Home | Metrolink Introduction | Ashton Line: page updated 8 December 2011
The existing Metrolink line is shown light green on the diagram. Both the phase 3a extension to Droylsden (purple) and the phase 3b, Greater Manchester Transport Fund, extension to Ashton (orange) are under construction.
The mostly ground level, 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. There is a reversing siding between inbound and outbound lines. A short length of Portugal Street East, near its former junction with Baird Street, has been closed to road traffic; however a foot level crossing of the tracks will be provided. The adjoining building has been modified to allow the route to continue towards north–western side of Longacre Street. Fletcher Square and Fair Street have 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 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). Beswick Street has been re–routed to the west of the Mitchell Arms replacing Frost Street.
Holt Town stop will be off–street, on part of the area which was 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 has been 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.
Etihad Campus stop, previously known as Sportcity, 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. There is a long trailing crossover/siding, able to hold two double trams, between outbound and inbound 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. Velopark 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.
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 Hall 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 Braddon 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 Hall 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 have been 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. It is now in use.
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, it will be an island platform with slightly staggered faces. There will be a ramp down to road/track level at the eastern end and steps at the western end. A facing connection will allow trams from the outbound platform to move forward and onto the inbound line to reverse and return towards Manchester. The line to Droylsden is expected to open in summer 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. It will have an island platform with ramps down to track level pedestrian crossings at both ends.
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 stop is at the eastern end of this section, just before Alexandria Drive. It will have an island platform with ramps down to track level pedestrian crossings at both ends. At this road junction the route crosses over to run in the central reservation towards Ashton town centre. It will also have a secure park and ride site.
Ashton West stop will have two side platforms and be in the central reservation of the bypass, just west of the Richmond Road junction. It will have ramps from both platforms to a track level pedestrian crossing at the western end of the stop; also from near the platform midpoints there will be ramps towards the eastern end, together with steps, and an eastern track level pedestrian crossing. 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.
After crossing Richmond Road, the route remains in the central reservation for about 270 metres. Just east of a pedestrian crosing which is near Portland Street North; the route crosses to a new reserved way on what are now the westbound road lanes. These lanes will be moved onto part of the central reservation. Tracks thus by–pass the roundabout alongside IKEA.
The Wellington Road / Cavendish Street road junction will be altered slightly, with the tracks crossing the end of Cavendish Street to run on a reserved way along the south side of Wellington Road. Facing and trailing connections just east of Oldham Road will enable trams to arrive at / depart from both platforms of Ashton stop to the west of Oldham Road and a short distance from the bus station. This will have an island platform with ramps at both ends to ground/track level.
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.
Ashton Line: top of page
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.