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(Image: Joel Goodman)<\/p>\nThe Heywood line in particular would give Greater Manchester two firsts(Image: Joel Goodman)<\/p>\n
Andy Burnham has named the date construction work should start for Metrolink<\/a> extensions to Heywood and Stockport.<\/a><\/p>\n The government confirmed earlier this year funding<\/a> is in place for the projects, and designs are currently being worked up by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).<\/p>\n It\u2019s understood the Heywood<\/a> extension, which will be a \u2018tram-train\u2019 via Oldham<\/a>, Rochdale<\/a>, Heywood, and Bury<\/a> is more developed and closer to becoming reality.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE<\/a><\/p>\n When it opens, it will give Greater Manchester two Metrolink firsts: The first \u2018orbital\u2019 Metrolink route, i.e. one which does not go via the city centre, and the first \u2018tram-train\u2019, set to be rolled out across the city in coming years.<\/p>\n Tram-trains are fully electric, using overhead wires like trams for power on some sections of track, and batteries on other stretches.<\/p>\n The revamped Bury Interchange will be built to handle tram-trains, trams, and buses, according to a TfGM report.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bury Interchange redevelopment has been futureproofed with provision for a third platform for tram-train services from Heywood \u2013 which themselves need careful consideration as to how to share the corridor with the East Lancashire Railway,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n That report also confirmed the Stockport<\/a> project is not much further behind, which is set to build a tram-only extension from East Didsbury<\/a> out to Stockport Interchange, which opened last year with the capability of hosting trams.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2_JS338912248-1.jpg\")
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