A programme of work covering half a century of public transport improvements in just five years has been released by the promoters of Greater Manchester’s Transport Innovation Fund bid.

The timeline of events between now and 2016 – if a December referendum votes yes to congestion charging - shows that 80% of the promised boost to tram, train and bus services will be in place before drivers start paying any fees in 2013. Set out in a London underground-style map, the timeline shows the first event would be the design of park and ride sites, followed next summer by the development of electronic ticketing and a real-time information system.