Improving journeys: Ashton

Through the Bee Network, we’re building a joined-up transport system that connects people with places and opportunities.

We’re working to improve all your journeys, no matter how you travel: by road, bus, tram, train, walking, wheeling and cycling.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and local councils are improving travel along the main route between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton town centres (A627 and A671), making it safer, easier and more reliable.

This route is used by the 409 bus service – one of the busiest bus routes in Greater Manchester – and thousands of residents every day.

Subject to approval, improvements are planned to start in summer 2026 and take place through to 2027.

This webpage provides more information on the Ashton section of the route. See more about the whole route linking Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton.

Next steps

We’ve used feedback from residents and businesses to adapt the plans and focus on the things that matter most to the community.

Over the next few months, Tameside Council will be undertaking Traffic Regulation Order consultations on specific aspects of the scheme, which will be advertised on the Tameside Council website.

During this time people can share their views on the proposals.

Subject to approval, improvements are planned to start in summer 2026 and take place through to 2027.

The map below provides an overview of the route connecting Rochdale, Royton, Oldham, and Ashton. It highlights several areas in Royton and Ashton, for which more detailed maps are available.

Map overview showing the Rochdale Oldham Ashton Bus Corridor. Areas proposed for improvement works are highlighted and these are Rochdale Road (Royton), Springwood Way (Tameside) and Turner Lane (Tameside).

Proposal 1: Rochdale Road, Royton

The proposed changes at the junction of Oldham Road and Wilshaw Lane include:

Extension of the northbound bus lane from Langham Street towards the junction
Upgrades to the communications system used by the traffic signals at the junction to improve journey times for all vehicles and bus passengers

Map 2: Springwood Way, Ashton-under-Lyne

Map outline showing proposed Springwood Way improvements in Ashton. Improvements proposed are explained in accompanying text and include footway widening and , crossing upgrades to accommodate cycles, a proposed off-road cycle route and the removal of the existing guard rail.

The proposed changes on and around A671 Oldham Road between Springwood Way and Wellington Clough include:

A new walking/cycling off-road track adjacent to Springwood Way, connecting to the old disused railway line from Ashton to Park Bridge.
Widening of footways on Oldham Rd to provide shared space access for cyclists to the shared crossing point.
Improved cycle and pedestrian crossing point.
Improved access for cyclists at the junction of Springwood Way with Wellington Clough.

Map 3: Turner Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne

The proposed changes on Turner Lane include:

New segregated cycle lanes along the southern section of Turner Lane from Lord Street to Wellington Road.
A ‘quiet route’ for cyclists on the northern section of Turner Lane, from Lord Street to meet the old disused railway line from Ashton to Park Bridge. A quiet route is a road with low amounts of traffic and low traffic speeds where cyclists can safely share the road with motor vehicles.
Closure of the exit from Turner Street (southern section, near Boodle Street) with Turner Lane.
Removal of the short section of Lord Street between Lees Street and Turner Lane and improving the layout of the junction.
Changing Lord Street to one way only, accessed from Turner Lane.
Improved cycle and pedestrian crossing points, with improved footways.
Formalised parking arrangements to improve access and safety at key junctions. We will also carry out a full review of parking and loading restrictions in the area to ensure that they support the proposals described.

Visualisation of Turner Lane

Residential street with red‑brick houses, a junction, and green segregated cycle lanes on both sides of the road, with people walking, cycling and a car driving through

Visualisation of Springwood Way

Wide road junction with marked crossings and traffic islands, people walking and cycling, cars travelling through, and red‑brick homes and green space in the background

Previous engagement

We want to improve local streets, roads and journeys in a way that works for everyone.
Engagement on the outline proposals for the Ashton section of the route took place in February and March 2024. 63 people responded to the survey, sharing their views on the plans.

We’re using people’s feedback to help shape plans and to design a scheme that work best for the area.

We asked for people’s views on a range of proposals, including: .

Improved bus stops along the corridor, to help people access the bus network.
A new walking and cycling off-road track adjacent to Springwood Way, to improve connections to the old disused railway line from Ashton to Park Bridge.
A quiet route for cyclists via Wellington Clough.
Changes to road layouts around Turner Lane, to improve navigation and safety for all road users.
Improved cycle and pedestrian crossing points along and across the A627, with improved footways.
Parking and loading restrictions - a review will be carried out to ensure they support the proposals described above.

In Spring 2023, we asked people how they travel between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton, what issues they faced, and what they would like to see improved to help them travel by road, bus, walking, wheeling, cycling and more.

The results have shaped the outline proposals, to improve journeys between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham, and Ashton.

331 people in total responded to the survey.
87% of respondents were residents of Rochdale, Oldham or Tameside.
35% of respondents travelled to or between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham, or Ashton town centres daily, 37% at least once a week, and 21% between once a week and once a month.
65% of respondents had travelled the route in the past for shopping, 50% for recreation or leisure, and 44% commuting to a regular place of work.

Most people told us that they would like to see bus services in the area improved, and safer cycling routes created. The table below summarises some key points of feedback and how we are responding in our proposals.

You said, we did

A quicker and more reliable service

You said:

73% of respondents that use the bus to travel between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton want to see the reliability of services improved and 27% wanted to see the speed of bus services improved.
55% of respondents that don’t currently use the bus feel they would be able to, if services were more reliable; and 27% if speed of services was improved.

We did:

We are proposing an extension to the northbound bus lane south of the Oldham Road junction with Wilshaw Lane and Newmarket Road, allowing buses to move more easily to the front of the traffic queue.
We will improve traffic signals at junctions, to give late running buses priority.

Better information for customers

You said:

Nearly a third (29%) of respondents travelling by bus on this route requested improved customer information on buses and at bus stops. 21% of those not travelling by bus felt this would enable them to use the bus.

We did:

As part of delivering the Bee Network, our aim is to provide next stop information with audio visual announcements on all our buses by the end of 2026.

Better bus stops

You said:

23% of bus users said that they would like to see more safety equipment, such as CCTV and lighting, installed at bus stops; and 19% of people who don’t use the bus said that
these measures would help them to use the bus.

We did:

We’re planning to improve bus stops along the Rochdale – Oldham - Ashton corridor to make them safer, more accessible and more comfortable for everyone. As part of these upgrades, we will be adding new shelters, proving more seating, installing better lighting and resurfacing areas around the stops.

Better walking, cycling and wheeling routes

You said:

The most important improvements that people who walk, cycle or wheel between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton want to see are road crossing facilities (32%), and cycle lanes segregated from motorists (21%).
Those that do not currently walk, cycle or wheel also felt that better road crossing facilities (32%) and cycle lanes that are segregated from motorists (30%) would enable them to walk, wheel or cycle.

We did:

We are proposing better walking and cycling routes to link Ashton Town Centre to the old railway track cycle route, and to Oldham Road near Springwood Way, as well as a new crossing at Turner Lane.

Funding

Funding for the work has been provided through the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which saw Greater Manchester awarded £1.07bn to help deliver the Bee Network. This is funding aimed at:

Improving and developing local transport networks – particularly public transport networks – and cycling, walking and wheeling routes.
Opening up new areas and improving links to jobs, education and housing.
Creating innovative new transport schemes to solve problems.

Funded by UK government logo