Home | Metrolink [latest update 30 January 2012] [pages list, with modification dates] | News 2011
These pages are about the origins of Metrolink and its developments. Rail History outlines mainline railway developments from 1830. By the 1980s there were two unconnected networks north and south of the city. Some lines having only or mainly local services and requiring increasing levels of subsidy plus considerable capital expenditure for renewals. Several studies led to the original Metrolink six line plan. Metrolink History outlines how this evolved to the original openings and extensions which are now being built.
The plan shows open metrolink lines in green. Under construction extensions, phase 3a are shown in purple and phase 3b in orange. Main line railways are in blue. Links for line pages are in the plan and the text. Descriptions work away from the delta junction in the City Centre. Second city crossing not shown.
Diagrams are used to illustrate the line pages; route descriptions can be followed by using paper or online maps. External maps are not used on these pages for copyright reasons.
Metrolink pages, including Infrastructure, Vehicle information, Photogallery and News, are listed below with modification dates.
Early plans were for the network to be built in stages, the first stage had to be able to stand on its own. Thus the Altrincham and Bury lines with City Centre street running tracks were phase one of Metrolink. This opened from Bury to Victoria on 6 April 1992; Victoria to Deansgate–Castlefield on 27 April; Deansgate–Castlefield to Altrincham on 15 June; then the branch to Piccadilly Rail Station on 20 July 1992.
The Eccles line from Cornbrook, on the Altrincham line, through Salford Quays and on to Eccles became phase two. This opened to Broadway on 6 December 1999 and Eccles on 21 July 2000. City South describes the segregated sections from Deansgate–Castlefield to Trafford Bar and Chorlton.
On 7 July 2011 the Chorlton route from Trafford Bar to St. Werburgh’s Road stop opened. Under construction phase 3a extensions are conversion of the Oldham and Rochdale railway line, building of the Ashton route from Manchester to Droylsden.
The Greater Manchester Transport Fund is enabling Metrolink phase 3b extensions. Droylsden to Ashton–under–Lyne and Chorlton to Didsbury are accelerated with works in progress. Oldham and Rochdale town centres, Chorlton to Manchester Airport and City Centre second crossing are following on with clearance and other preliminary works underway. Available details are in the line pages.
GMPTE has ordered FLEXITY Swift M5000 trams from Bombardier; these will run on both existing and new lines. See the New Vehicles page for more information; also new trams photo gallery for pictures.
Metrolink opened with fixed block two aspect signalling on the segregated Altrincham and Bury lines. Line of Sight working is used in the city centre and on the Eccles line beyond Pomona.
A new Tram Management System is required for Phase 3. Based on Line of Sight working, it also uses the Global Positioning System and a mesh radio network. This gives Metrolink Control a more precise position for each tram and will enable the new Passenger Information Displays to show accurate information. The Eccles line beyond Pomona and Chorlton line after Trafford Bar use the new system.
Services to St Werburgh’s Road in Chorlton opened on 7 July 2011.
Metrolink services between Manchester and Oldham Mumps temporary stop are expected to start during 2012, onwards to Rochdale some months later. Droylsden services are also expected to start in 2012.
The pages about Metrolink are based on information published by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) formerly the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), the GMA Group who built phase one and Altram who built phase two.
Recent Update details
- Airport page updated – 30 January 2012
- Airport page updated – 8 December 2011
- Ashton page updated – 8 December 2011
- City South page updated – 8 December 2011
- Didsbury page updated – 8 December 2011
- News 2 December item added – 8 December 2011
- New Vehicles page updated – 8 December 2011
- Oldham and Rochdale page updated – 8 December 2011
- Power Supply page updated – 8 December 2011
- Signalling page updated – 8 December 2011
- Airport page updated – 3 October 2011
- City Centre page updated – 3 October 2011
- News 30 September item added – 3 October 2011
- Ashton page updated – 3 August 2011
- News 2 August item added – 3 August 2011
- City South page updated – 11 & 18 July 2011
- Oldham and Rochdale page updated – 11 & 18 July 2011
- ↑Introduction↑ updated – 11 July 2011
- Airport page updated – 11 July 2011
- Altrincham page updated – 11 July 2011
- Didsbury page updated – 11 July 2011
- Eccles page updated – 11 July 2011
- News 9 June, 7 & 8 July items added – 11 July 2011
- Power Supply page updated – 11 July 2011
- Metrolink History page created – 11 July 2011
- Rail History page updated – 11 July 2011
Metrolink pages listed with most recent modification date
- Lines and History
- Airport 30 January 2012
- Altrincham 11 July 2011
- Ashton 8 December 2011
- Bury 27 April 2011
- City Centre 3 October 2011
- City South 8 December 2011
- Didsbury 8 December 2011
- Eccles 11 July 2011
- Oldham and Rochdale 8 December 2011
- Funding 27 January 2011
- Metrolink History 11 July 2011
- Rail History 11 July 2011
- Infrastructure and Vehicle information
- Great Ancoats Street 9 December 2010
- Power Supply 8 December 2011
- Signalling 8 December 2011
- Stops 18 January 2011
- Telecommunications April 2001
- Track 4 November 2009
- New Vehicles 8 December 2011
- Vehicles 6 April 2009
- Vehicles Facts & Figures 30 December 2009
- Links 27 April 2011
- Photogalleries 30 December 2009
- 2000 and 2001
- Droylsden Construction 1 2 July 2010
- Depots 22 December 2009
- New Trams 30 December 2009
- News pages for 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | Upgrades 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | Track Upgrades 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | Back On Track Campaign | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1998 & 1999
- The Transport Innovation Fund bid proposals were rejected in the December 2008 referendum.
The following pages have now been updated for the new Greater Manchester Transport Fund.- Beyond phase 3b, possible future extensions 8 April 2011
- East Didsbury to Stockport, a possible line, which requires TWA powers and funding 24 June 2009
- TIF 2007 bid 23 May 2009
Home | Metrolink Introduction: top of page
This page was written by Tony Williams, Manchester Area Officer, Light Rail Transit Association. Contact manwebm@lrta.org if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions about these pages.