Funds released for Manchester underground transport study
Those travelling on the Metrolink between Altrincham and Bury could be heading underground in the future, with Greater Manchester Combined Authority agreeing to invest £375,000 to begin feasibility studies on a tunnelled metro.
The Altrincham and Bury line was one of three areas proposed for an underground line by Transport for Greater Manchester during a meeting with GMCA’s Bee Network committee last week.
TfGM said it would explore developing an underground rapid transit line that aligned with the existing Altrincham and Bury Metrolink lines as they are the busiest in the system and likely to exceed capacity by 2050 even if longer vehicles are introduced. An underground relief tunnel, TfGM argued, would double the network’s capacity.
The other two line potentials to be explored in the feasibility studies are one that aligns with the Castlefield Corridor and Salford Crescent to Piccadilly and a brand-new, wholly segregated underground metro that runs from Northern Gateway to Manchester International Airport, connecting areas without existing tram or train lines.
All three possible underground lines are in the earliest of planning stages, with TfGM bosses saying they would be unable to even provide a map of what they may look like in GM before the committee’s next meeting in February.
The proposals earned praise from Bury Council’s Cllr Alan Quinn, who admitted to being “pretty excited about this”.
He added: “I think it’s fantastic that when we reach capacity we do what Greater Manchester does, we think outside the box.”
The £375,000 in funding for the feasibility studies comes from GM’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement from central government.
In December, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had set a target to open a subway network in the city by 2050. In August, feasibility studies for an underground transit system had been an agreed beneficiary from a £6m funding commitment by the GMCA.
I dont know about thinking outside the box, Cllr Quinn, it’s a completely logical step?
This definitely needs to happen if Manchester is to take the next step in growth. Huge potential benefits of increased public transport use, time savings and potential to completely transform key city centre streets if the lines are buried. I’m surprised Oxford Road isnt on the list.
By Dig Dig Dig
Makes complete sense – all three proposals. It’s been said for a while that parts of Metrolink are effectively “pre-metros” or Stadtbahns – just inverted ones (with the non-metro bit here in the city centre) – just awaiting the small city centre section to go underground to become a proper metro line. Personally I think the underground link for Bury to Altrincham makes the most sense first, but also underground for the suburban lines to turn them into a sort of RER, Overground or S-bahn type service. But the easiest to achieve would be the Metrolink one. They would have to lengthen platforms on that line though…
By EOD
The future Altrincham to Bury underground metrolink line will need city centre underground stops to match current above ground metrolink stops. Otherwise, for example, an Altrincham or Bury commuter who normally alights at St. Peters Square or Piccadilly Gardens, whose job is nearby, would have to walk from Piccadilly Railway station or catch a Free Bus back to where they want to go to. The danger of this happening is real. The cost of underground stops will be high but I hope aren’t ommitted on cost grounds with only an end stop at Manchester Piccadilly.
By Anonymous
Come on Manchester, make it work
By Anonymous
If the government is serious about addressing the nations productivity decline then investing in an underground in Manchester (currently the only city increasing this measure) is fundamental. This is the UK though where we are in continual decline and invest nothing to benefit future generations or address our long term problems (unless your are based inside the M25)
By Bob
Thinking outside the box? Not really is it? Underground trains have been around for 163 years…
By anon
The Picc–Vic line was examined in the 1960s and 70s, so I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for anything to come of this latest idea. And if yet another consultancy team is sent to “look at” the Castlefield corridor, they’ll probably need a shuttle train just to ferry themselves around it.
But, of course, it’s approaching election season — and £375k doesn’t feel like real money when you’re not the one paying for it.
So come on, Mr. Bandwagon and the new Manchester ideology team: set out a proper timetable and stick to it, with resignations on the table if targets aren’t met or costs run over.
We managed to build the baseline free Metro service in roughly 12 years, so Manchester- be pragmatic. Get a spade in the ground and get on with it, we know we can do it.
By Steve5839
What about just taking all the stops in the centre underground so they could four track it where theres the bottlenecks?
By Anonymous
Steve5839 for your information the next GM mayoral election is not until May 2028. Rather blows your conspiracy theory.
By Anonymous
I’m glad TfGM has finally started looking at a tunnelled metro. Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle all got theirs in the 1980s and have been reaping the benefits ever since. This isn’t thinking out of the box, it’s just a desperately needed catching up.
By Peter Black
Feasibility study is can we squeeze some money out of a London based government to get it dug. It obviously makes perfect sense.
By Anonymous
Not likely until neoliberalism completely dies—which hopefully might be closer than we think.
By Tom
Meanwhile in Liverpool Steve is planning a new cycle lane. Come on Steve get Wapping tunnel link to Central opened.
By Frank
Peter Black, you are about 100 years out. Liverpool got an underground in the 1880s and Glasgow in the 1890s. I think Newcastle was much more recent.
By Anonymous
2050 I’ii be dead I miss it lol 😂 no comment about underground 😂
By G J Kitchener
Just make sure any future metro tunnel doesn’t duplicate the surface route. Otherwise we’ll end up with a “some people upstairs. Some people downstairs” situation. Use it to connect places Metrolink doesn’t (or at least not quickly) like Ancoats, Spinningfields, Salford Quays etc.
By Anonymous