13.01.17
Enabling works begin on new Trafford Park Metrolink line
Work has now begun on the £350m Metrolink Trafford Park line, a planned route on Manchester’s light rail network which will offer new transport connections to the intu Trafford Centre.
The new six stop line, branching off from the existing Pomona stop of the network’s Eccles Line, will take a 3.4 mile route to key business and leisure destinations along Trafford Park including Old Trafford football stadium, the Imperial War Museum (IWM) North and EventCity.
The launch was attended by Greater Manchester mayor Tony Lloyd, Trafford council leader and Greater Manchester mayoral candidate Cllr Sean Anstee, and Cllr Andrew Fender, chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) committee.
“I am delighted to be witnessing the start of works on the new Metrolink extension,” Cllr Anstee said. “This is a key milestone and supports our plans for Trafford to boost business investment, increase employment opportunities and the local economy.
“Trafford is an economic powerhouse that welcomes businesses and excellent transport links are a vital part of attracting new investment.”
Last December the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) gave TfGM the green light to continue its partnership with the consortium M-Pact Thales (MPT) to deliver the line after transport secretary Chris Grayling authorised the line in October.
The pair have worked successfully together on delivering previous Metrolink extensions to MediaCityUK, Manchester Airport, Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale, with the nearly finished Second City Crossing set to open early this year.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Tony Lloyd, praised the continuing development of Metrolink, saying: “It’s great to see the first spades in the ground for yet another Metrolink line.
“Metrolink is one of Greater Manchester’s major success stories, helping to drive regeneration and boost local economies.”
Trafford Park – Europe’s largest industrial estate and home to over 33,000 jobs – is the largest major employment zone in Greater Manchester outside the city centre, with intu Trafford Centre a major regional employer.
Richard Paxton, general manager of intu Trafford Centre, anticipated that the new connection will play a “crucial role in the city-region’s ongoing growth and development”.
Enabling works for the Trafford Park line extension are now underway with officials anticipating that it will take approximately four years to construct.
A series of drop-in events are currently ongoing where people can find out more about the extension. Those interested in the development of the extension can also stay up to date by visiting TfGM’s site: vwww.tfgm.com/MetrolinkTPL.
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.