Manchester Metrolink Light Transit Tram System

Metrolink Sign at Prestwich Station

Drawing into the station at
Besses o' th' Barn

Crossing Shudehill into High Street

Climbing up Balloon Street

Trams passing on the corner of Aytoun Street & Portland Street

Pulling away from the platform at Victoria Station

Tram stop outside the Central Library in St Peters Square

Metrolink Rapid Transit System

Metrolink was Manchester's revolutionary new transport system, which has become the model for many other similar schemes throughout the UK (Wolverhampton and Sheffield, for example) and the world.
It is a tram, in that it runs on the streets of Manchester, but it's also a train, which joins the conventional rail line at Victoria Station to become a smart fast commuter system. It acts as a vital link between Piccadilly and Victoria Stations, which hitherto had no connection, and travellers had to make the inconvenient trip across town, by foot, bus or taxi. Its latest extension also links with the line to Altrincham at the G-Mex Centre and Castlefield.
It has already caused about 10% of commuter motorists to swap their cars for the ease, comfort and speed of this super efficient, environmentally-friendly transport system. Tickets are by automated machine, but tickets are frequently inspected, and this trust system seems to work. It now makes sense to park out of town and ride in by tram.
The original line ran from Bury to Altrincham and was opened in the mid-1990s, and has been subsequently extended to Salford Quays and Eccles; still in the planning stage and in feasibility study is a proposal to extend a line to the Trafford Retail Park at Dumplington, and to Manchester Airport.

Metrolink Service & Frequency

The train/trams run from 6.00am to 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday, and later until half an hour past midnight from Friday to Sunday evenings. Trams run at an increased frequency of every six minutes from 7.15am until 6.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10.00am until 5.00pm at 12 minute intervals on Sundays. Every other tram goes directly to Piccadilly Mainline Rail Station, except on Sundays when all trams go via Piccadilly.

Other Transport Connections to Metrolink

Buses: Metrolink trams stops connect directly with bus and coach interchanges at: Bury, Whitefield, Victoria, Piccadilly, Altrincham and Eccles. A shuttle bus is available at Stretford Station for a direct link to the Trafford Centre.
Rail Stations: Metrolink trams have interchanges with mainline rail stations at: Bury, Victoria, Piccadilly, G-Mex and Altrincham.
Onsite Parking: Available at or adjacent to the following Metrolink stations: Bury, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Heaton Park, Stretford, Sale, Brooklands and Navigation Road.

• Oldham/Rochdale line
• Airport (via Wythenshawe loop) line
• Ashton-under-Lyne line
• Stockport line via East Didsbury (option - not yet definite)
• Trafford Centre line (option - not yet definite).