Latest Rail News

Greater Manchester seeks public support for new tram line

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a public consultation today on its plans to build a 5.5km, £350m Metrolink extension to the Trafford Park industrial area and the Trafford Centre shopping mall.

Initial plans for the new line are already in place, including a proposed mostly off-street route and six new stops, 10 new trams already ordered, and £37m of initial funding.

But full funding and planning approvals are yet to come.

The six new stops would be Wharfside for Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Park Village, Parkway, EventCity and the Trafford Centre. 

The new line could be built as early as 2019/20, but this would be subject to the timescales involved with securing both the necessary powers and full funding, TfGM said.

Peter Cushing, Metrolink director at TfGM, said: “This new tram line proposal is great news for the Trafford area.

“Metrolink will offer excellent transport connections to local businesses, shopping and leisure opportunities along the route – while also opening up links to the wider tram network, which will cover around 92km when the new Airport line opens later this year.

“We’re really keen to get people’s views on the proposed Trafford Park Line and have already started talking to businesses and stakeholders. I’d now encourage anyone with an interest to take a look at the proposals online or come along and talk to our staff at one of the drop in events.

“The feedback we get over the coming three months will help us finalise a scheme that works well for everybody before we apply to government statutory powers to construct and run services on the new line.”

Trafford Park is the largest major employment centre outside the city centre, TfGM said, with more than 1,300 businesses and over 33,000 jobs and employees travelling from across the region.

Find out more about the 12-week consultation at www.tfgm.com/TraffordParkLine

Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]