Home | Metrolink Introduction | Didsbury Line: updated 30 May 2007 | pages list
See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, G–Mex and the lines between them; also City South from G–Mex to Cornbrook, Trafford Bar and Chorlton.
The Altrincham and Eccles lines are shown in light green on the diagram. Phase 3a is shown red and phase 3b is shown orange.
Phase 3a
For a detailed description of this part see City South page.
Phase 3b
From St Werburgh’s stop the line continues along the former Midland railway track bed, passing under Mauldeth Road West and alongside the south-western edge of Hough End Playing Fields then under Princess Road to Withington stop. This will be about 110 metres from the western end Cavendish Road and next to a Church. Many bus routes use Princess Road, allowing easy interchange.
Burton Road stop will be on the west side of the road, about 90 metres north of the eastern end of Cavendish Road. After crossing under Burton Road, the line next passes under the crossroads at Palatine Road and Lapwing Lane.
West Didsbury stop will be east of and near to Palatine Road, adjacent to Lapwing Lane and Northern Lawn Tennis Club, Didsbury. It will have two single face platforms. As well as serving the local residential area it will allow passengers to interchange between buses and trams.
The line crosses under Elm Road a short distance west of its junction with Lapwing Lane, then under Parkfield Road South about 75 metres west of Wilmslow Road. After crossing under Wilmslow Road, near the junction with Moorland Road, the line — in the cutting — passes under a surface level car park.
Then the line crosses under School Lane, just to the east of the junction with William Street, to Didsbury Village stop which will have access ramps to School Lane and pedestrian access to Olive Shapley Avenue and the Trans–Pennine Trail.
When powers to build the extension to East Didsbury were sought, it was only possible to plan for a single Metrolink track between School Lane and East Didsbury. Additional land became available and in January 2004 GMPTE were granted the relevant permission for a double track along this section of the route.
After crossing under Sandhurst Road and Parrs Wood Road; the line passes the southern edge of The Barlow RC High School playing field before going under the railway line. It then passes behind the Tesco supermarket before crossing under Kingsway.
East Didsbury stop will be in the cutting between Kingsway and Parrs Wood Lane to the south of Lynwood Road. It will serve a large number of houses in the East Didsbury and Heaton Mersey areas, as well as shopping and leisure facilities including a connection to the Trans–Pennine Trail.
GMPTE has applied for Transport and Works Act powers for an extension of the route on to Stockport, terminating at the Bus Station.
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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.