Metrolink extension work begins at Trafford Centre
Track laying for the Metrolink’s Trafford Park Line has started at the Trafford Centre, the final stop on the £350m light rail extension.
The Trafford Park Line is due to open in 2020 and will add a further 5.5km and six stops to Metrolink, already the UK’s largest light rail network. The line is being funded by Greater Manchester’s devolution deal, which was signed by the city-region’s leaders in 2014. Trafford Council is providing £20m towards the project.
Cllr Mark Aldred, chairman of the TfGM Committee said: “Trafford Park and intu Trafford Centre are two of the economic hearts of our city-region. When it is open the new line will provide a vital link to them and the jobs, cultural attractions and shopping along the route. This means people will have a real alternative to driving, meaning fewer cars on the road, less congestion and less pollution.”
Track is also now being laid at EventCity, Parkway, Village Way and Warren Bruce Road. With work undertaken between TfGM and the utility companies, over 190km of infrastructure – including electricity, gas, water and telecommunications pipes and cabling – has been rerouted. The recent completion of this utility diversion work means work can continue on schedule to construct the tram infrastructure along the full route.
Cllr Andrew Western, leader of Trafford Council, said: “This scheme is hugely important for Trafford Park and the areas around intu Trafford Centre, both of which are essential to our local economy; not only do they provide thousands of jobs, they also attract a significant number of visitors while also delivering continued growth, regeneration and investment. So it’s great to see this project progressing to the next stage; once it’s completed, the Trafford Park line will be a key tram service for the people of Trafford and beyond.”
Further progress will be made in the coming months with early work taking place at Pomona stop to start to connect the Trafford Park Line to the existing Metrolink network. This will involve the temporary closure of the Eccles Line between Cornbrook and Eccles, including the MediaCityUK spur, from Saturday 28 July to Thursday 9 August 2018. In September, beams will be installed to form a new bridge to carry the Metrolink line over the Bridgewater Canal adjacent to Park Way.
They should lay the track inside the mall to save people having to bother walking from one end to the other!
By UnaPlanner
Will the day ever come that Umrston/Flixton/Carrington/Partington will be on metrolink network?
The train line from Urmston into Mcr Ox Road is so overcrowded at rush hours – 1 every half hour not sufficient and really doesn’t adequately serve as a connection to the north of the city centre by terminating at Ox Road rather than Piccadilly. Even by bus you get as far as Piccadilly Gardens only. My point is, surely a tram line from Urmston/Flixton area would be well used?!
I have a vision of tracks down Urmston Lane/Stretford Road, connecting Urmston to the Altrincham line via Stretford tram stop . . . . . . would it ever happen?
By Pro MCR
Completely agree with you @Pro MCR! Eventhough it’s the largest tram network in the UK, they should still be expanding it much quicker to reach as many parts of Greater Manchester as quickly as possible – surely that can only be a good thing for the economy too? That said, TfGM do deserve credit for the great work they have done so far in developing and expanding the network… Keep up the great work!
By Anonymous
Where would you get the tram from going to the trafford centre
By Victoria
Victoria, city centre and Salford Quays
By Welshie
Meanwhile making it even more dangerous for cyclists..to get to the Trafford centre
By Anonymous
Yes good idea and Agree with you
By Tauseef