026 and the first rail lines joining the Bee Network in December 2026.

From 7 December, a simplified fares structure is due to be introduced to help build toward the contactless model. In December 2025, a disruption ticket acceptance policy is planned so passengers affected by disruption can use tickets across bus, tram and train within Greater Manchester.

Digital upgrades are also on the schedule. Station information is due to be added to the Bee Network app and the TfGM website by March 2026, with real-time rail data and journey planning improvements expected later in the year.

The roadmap also includes TransPennine Express introducing overnight trains to Manchester Airport from May 2026, plus station improvements across the first 17 locations. Refurbishment at those stations is set to begin in summer 2026, while enhancements around nearby bus and tram stops are planned from spring 2026.

TfGM will work with the rail industry on improvements at major interchange hubs, focusing on Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria with coordinated signage, live information and passenger support. On accessibility, the plan builds on step-free schemes at Daisy Hill and Irlam, notes that work has begun at Bryn, and says Hindley, Reddish North and Swinton are due to follow in 2026.

From December 2026, a new pre-pay Bee Network ticket valid across buses, trams and trains is planned to support multi-modal travel. Pilot projects and additional services on the Airport, Alderley Edge and Rochdale stopping lines are also expected from 2027.

Transport-led regeneration around rail stations

Alongside service and ticketing changes, Greater Manchester plans to test a transport-led regeneration model around stations. TfGM’s roadmap references a Mayoral Development Corporation-led regeneration and growth corridor for Ashton and Stalybridge, aiming to link transport improvements with new housing and employment opportunities around rail stations.

With one year remaining before the first services are brought into the Bee Network, the region’s phased programme is intended to simplify travel, improve reliability and better connect communities as rail integration begins in December 2026.

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