Manchester Metro redirects here - for the Manchester Metroshuttle free bus routes see Metroshuttle or First Manchester

Manchester Metrolink
Locale	Greater Manchester
Transit type	Electrified (750 V DC) tramway
Began operation	1992
System length	23 miles (37 km)
No. Metroshuttle is a Zero-fare bus system that operates in Manchester City Centre First Manchester is one of the bus companies serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2 Direct current ( DC) is the unidirectional flow of Electric charge. of lines	3
No. of stations	37
Daily ridership	52,000 (19 million annually) in 2004
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) (standard gauge)
Owner	GMPTE
Operator(s)	Stagecoach Group (since July 2007)

Manchester Metrolink is an urban light-rail system in Greater Manchester, England. Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used Rail gauge. The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive ( GMPTE) is the public body ( Passenger Transport Executive) responsible for co-ordinating Public transport Stagecoach Group plc ( is a leading international transport group operating Bus, Train, Tram, express coach and Ferry operations For specific light rail systems many of which use the words "light rail" as part of their name see List of light-rail transit systems. Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2 England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Services operate to Bury, Altrincham and Eccles on the Bury-Altrincham and Eccles lines. Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, north-northwest of the city of Manchester, west-southwest of Altrincham () is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Eccles is a town within the Metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The system, including all stations and trams is owned by GMPTE and is operated under terms of a management contract by Stagecoach Group. The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive ( GMPTE) is the public body ( Passenger Transport Executive) responsible for co-ordinating Public transport Stagecoach Group plc ( is a leading international transport group operating Bus, Train, Tram, express coach and Ferry operations

Later this year, work will start extending the Metrolink system to Chorlton, Droylsden, Oldham, Rochdale and Mediacity:uk. Chorlton-on-Medlock is an area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. Droylsden is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock Rochdale is a large Market town in Greater Manchester, England mediacityUK is a property development based on the media industry located in Salford Quays, in Salford, England. Further extensions to Oldham and Rochdale town centres, Ashton, Stockport, Trafford Centre and Manchester Airport are planned-subject to further funding. Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock Rochdale is a large Market town in Greater Manchester, England Ashton-under-Lyne (pop 43200 is a Market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England Stockport ( is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground on the River Mersey at the influx of the rivers Goyt The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre located in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England Manchester Airport is a major Airport in the vicinity of Manchester, England, and the largest airport in the United Kingdom outside the The proposed expansions will increase the system's total size from 23 miles (37 km) with 37 stops to 70 miles (113 km) with at least 115 stops.

History

1019 arrives at GMex whilst 2004 departs for Eccles

Sale Metrolink station one of the converted former British Rail stations

For many years there had been plans to connect Manchester's two main railway stations, Piccadilly and Victoria. Sale Metrolink Station is located on Northenden Road in Sale. See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways" |}A train station, railway station, railroad station, or station yard is a facility at which Passengers may board and alight from Trains Manchester Piccadilly station, known locally as just Piccadilly, is the principal railway station of Manchester in England. Manchester Victoria station is the second of Manchester 's mainline railway stations In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were plans for a Picc-Vic tunnel to carry main-line trains, but the proposal was abandoned because of excessive cost. "Picc-Vic" was the name given to a proposal to connect two major mainline railway terminals in central Manchester, England, in the early 1970s By the late 1980s, the power equipment on the electrified suburban railway line from Victoria to Bury, which had a unique-in-Britain side-contact third-rail power supply, was in need of replacement, and it was decided, rather than replace the equipment on a like-for-like basis, to construct a light rail system that would connect the Victoria–Bury line via on-street lines with the line to Piccadilly and Altrincham. Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, north-northwest of the city of Manchester, west-southwest of A third rail is a method of providing Electricity to power a railway through a continuous rigid conductor alongside the railway track or between the rails Manchester Piccadilly station, known locally as just Piccadilly, is the principal railway station of Manchester in England. Altrincham () is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. The Metrolink lines were formed by closing two electric train lines between Altrincham and Cornbrook Junction between Bury and Manchester Victoria. Because much of the Metrolink route was formerly main-line railway with platforms about 900 mm above ground level, the new stops in the city centre also have 900 mm-high platforms. A railway platform is a section of pathway alongside Rail tracks at a Train station, Metro station or Tram stop, at which passengers may board

Formerly the Altrincham Line was a Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway line, it was electrified in 1931. The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR was a suburban railway which operated a 13 Trains arriving at Altrincham from Knutsford, Northwich and Chester were diverted to Manchester via Stockport when Metrolink conversion began between Altrincham and G-Mex. This added at least 10 minutes to an already slow journey, causing a disadvantage to some Cheshire rail users. The Bury Line was electrified by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1916. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping.

Authority to construct Phase 1 of Metrolink (Bury to Altrincham via city centre, with a spur to Piccadilly station) was granted in January 1988, with construction of the on-street section beginning in March 1990.

Steam locomotives returned briefly to the line between Manchester and Bury. A steam locomotive is a Locomotive powered by Steam. The term usually refers to its use on Railways but can also refer to a "road locomotive" In 1991, before the opening of the tram system, Metrolink held an open weekend at its new depot in Queens Road, Manchester. East Lancashire Railway steam locomotive, no. This article is about the present East Lancashire Railway for the previous incarnation see East Lancashire Railway 1844-1859 Overview 32 Gothenburg, (now painted in blue as No. 1 Thomas the Tank Engine) ran light engine from the ELR to Manchester under the not yet live wires to attend the event. Thomas the Tank Engine is a Fictional Anthropomorphic Tank locomotive created by the Rev The engine returned on the Sunday evening. Diesel locomotive D2767 (a North British 0-4-0) was rented to Metrolink to assist in the construction of the overhead wires during the construction phase in 1991. British Rail Class D2/10 was a locomotive commissioned by British Rail.

On 6 April 1992 Metrolink services between Bury and Victoria began. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The central section between Victoria and G-Mex opened on 27 April and services between G-Mex and Altrincham began on 15 June. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Trams started operating into Piccadilly on 20 July the same year, completing Phase 1 of the system. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the system on 17 July 1992. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Conversion of the existing railway lines to Metrolink took far longer than had been planned. The Altrincham line was closed for 6 months, rather than one month as promised, with bus substitution during that period. Metrolink's own new trackwork in Manchester's city centre required reinstalling twice in the first years of operation, due to inadequate quality controls and poor design work, such as placing switches directly where the blades could be expected to be repeatedly crossed by buses.

On 25 April 1997 work began on Phase 2, an extension from Cornbrook, on the Altrincham line, through Salford Quays to Eccles. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Eccles is a town within the Metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Service started as far as Broadway on 6 December 1999 and to Eccles on 21 July 2000. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The whole line was officially opened on 9 January 2001.

There have been a few modifications to the system since the opening of Phase I in 1992.

• The original Market Street stop only handled trams to Bury, with High Street handling trams from Bury. Market Street is one of the two principal retail streets in Manchester, England (the other is King Street) When Market Street was closed to road traffic these stops were replaced by a new platform stop in the centre of Market Street, which could handle trams in both directions. This stop opened on 10 August 1998. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)
• Crossover points were installed in the section approaching Piccadilly Station in order to allow inbound trams to access either platform without having first to proceed to the buffer stops at the far end of the undercroft area; this in order to facilitate quicker tram turnaround times. However, this mode of operation seems to have been discontinued in recent years.
• Shudehill interchange between Victoria station and Market Street opened in April 2003. The bus station complementing it opened on 29 January 2006. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• Cornbrook station on the Altrincham line was opened to provide an interchange with the new line to Eccles. There was initially no official public access to this station from the street, but this changed on 3 September 2005 when the original fire exit was opened as a public access route. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• On 15 July 2007 Stagecoach took over as the Metrolink operator from Serco. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Serco Group plc ( is a Business Services company based in Hook North Hampshire of the United Kingdom Unlike Serco, Stagecoach do not own the concession, merely operate it on a fixed-term management contract.

Due to the age and condition of most of the track on the Bury and Altrincham routes it was decided that the mostly 1960s trackwork was to be relaid. This construction work included improvements to stations along the lines. In 2007, EWS was contracted to provide 3 Class 08 diesel shunters to assist in the relaying of the track for Metrolink between Manchester and Bury, using the original connection to the old Bury depot, now part of the East Lancashire Railway. English Welsh and Scottish Railway Ltd ( EWS) is the largest British rail freight company The British Rail Class 08 is a class of Diesel locomotive designed for shunting This article is about the present East Lancashire Railway for the previous incarnation see East Lancashire Railway 1844-1859 Overview

The renewals commenced on 29 May 2007 with the cessation of services between Bury and Whitefield. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. By 22 June services on the Bury line terminated at Crumpsall. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. By 23 July there was no service on the Bury line as all northbound Metrolink trams in public use terminated at Victoria. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. The Bury Line re-opened on 13 September that same year. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September With the possible exception of the section between Stretford and Dane Road, the Altrincham line track was not as worn as that on the Bury line and so not as much work was required. From 2 July various sections of the line were shut down and serviced with a replacement bus service. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival The Altrincham Line re-opened on 28 August 2007. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Since the track renewals the ride is much smoother and quieter than before.

Planning permission was granted in October 2007 for a 400-metre long extension from a point between Harbour City and Broadway to the central plaza of the new Mediacity:uk development in Salford Quays. mediacityUK is a property development based on the media industry located in Salford Quays, in Salford, England. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. ^[1]

Routes and stations

Metrolink's Monday-Saturday service:

1. Piccadilly station – Altrincham
2. Piccadilly station – Bury
3. Piccadilly station – Eccles
4. Altrincham – Bury (Daytime only) (not via Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly station)

Metrolink's Sunday & Bank Holiday service:

1. Piccadilly station – Altrincham
2. Piccadilly station – Bury
3. Piccadilly station – Eccles

The direct Altrincham-Bury (avoiding Piccadilly) service does not operate on Sundays. Passengers are required to change at Piccadilly Gardens. Frequency on each service is every 12 minutes, but the interleaving of the Altrincham – Bury direct service with the services to Piccadilly Station mean that for much of the route there are two trams every 12 minutes, usually three and nine minutes apart. Between Cornbrook and St Peter’s Square, with three services (Altrincham-Bury, Altrincham-Piccadilly and Eccles-Piccadilly) running every 12 minutes, the frequency is increased even more.

The current route length is:

Passenger rail interchanges are situated along the Metrolink route. These include Piccadilly, Victoria station, G-Mex for Deansgate, Altrincham, Navigation Road and Eccles. Manchester Piccadilly station, known locally as just Piccadilly, is the principal railway station of Manchester in England. Manchester Victoria station is the second of Manchester 's mainline railway stations G-Mex Metrolink station is in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre. Deansgate (or Manchester Deansgate is one of several commuter Railway stations in Manchester city centre England. Altrincham station serves the town of Altrincham in Greater Manchester and is located on Stamford New Road Navigation Road railway station serves the Broadheath area of Altrincham in Greater Manchester, England. Eccles railway station serves the town of Eccles in the City of Salford district of Greater Manchester. Major bus interchanges are also situated at Bury, Victoria, Shudehill, Piccadilly Gardens, Altrincham and Eccles Metrolink Stations. Bury Interchange is a tram station in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Manchester Victoria station is the second of Manchester 's mainline railway stations Shudehill Interchange is a transport interchange located between Victoria Station and the Northern Quarter in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink station located in Piccadilly Gardens, adjacent to Piccadilly Bus Station. Altrincham station serves the town of Altrincham in Greater Manchester and is located on Stamford New Road Eccles railway station serves the town of Eccles in the City of Salford district of Greater Manchester. As of December 2007 there are 37 Metrolink stops: 17 former British Rail stations on the Phase 1 lines to Altrincham and Bury, 17 newly-build stops on the Phase 1 lines in the city centre and on the Phase 2 line to Eccles, and 3 shared mainline stations (Altrincham, Piccadilly and Victoria). See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways"

The Metrolink depot is located south of Queen’s Road (Cheetham Hill, M8) on the western side of the Bury line, between Victoria and Woodlands Road stops. Cheetham Hill is a district of Manchester, England located approximately two miles to the north of Manchester city centre. The depot connections face Bury. There is a staff halt, Queens Road, serving the depot ^[2]. This facility will not be able to handle the expanded network, therefore GMPTE have obtained the site for a second depot, near Old Trafford stop. ^[3]

Fares and usage

A 2000 Metrolink Tram crossing the Manchester Ship Canal at Pomona, Greater Manchester

Fares are charged depending on the number of fare zones travelled through, and whether travel is in the peak period - before 09:30 on a weekday, except on public holidays. Manchester Piccadilly station, known locally as just Piccadilly, is the principal railway station of Manchester in England. Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink station located in Piccadilly Gardens, adjacent to Piccadilly Bus Station. Mosley Street Metrolink Station is on the Altrincham and Eccles lines of the Manchester Metrolink light rail system in Manchester City Centre. St Peter's Square a Manchester Metrolink station located on St Peter's Square Manchester City Centre. G-Mex Metrolink station is in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre. Deansgate (or Manchester Deansgate is one of several commuter Railway stations in Manchester city centre England. Cornbrook Metrolink station is located on the north side of Cornbrook Road between the dual carriageway A56 Chester Road and the derelict Pomona Docks on the Pomona Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station serving the Pomona Docks area which is to yet to be redeveloped Exchange Quay Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station serving the Salford Quays area Salford Quays Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station serving the Salford Quays area Anchorage Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station seving the Salford Quays area Harbour City Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station seving the Salford Quays area Broadway Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink stop serving the Salford Quays area of England. Langworthy Metrolink Station is an on-street Manchester Metrolink station on the Eccles Line, between the town of Eccles and Salford Quays Weaste is a Manchester Metrolink station in the near the town of Eccles, Greater Manchester, England. Ladywell is a Manchester Metrolink tram stop in Eccles, Greater Manchester, England. Eccles Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink station seving the Eccles area Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2

Tickets are purchased from machines at each stop. Single journeys must be completed within 90 minutes, return journeys the same day. It is also possible to purchase tickets from the machines for travel all day, for groups, or all weekend. Some ticket machines accept only coins; the others will also accept banknotes, and give a maximum of £7 in change. Train users travelling into the city centre from stations in Greater Manchester are able to use the Metrolink in the central zone for free. These train tickets can be used between Victoria, Shudehill, Market Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly, Mosley Street, St Peter's Square and G-Mex. ^[4]

All Metrolink tickets must be purchased before travel. A "standard fare" of up to £80 is charged for travelling without a ticket[1]. Metrolink is policed by the Greater Manchester Police including Police Community Support Officers. Greater Manchester Police (" GMP " is the Home Office Police force responsible for policing the Metropolitan county of Greater Police Community Support Officers ( PCSO) (Swyddogion Cymorth Cymunedol yr Heddlu SCCH or Heddlu Ategol are uniformed personnel working with the Police in England An initiative by Greater Manchester Police, which saw around 15 officers routinely patrolling the tram network, was stopped due to lack of funds. On-board ticket checks are done by Carlisle Security on behalf of the GMPTE.

Metrolink carried 18. 8 million passengers in 2004, compared to 7. 5 million who used the Bury and Altrincham rail services before Metrolink. According to Metrolink sources, at least two million fewer car journeys have been made each year along the tram route. Metrolink has become something of a victim of its own popularity. Many services are extremely busy, especially at peak times at the city centre stations, and fares have risen at a rate far above that of inflation. Rush hour at Shinjuku 02JPG|thumb|right|250px|Rush hour at Shinjuku Station, Yamanote Line]] A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time In the first two years of Metrolink operation, peak hour patronage was well below expected levels, but off-peak patronage exceeded expectations. Metrolink reacted by reducing peak fares which improved loadings.

Vehicles

Main article: T-68

A 2000 Series street-running tram in Eccles. The T-68 is a type of Tram used only on the Manchester Metrolink system in Greater Manchester, England. Eccles is a town within the Metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England.

As of December 2007 the Metrolink fleet consists of 26 T-68 light-rail vehicles (LRV) numbered in the 1000 series, and six T68a vehicles built for the Eccles extension and numbered in the 2000 series. The T-68 is a type of Tram used only on the Manchester Metrolink system in Greater Manchester, England. Both types were supplied by Ansaldobreda, the former in 1991 and the latter in 1999. Ansaldobreda SPA is a company based in Pistoia and Naples, Italy and responsible for designing and manufacturing railway and mass transit vehicles The LRVs are articulated in the centre and normally operate singly, except during the rush hours when there are a few double trams along the Bury–Altrincham route. Three 1000-series trams (1005, 1010, and 1015) and all 2000-series trams are modified for use on the Eccles line, which involves large amounts of street running, with retractable and covered couplers and covered bogies.

In April 2007, eight new trams were ordered for the Metrolink. These Flexity Swift high-floor trams will be similar to the K5000 series currently employed in the German cities of Cologne and Bonn, and similar to the low-floor models already used by London’s Tramlink. The Flexity Swift Tram is a light-rail vehicle manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. The Cologne Stadtbahn is a Light rail system in the German city of Cologne as well as several surrounding cities (Leverkusen-Schlebusch only and towns The Bonn Stadtbahn ("city rail" is a part of the local Public transit system in Bonn and the surrounding Rhein-Sieg area Tramlink (initially known as Croydon Tramlink) is a Tramway system serving the South London area of United Kingdom. When delivered in 2009 these 8 new trams will enable all the Bury - Altrincham direct services to operate as double trams, significantly increasing capacity. A further 4 trams of the same type have now been ordered by the GMPTE to allow for a new 12-minute service between Cornbrook and the new Mediacity:uk extension in Salford Quays. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. ^[5]

The trams are bi-directional with cabs at both ends and doors on both sides, 30 m long and consist of two carriages, joined by an articulated section in the middle, with four doors per side. ^[6] The front and rear bogies are powered, with two 750V, 105kW motors per bogie. The third bogie, located under the articulated part, is not powered. The maximum speed is 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), with 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) allowed for street running. There are 83 seats per vehicle (plus 4 folding seats) and the nominal capacity is 200 passengers (250 maximum). Trams normally run singly, with two-unit services commonplace at peak times. Up to four units can be operated by one driver but capacity at central and Eccles line stations only allows for a double-unit. Although non-central stations on the Bury and Altrincham lines can allow for a triple or quadruple unit tram, the platform's public area is currently shorter than its full length.

Twenty-three of the trams have name plates, named after famous Mancunian people, achievements or places.

Future

The initial Metrolink network was formed of two converted railway lines, linked across the city centre (Phase 1). Robert Owen (14 May 1771 – 17 Nov 1858 born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales was a social reformer and one of the founders of Socialism Arndale Centres were the first "American-style" malls to be built in the United Kingdom. Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby CBE KCSG (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994 was a Scottish football player and manager most noted Arndale Centres were the first "American-style" malls to be built in the United Kingdom. Salford Lads Club (officially the Salford Lads and Girls Club) is a boys and girls recreational club located in the Ordsall area of Salford, Arndale Centres were the first "American-style" malls to be built in the United Kingdom. Since opening in 1992, one extension has been completed to the Salford town of Eccles via Salford Quays (Phase 2). Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Metrolink Phase 3, also known as the Big Bang, is an ambitious expansion programme which will see trams running to Oldham, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport. Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock Rochdale is a large Market town in Greater Manchester, England Ashton-under-Lyne (pop 43200 is a Market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England Wythenshawe (pop 66000 is a district in the south of the City of Manchester in North West England. Manchester Airport is a major Airport in the vicinity of Manchester, England, and the largest airport in the United Kingdom outside the

Manchester Metrolink Proposed Extensions (Phase 3a)

Legend Rochdale Railway Station Newbold Kingsway Business Park Milnrow Newhey Shaw and Crompton Derker Oldham Mumps Werneth Freehold South Chadderton Hollinwood To Bury; Failsworth Abraham Moss; Dean Lane To Eccles; Woodlands Road; Central Park Queens Road; Monsall Cornbrook G-Mex; Victoria St Peter's Square; Shudehill Mosley Street; Market Street Trafford Bar Piccadilly Gardens Firswood; Piccadilly To Altrincham; Pollard Street Chorlton-cum-Hardy; Holt Town St Werburgh's Road; Sportcity New East (for velodrome) Clayton Edge Lane Cemetery Road Droylsden

Phase 3a

Phase 3 has now been split into two sections. Phase 3a will involve taking over the extisting heavy-rail Oldham Loop Line to Oldham and Rochdale stations, as well as extensions to Droylsden and to St Werburgh's Road in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham line or Oldham Loop Line is a local railway route in Greater Manchester, England used by trains that run from Manchester Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock Rochdale is a large Market town in Greater Manchester, England Droylsden is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, North West England, known locally as Chorlton. In December 2004 the government announced that £520 million would be authorised for Phase 3. A first stage of Phase 3 was given the go ahead by the Department for Transport in July 2006, with a £300m funding gap expected to be met by a loan. In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport (or DfT) ( Welsh: Adran am Drafnidiaeth) is the government department

Environmental surveys began in April 2008^[8] which will continue until the autumn. Several companies were short-listed to build the extensions^[8] with the M-Pact Thales consortium, made up of Thales, Laing O'Rourke and GrantRail, being eventually picked^[9] in Spring 2008. Thales of Miletus According to Bertrand Russell, "Philosophy begins with Thales Laing O’Rourke Plc is the largest privately owned Construction firm in the UK. The project's final cost was calculated at £575 million and was signed off in May 2008^[9]. Construction is due to start in 2009^[10] and the new lines are hoped to become operational in 2011/12.

Phase 3b

The second part of Phase 3, referred to as Phase 3b, will take the 3a lines into Oldham and Rochdale town centres, extend the 3a extension from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne and extend the line from St Werburgh's Road to Didsbury and Manchester Airport. Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock Rochdale is a large Market town in Greater Manchester, England Ashton-under-Lyne (pop 43200 is a Market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England Didsbury (ˈdɪdzbəri is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England Manchester Airport is a major Airport in the vicinity of Manchester, England, and the largest airport in the United Kingdom outside the

Phase 3b forms part of Greater Manchester’s integrated transport strategy, which will recommend a package of transport investment and traffic management measures. In July 2007 GMPTE, along with AGMA submitted a bid to the Governments Transport Innovation Fund to secure the funding for this package which, if received, will guarantee the extensions to these destinations. The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities ( AGMA) is an association which represents the ten Local authorities of Greater Manchester, a Metropolitan The outcome of this bid for funding will be known in May 2008.

Further extensions are also planned, continuing from Didsbury to Stockport, Mediacity at Salford Quays and to the Trafford Centre. Didsbury (ˈdɪdzbəri is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England Stockport ( is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground on the River Mersey at the influx of the rivers Goyt mediacityUK is a property development based on the media industry located in Salford Quays, in Salford, England. The Trafford Park line will continue on from Pomona viaduct on the Eccles line which has been built with the expansion in mind. Pomona Metrolink Station is a Manchester Metrolink station serving the Pomona Docks area which is to yet to be redeveloped The new line is expected to serve the Manchester United home ground at Old Trafford and Imperial War Museum North. The Imperial War Museum North is a War museum at The Quays Trafford Wharf Trafford Park, Greater Manchester M17 1TZ England, a part of

Concerns have been raised regarding the single route through the city centre which may become a bottleneck when new extensions are open - with six or seven services all running over the same track, questions have been raised about the possibility of a 'tram-jam'. The other issue is that the focus of the city centre is moving to quarters not currently served by Metrolink. GMPTE have reacted to this with an additional favoured line down Cross Street between GMex and Victoria. G-Mex Metrolink station is in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre. Manchester Victoria station is the second of Manchester 's mainline railway stations GMPTE say the line would also aid the city with additional tram stops, possibly around the Town Hall and Arndale Shopping Centre areas. Manchester Town Hall is a building in Manchester, England that houses Manchester City Council. Manchester Arndale (known locally as The Arndale Centre or just The Arndale) is a large Shopping centre in Manchester City Centre, It is also proposed that Bus Rapid Transit routes could be developed, linking the Metrolink service with parts of South Manchester, Bolton, Leigh and Salford that will not be reached by the Phase 3b extensions. Bus rapid transit ( BRT) is a broad term given to a variety of transportation systems that through improvements to infrastructure vehicles and scheduling attempt to use

A bid for Transport Innovation Fund monies has been submitted; to include the second stage plus an additional city centre crossing and Bus Rapid Transit routes, and which would take the total cost of Phase 3 to an estimated £1. 2 billion, with a road charging scheme included to cover some of the cost. ^[11] The network including all the proposed expansions will increase in size from 23 miles (37 km) with 37 stops to 70 miles (113 km) with at least 115 stops.

Criticism

Metrolink attracted significant negative publicity in its early days. Delays in construction, closures for rebuilding defective trackwork and lack of thought in ticketing and information systems all attracted criticism. Politically, the system was deemed to be an immediate success, though the tax burden on Greater Manchester's ratepayers increased notably, since Metrolink attracted subsidies the previous trains had not.

Many initial problems have been addressed, but passenger information remains a major failing. Most stations do not have live passenger information screens, so most passengers do not know when the next tram is due. On the other hand, it must be noted that when exceptional disruption or delays occur, a Public Address system is used which has speakers at all Metrolink stations.

When the Altrincham and Bury lines were part of the national rail network, through ticketing from current Metrolink stations to anywhere in Great Britain was possible. Currently tickets from Metrolink ticket machines only allow journeys to stations within Greater Manchester and the immediate surrounding area. Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2 This could lead to more expensive rail journeys as passengers setting out from a Metrolink station must buy one Metrolink ticket and one National Rail ticket. It must be noted that when ending a journey at a Metrolink station through ticketing is possible as Rail tickets from anywhere in Great Britain can be bought with any Metrolink station as a final destination. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands

One of the criticisms levelled at Metrolink is that it does not reach the Trafford Centre, other than via a shuttle bus from Stretford Metrolink stop. The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre located in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England Journeys on this service are not covered by the MetroMax ticket that allows travel through the rest of the network. On the Eccles line journeys take longer on Metrolink than on an equivalent bus journey which follows a more direct route (not via Salford Quays). Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. This is despite buses not being able to use the dedicated off-street infrastructure that Metrolink trams use.

References

See also

• Transport in Manchester

External links

• Metrolink Information page and Metrolink Development page from GMPTE
• Metrolink website
• Metrolink route map (69KB PDF file)
• Transport Briefing Latest Metrolink developments, including news of Phase 3 expansion approved in July 2006
• TheTrams.co.uk Photographs of Metrolink trams. The transport infrastructure of the City of Manchester is served by numerous transport modes and forms an integral part of the structure Greater Manchester and the North
• Collection of Google Earth locations of Metrolink stations (Requires Google Earth software) from the Google Earth Community forum.
• Manchester Metrolink, Tony Williams, Manchester Area Officer, Light Rail Transit Association
• Picc-Vic, Full history of SELNEC Manchester Urban Rapid Transit Plans
• Metrolink Virtual, Virtual Manchester Metrolink route project for MSTS
• Flash Movie of the new Alstom Metrolink Tram from Luminova. net
• Flash Picture of the new Alstom Metrolink Tram from Luminova. net
• Schematic Map of the new Metrolink Network (100 Kb PDF file)