Home | Metrolink Introduction | Ashton Line: page updated 6 April 2010 | pages list
The existing Metrolink line is shown light green on the diagram, the under construction phase 3a, extension to Droylsden is shown purple. The phase 3b, Greater Manchester Transport Fund, extension to Ashton is shown orange.
The 6.3 kilometre line to Droylsden will leave Piccadilly Undercroft station via the present reversing sidings which will be converted for passenger use.
Emerging from under Piccadilly Station, the route crosses Sheffield Street near its junction with Baird Street and uses a portion of the car park. A reversing siding will be built between inbound and outbound lines. Portugal Street East is crossed near its junction with Baird Street. The adjoining building has been modified to allow the route to continue towards north–western side of Longacre Street. Fletcher Square has been closed and removed.
An underpass, constructed using the ‘cut and cover’ method, will take the line beneath the Inner Relief Road. More details and pictures on the Great Ancoats Street page.
New Islington, formerly Pollard Street, stop will be on the Piccadilly side of Munday Street. There will be two ramps, from near the centre towards the ends for both platforms; also steps from the end of each platform to track level foot crossings at both ends of the stop. There will be footpaths to both Pollard and Munday Streets.
After crossing Munday Street, the route is in a reserved way alongside a new development towards the Pollard/Carruthers/Merrill Streets junction. Utility diversions have been carried out on Pollard Street, Carruthers Street and Merrill Street.
On Merrill Street there will be shared running with road traffic for 250 metres (270 yards). The old road surface has been removed, outbound rails are in place and a start made on the inbound. Track laying and resurfacing will be done before the road reopens.
Preparatory work to re–route Beswick Street to the west of the Mitchell Arms has taken place. There will be a new signal controlled junction of Merrill Street, Every Street and Ashton New Road including Metrolink. Utility diversions at Holt Town have been completed. The existing alignment of Beswick Street has, for the time being, reopened.
Holt Town stop will be off–street, on the area which has been grass covered, between the road called Holt Town and the River Medlock. Heavy duty concrete piling rigs were used to create concrete retaining walls for the stop. There will be two side platforms with steps and foot track crossings at both ends. An outbound platform ramp and inbound footpath will be provided at the city centre end, surrounding ground levels vary at this stop.
The route uses the eastern part of Holt Town; which will be closed to road traffic, except for Environment Agency access, this is alongside the higher level park; it then goes through a bridge under Cambrian Street.
Holt Town stop will be connected to the footpath to the Stadium, which was built as part of the pedestrian route from the City Centre for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, this path goes through a separate arch.
Substantial advance works include a bridge across the River Medlock east of Cambrian Street also bridges under New Viaduct Street and the Ardwick Branch railway line. They are wide enough to accommodate Metrolink and the footpath, which remains in use.
Sportcity–Stadium, formerly Sportcity, stop, for the City of Manchester Stadium, will have staggered side platforms on each side of Joe Mercer Way, the pedestrian bridge over the line and canal. On both sides crowd control and regular use areas will lead to steps and a lift. The Manchester/west end of the outbound platform will have steps and a ramp to a foot track level crossing, then a path joining an existing foot path. From the lower steps/lift level, a second foot crossing and ramp lead to platform level. The inbound platform will be to the east of Joe Mercer Way.
A short tunnel beneath the Intermediate Ring Road, Alan Turing Way and Gibbon Street was completed in March 2003. The line rises and runs alongside Alan Turing Way. A long trailing crossover/siding, able to hold two double trams will be built here between the lines. Passing across the wide footpath to the Asda superstore, on a level crossing, the line turns to the left to run between the store and the north side of Ashton New Road. Sportcity–Velodrome, formerly New East (for Velodrome), stop will be on this side of the superstore opposite the end of Corbett Street. The outbound platform will have ramps at both ends to foot track level crossings; the inbound platform will have steps at both ends and two ramps from near the middle.
Passing over a signal controlled crossing of a car park entrance/service road the line reaches a new bridge over the Ashton Canal where it turns and crosses Ashton New Road, turning again to run parallel with Ashton New Road. Croft Street will have a pedestrian/cycle crossing.
The route will cross Clayton Lane at the end of Eccleshall Street. A short portion of Eccleshall Street, alongside the stop will be closed to vehicles. Clayton stop will be east of Clayton Lane and south of Ashton New Road; on a diagonal alignment. It will have two side platforms with steps at both ends. The ground level between Ashton New Road and the outbound platform will be arranged to give step free access. Two ramps will be provided for the inbound platform. Disabled parking bays are proposed for the short stub of Eccleshall Street west of Bradson Street. Clayton Lane remains open to foot and vehicular traffic. A foot track level crossing will be provided to the east of the stop, along with a cycle crossing.
From Piccadilly to Clayton stop, apart from Merrill Street, the route is tram only.
The main street running section, where trams share with other traffic is along the A662, between Clayton and Droylsden stops. Stops will be out of the flow of traffic. The A662 road has several names along this length.
Various traffic measures including traffic signals, bus stops not in the flow of trams or traffic, sheltered parking bays for houses along the route, right turn bans and partial road closures will be used to speed both trams and other traffic.
Just to the east of Clayton stop the phase 3a part, which is 2.5 kilometre (1.5 mile) long, starts as Ashton New Road.
Edge Lane stop will be to the east of Edge Lane. On Manchester Road, eastbound lanes will be moved to create a short central reservation. This will have an island platform with approach ramps and both tracks. A taxi rank, disabled parking bays, a kiss and ride area and cycle storage area proposed in the space between Manor Road, Cooper Street and the new eastbound carriageway of Manchester Road.
Cemetery Road stop on the south side of Manchester Road between the Jolly Carter and Clegg Street. A new access road for Kershaw Street will be built to the west of the Jolly Carter. Short sections of John and Sidebottom Streets will be closed and removed. Foot track level crossings will be provided at both ends of the stop. Both side platforms will have steps at the west end and ramps at the east end, with an additional ramp at the west end of the inbound platform. A shared pedestrian/cycle path will be provided to the south of the inbound platform.
Construction work near Droylsden Library, took place during May and June 2009, with piling for & building concrete retaining walls to help widen Manchester Road. A new footbridge, with ducts for utility diversions, was lifted into place on Sunday 28 June 2009.
Utility diversion work on Market Street in Droylsden was completed in 2009. Following alterations to the adjoining property, the former bank building, at the corner of Market Street and Ashton Road Droylsden, was demolished by August 2006. St. Mary’s new school building was completed in October 2003. Droylsden stop will be east of Market Street and out of the flow of traffic on the north side of Ashton Road. The line to Droylsden is expected to open in spring 2012.
Droylsden to Ashton–under–Lyne, phase 3b
This 3.9 kilometre extension from Droylsden starts with the 0.85 kilometre (0.53 mile) street running section along Ashton Road and Droylsden Road to the Audenshaw stop, which will be off–street east of Lumb Lane and south of Droylsden Road in the gyratory road layout.
After the Audenshaw stop the route is off–street on a reserved alignment along the north side of Manchester Road. A number of houses have been cleared and a noise barrier has been built to protect the houses on Windsor Drive. The route crosses Gainsborough Road and passes behind the Snipe Inn. It then runs, in a reserved way, just north of Lord Sheldon Way — the Ashton Northern Bypass — for about 600 metres (660 yards)
Ashton Moss, an island platform stop, is at the eastern end of this section, just before Alexandria Drive. It will have a secure park and ride site. At this road junction the route crosses over to run in the central reservation towards Ashton town centre.
Ashton West stop will have two side platforms and be in the central reservation of the bypass, just west of the Richmond Road junction. Less than 1 kilometre north of the A635, it will have park and ride spaces.
There will be park and ride spaces for around 600 cars at these two stops.
Satellite photographs on the web show the route could be in the central reservation to just beyond the Wellington Road / Cavendish Street road junction; where it would cross the carriageway to run on a reserved way along the south side of Wellington Road. However if the TWA powers permit, it appears that with a modified road layout, a less sharply curved route is possible; leaving the central reservation just before the roundabout for a reserved way along the south side of Wellington Road.
After Cavendish Street the route is on the south side of Wellington Road and crosses Oldham Road to the terminal platforms adjacent to Ashton bus station.
Services
On weekdays there will be a six minute interval service, in both directions, between Manchester Piccadilly and Droylsden. During early mornings and in the evenings, this will reduce to a tram every twelve minutes. At weekends, the six minute service will run for a shorter period each day; on Sundays the off peak service will offer one tram every fifteen minutes.
Home | Metrolink Introduction | Droylsden Line: top of page | pages list
This page was written and illustrated 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.