Home | Metrolink Introduction | Stockport Line: updated 4 April 2007 | pages list
The former railway from Didsbury to Stockport Tiviot Dale station was not protected after closure. Mostly built on an embankment, in cuttings or tunnel, access to adjacent areas would not be good even if the route were still available. GMPTE is applying for Transport and Works Act powers for a new route to Stockport.
See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, G–Mex and the lines between them; also City South from G–Mex to Cornbrook and Trafford Bar. Didsbury line page continues the description to East Didsbury.
Existing lines are shown green on the diagram. Phase 3a is shown red and 3b orange. The Stockport extension is shown brown.
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.
From Parrs Wood Lane the route will follow the former rail line as far as Station Road. This part of the cutting was filled in the early 1980s, so it is proposed to remove the fill, construct Metrolink in a tunnel, and put earth back on top restoring the park for people to use the area much as they do now. The Metrolink tunnel will continue under Station Road.
Business properties were built on Station Road where the railway used to run. These properties would be unaffected, but a small part of the Heaton Mersey Park Sports Grounds would be needed to provide an embankment for Metrolink. This part of the route is in a conservation area, and special care would be taken to make sure Metrolink enhanced the area.
At the eastern end of Station Road, traffic lights would let Metrolink cross Craig Road safely. Part of the embankment would be removed to build a stop near Craig Road and Vale Road. This would serve a large part of the south of Heaton Mersey.
East of the proposed Craig Road stop the former railways split and the proposed route follows the southern spur away from the houses on Craig Road towards the River Mersey. This area has been designated a site of importance for nature conservation by Stockport MBC. Initial environmental surveys show that no protected species would be affected. GMPTE will try to minimise any damage to wildlife and adopt a tree and habitat replacement policy.
The River Mersey and M60 would be crossed at the same place. This means that only a single bridge is needed to cross both motorway and river at that point. The bridge and embankments would be large structures. Advice will be taken from various organisations, such as the Royal Fine Arts Commission, to make sure that the best results are obtained.
The route now travels through the Gorsey Bank area on the south bank of the Mersey. Stockport Council is working towards transforming the derelict former housing site here into a modern business park. Gorsey Bank* stop would serve Cheadle Heath.
Because Brinksway is narrow, has sharp bends and carries a large amount of traffic, the Metrolink line will crosses back to the north bank of the Mersey. It will run close to the north bank of the river through the Yew Street employment area, which currently has many vacant sites and potential for regeneration. Kings Reach* stop would serve existing buildings such as the ‘Pyramid’ and future developments.
*Gorsey Bank and Kings Reach stops — names subject to further consultation.
The route crosses back onto the south bank of the Mersey and joins Brinksway just before the junction with Hollywood Way. Then the trams will run in both directions along Chestergate into Stockport town centre.
King Street, north of Chestergate, will be widened by using the footway on the west side of the bridge over the Mersey. An adjacent footbridge will be constructed to maintain footway facilities. This avoids alterations near the M60 motorway and allows road traffic to use Chestergate as at present.
Metrolink will go under the railway viaduct to terminate in Stockport Bus Station. Bus connections here will serve a wide area of Stockport. The terminus is planned to enable an eastward extension of Metrolink at some future date.
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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.