Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is using more than £100m of government funding to upgrade the region's Victorian-era train stations, adding lifts, footbridges, ramps, and CCTV. The programme aims to remove barriers that prevent people with limited mobility from using the rail network.
Step-free progress and upcoming works
Last year, Daisy Hill and Irlam stations were made step-free as part of the initiative. Construction is currently underway at Bryn and Hindley in Wigan, and at Reddish North in Stockport. In spring 2027, work is due to begin at Levenshulme station in Manchester, as well as Flowery Field and Newton for Hyde in Tameside.
Hattersley station is also scheduled for upgrades, while Bredbury, Woodsmoor, and Davenport stations in Stockport are expected to be upgraded in 2028. The programme is part of a wider effort to make train travel more accessible across the region.
Mayor's commitment to accessibility
The upgrades align with priorities set by Greater Manchester's new mayor, Bev Craig, who has already announced free bus travel for young people aged 11 to 16—a policy TfGM estimates could cost up to £20m a year. Speaking about the station improvements, Craig said: "Greater Manchester's old Victorian railway stations may be full of character, but the reality is they often act as a barrier to people catching the train."
She added: "It's not right that people need to travel miles to a different station or find another way to get around, just because they can't get up the station stairs. So, we're doing something about it. Swinton is one of four stations we're now on with making step-free. By next spring, everyone will be able to get on the train there, with a new lift to the platforms, toilets and baby-changing facilities, and a lighter, brighter station."
Integration with the Bee Network
These accessibility upgrades come at a critical time for the Bee Network, which is moving forward with plans to integrate commuter rail lines. Two initial commuter lines are set to join the network from December, according to TfGM's timeline. The wider ambition is for all 96 local Greater Manchester stations to be part of the network by 2030, with a promise that stations and services will be upgraded as each line joins.
