Manchester plans for carbon neutral public transport network

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has announced a £1 billion plan to deliver a carbon neutral transport network for the city, turning all public transport vehicles electric and extending the public transport service.

The aim is that, by 2031, the entire bus fleet will be fully electric with further travel corridors, and the tram network, which already runs on renewable energy, will extend beyond Manchester’s city limits to service Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood, Bury as well as Stockport.

The scheme includes further investments to improve public transport connections to Manchester Airport, along with metrolink interchange upgrading. The new bus corridors will also improve direct connections between the towns located around Manchester.

Mayor Burnham said the city region was "already leading the way in transport decarbonisation" with its tram services. "We are ahead of the curve on Metrolink, now we need to apply that carbon neutral aim to everything we do." he added.