Trafford Park Line

The Trafford Park Line is a light rail line on the Manchester Metrolink network in Greater Manchester, England, running from Pomona to the Intu Trafford Centre. Its name derives from Trafford Park, an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, and the first planned industrial estate in the world.[1] The line opened in March 2020.

Trafford Park Line
Junction with the Eccles Line at the south end of Pomona tram stop
Overview
TypeTram/Light rail
SystemManchester Metrolink
LocaleManchester
Trafford
TerminiPomona
Intu Trafford Centre
Stations6
WebsiteTransport for Greater Manchester
Operation
Opened22 March 2020
CharacterReserved track &
limited street running
Rolling stockBombardier M5000
Technical
Line length5.5 km (3.4 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 volts DC overhead
Route map
to Crumpsall (change at Cornbrook)
Deansgate-Castlefield (
Deansgate)
Bridgewater Canal
0:00
 Cornbrook
(
Zone 1
Zone 2
boundary)
to Altrincham, East Didsbury & Manchester Airport
Bridgewater Canal
0:02
 Pomona
Eccles Line
to Eccles & MediaCityUK
0:04
 Wharfside
0:06
 Imperial War Museum
footbridges
to Lowry Centre or MediaCityUK
Manchester Ship Canal
0:09
 Village
0:11
 Parkway
(
Zone 2
Zone 3
boundary)
Bridgewater Canal
0:15
 Barton Dock Road
0:16
 Intu Trafford Centre
Trafford Quays
Manchester Ship Canal
 M60 
 Salford Reds
 Port Salford

History

Between July and September 2014, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) conducted a public consultation to build the line.[2][3] In November 2014, TfGM applied for power under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to build and operate the line.[4] In October 2016, power to build the line was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport.[5][6][7][8] Construction commenced in January 2017.[9][10]

The final stretch of track was laid in November 2019, with the first test trams running soon after. The line opened on 22 March 2020, eight months earlier than originally planned,[11][12] despite suggestions that it might be delayed[13] as part of a review of all Metrolink services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

Route description

The line branches off from the Eccles Line immediately south of Pomona, where provision was made for a future junction at the south–western end when the viaduct on which it sits was built in the late 1990s. Stops have been built at Wharfside, Imperial War Museum, Village, Parkway, Barton Dock Road and the Trafford Centre. Future provision has been made to extend the line to Port Salford.[15]

Services initially operate as a self-contained shuttle between Cornbrook and Intu Trafford Centre.[16] Eventually they are due to be extended to operate to Crumpsall on the Bury Line by the end of 2020.[17][18]

Rolling stock

To provide rolling stock for the line and other service expansions, 27 Bombardier M5000 trams were ordered; these will incorporate modifications to the existing fleet including new touch screen Vecom units for drivers.[19][20]

References
  1. Nicholls, Robert (1996), Trafford Park: The First Hundred Years, Phillimore & Co, p. xiii, ISBN 978-1-86077-013-5
  2. "Consultation on Manchester Metrolink extension set to begin]". Rail Technology Magazine. 16 June 2014.
  3. "Trafford Centre Metrolink plans to be discussed". BBC News. 7 July 2014.
  4. "Trafford Park Line". Transport for Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  5. "Metrolink's Trafford Park £350m Tramline Approved]". BBC News. 13 October 2016.
  6. "Green light for new Trafford Park Metrolink line". Metrolink. 14 October 2016.
  7. "Metrolink line to the Trafford Centre will go ahead despite objections from Coronation Street and Manchester United]". Manchester Evening News. 14 October 2016.
  8. "Powers granted for Manchester Metrolink Trafford Park extension". Railway Gazette International. 14 October 2016.
  9. "Ground broken on Manchester's Trafford Park Line". Global Rail News. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. Rucki, Alexandra (10 July 2018). "This is the route new tram line to the Trafford Centre will take". Manchester Evening News.
  11. "Metrolink's Trafford Park £350m tramline opening date revealed". BBC. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  12. "People in Greater Manchester urged not to use public transport for anything other than 'essential journeys, with services to be 'stepped down' from Sunday". Manchester Evening News. 21 March 2020.
  13. "Metrolink's Trafford Park line to open as planned at weekend". Place North West. 20 March 2020.
  14. Charlotte Cox (19 March 2020). "Trafford Park tram line opening in doubt as Metrolink bosses hold crunch talks about network reductions". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  15. "Metrolink future network" (PDF). TfGM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013.
  16. "Trafford Park Line opening date announced". Transport for Greater Manchester. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  17. "Works at Crumpsall Metrolink stop". TfGM. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  18. "The Trafford Centre Metrolink line will open months earlier than expected". Manchester Evening News. 20 December 2019.
  19. "27 new trams on the way for Metrolink". Transport for Greater Manchester.
  20. "Manchester orders 27 LRVs to boost Metrolink capacity". International Railway Journal. 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020.

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