Manchester
Metrolink Light Transit Trams & the Northwest Region of England
Papillon
Graphics' Virtual Encyclopaedia of Greater Manchester
Including
Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside,
Trafford & Wigan
NAVIGATION Virtual
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Photos
by John Moss
Manchester
Metrolink Trams
Manchester's
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.
Metrolink
operates on an honour system. There are no ticket collectors
at stations or on board trams, but Inspectors frequently board
at random and there are hefty fines for anyone travelling without
a valid ticket.
No eating, drinking or smoking allowed on any trams of at stations
en route.
No bicycles allowed on trams.
No dogs allowed except guide dogs for the blind and hearing
dogs.
Accessibility
& Security
All trams
are fully accessible to wheelchair users from every platform
and station. Special reserved places are available on board
for wheelchairs and for mothers with prams. All trams and station
platforms have CCTV and stations and carriages are constantly
monitored by Metrolink central control on a 24 hour basis.
Tickets
& Pricing
As an example
of costs, a journey on Metrolink from Bury to Manchester Piccadilly
would cost:
Single = about £3.00 for an adult with concessions for
children and OAPs. Cheap off peak tickets available, as well
as weekly, monthly and annual saver tickets.
Peak Time Return (ie. before 9.30am) = £4.50
Off Peak Return (after 9.30am) = £3.00....BUT...prices
are liable to change - please check in advance.
Ticket dispensing machines are available at all train stops
and accept the following coins : 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1
and £2. Notes are not accepted. Change is given from all
machines.
Various discounted and concessionary tickets are available -
enquire directly from Metrolink about Season Tickets, Reduced
Fare and Free Travel, Integrated Tickets (with other rail and
bus services), and Group Tickets.
National Free Bus Pass Holders over 60 years of age travel free
off peak with a valid card, and pay concesionary fares during
the morning rush hour period.
Please
note that prices will (inevitably) have risen since writing,
and you should check before setting out.
Planned
Developments
Phase 3
is a proposal to extend the Metrolink network to even more outlying
boroughs and districts including:
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).
See more
Phase 3 details at: http://www.metrolink.co.uk/headlines/phase3.html
Metrolink
Route Map of Manchester
Large
image file - may take a while to load - please be patient.
While
the contents of this page are believed to be correct at the time of writing,
we cannot guarantee that details
and prices have not changed, and we therefore can make no guarantees as
to the accuracy of the information
contained here. Please inform us of any changes that you know about.
