Metrolink might not come to the area – according to maps made by the transport authorities – but it is not all bad news for Bolton.

Metro Mayor Andy Burnham made a number of announcements about the transport network at an event last Wednesday (July 10).

It is almost a year since the arrival of Bee Network buses in Bolton, Wigan, and some of Bury and Salford, and around four months since the arrival of Bee Network buses in Oldham, Rochdale, and the rest of Bury and Salford. They are coming to the rest of the region next year.

The growth of Greater Manchester, in particular in light of Places for Everyone, means the trains and the trams have a part to play. Together these transport types are known as rapid transit and all of them are in a Rapid Transit Strategy approved, in draft, by the GMCA last week.

(Image: TfGM)

Here are some of its implications:

TRAINS
The Wigan via Atherton line and Wigan via Bolton line are two of the eight train lines to be brought into the Bee Network by 2028.

The intention is for all stations on these train lines to have a minimum of two trains an hour all of them with Bee Network branding.

The integration of the ticketing system aims to allow for travel across the transport system on one ticket as is the case in the capital.

(Image: GMCA)

TRAMS
Metrolink might not come to the area as the priority of the transport authorities in terms of trams looks like Rochdale and Stockport.

There is the possibility of a tram-train using the Wigan via Atherton line which is adapted to be able to use tram lines and train lines.

Another option, albeit one which is a lot more long-term, is a subterranean system to link the north west of Greater Manchester to the south east of Greater Manchester in a similar style to London's Elizabeth Line. There is an option to link the south west of Greater Manchester to the north east of Greater Manchester as well.

(Image: GMCA)

BUSES
It is almost a year since the arrival of Bee Network buses so it looks like a case of refining rather than reinventing the bus network. 

Both patronage and performance are on the up and the aim is keep on with this progress by keeping all of the routes under review.

The price of a Bee AnyBus weekly travelcard (£20) and a Bee AnyBus monthly travelcard (£80) is to be lower as of next year and there is a hopper ticket on the way to allow passengers to hop on and hop off several buses within one hour for the same price as a single ticket.

(Image: GMCA)

The Rapid Transit Strategy is in addition to investment into infrastructure for active travel across the region. There is to be £6.8 million of additional investment around half of which is for improvements to junctions and around half of which is for initiatives such as School Streets.

The Rapid Transit Strategy is available on the GMCA website.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.