Stockport 'can't wait' for tram to town centre

Becci Simmons says tram access in Stockport would make her commute to work much easier

People in Stockport have welcomed the announcement of funding for a long-awaited extension of Greater Manchester's tram line into the town centre.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £2.5bn in funding for Greater Manchester, some of which will be used to extend the Metrolink network to the town.

It is also set to be used to create new stops in Bury, north Manchester and Oldham, Reeves said.

Stockport commuter Becci Simmons, 37, said she "can't wait" for the day that she can take the tram to work in Manchester, rather than multiple trains.

Becci added: "We have quite a lot of trouble on that [train] line. And if have any trouble, you're stuck. You can't do anything else.

"You've got to take the bus and the bus can take an hour."

The funding will go towards a number of upgrades to the Metrolink network

Leader of Stockport Council Mark Roberts said the recently-completed Stockport Interchange was "Metrolink-ready".

Roberts, who was appointed to the top job last week, said: "Stockport is the fastest-growing town in Greater Manchester, and today's decision sends a powerful signal that investment is following ambition."

He said the council had led the push for the Metrolink extension, alongside the business community.

Labour MP for Stockport Navendu Mishra said the details around the project were yet to be figured out.

He said the plan would help to "future proof" Greater Manchester's Bee Network.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the funding would also go towards 1000 new electric buses, meaning the entire Bee Network would become emission-free.

He said: "We can now move at pace to deliver the next phase of the Bee Network – creating the UK's first fully electric, zero-emission integrated public transport system by 2030."

Burnham said new transport interchanges would be built in Leigh and central Manchester, with new transport infrastructure also to be built in Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Middleton and Stretford.