Metrolink expansion on track

Dean Kirby

March 18, 2010

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Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, with Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, inspecting the new section of track on Ashton New Road.

Engineers have started laying down the tracks on the new Metrolink line to east Manchester.

Work on other sections of the line is also underway, with the foundations in Holt Town and Sportcity already in place.

Members of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority have been inspecting the work and are hopeful the line will be ready to open in two years.

The first sections of track have been laid on Ashton New Road.

Coun Richard Knowles, chairman of the authority's Capital Projects Committee, said: “It is great to see that work on the line is continuing at such a good pace. The progress that has been made in the past year is very pleasing to see.

“The first sets of tracks on Ashton New Road are now going down and work is taking place all along the route in one form or another. It is really beginning to take shape, which is very exciting.

“We are grateful to local communities for bearing with us through the work, but I can assure them that it will be worth it when they see trams running through East Manchester from spring 2012.”

Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, said: “It’s great to see the work on the ground bringing the Metrolink ever closer to people living near the new lines. Metrolink is a high quality, high performance transport system for a 21st century city.”

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Jay B, oldham (18/03/2010 at 09:18)

isnt that Richard Knowles on the right in the photo?

flo, Manchester (18/03/2010 at 09:29)

I'm still not sure we need it! Why pay an over inflated price to only get to Piccadilly Station when I can pay less to get the bus right into the City Centre? Not to mention the chaos it's causing right now....

arachne, The Web (18/03/2010 at 11:58)

Instead of all these extensions only going to the city centre, isn't it time we had one or more circle lines on the metro OUTSIDE Manchester City centre. And a future project should be a circle line with all the outer boroughs so you could go direct from Bury to Oldham or Rochdale instead of having to always go through manchester

STRETFORDIAN, TRAFFORD (18/03/2010 at 12:32)

shouldnt they finish getting original service to run properly first?????????

Paul Bobs (18/03/2010 at 12:59)

Can someone explain why they have laid the tracks for this service in the middle of Ashton New Road, when there is a large space of grass and derelict houses adjacent? It has caused major hold ups on this stretch of road for over 8 months now. The costs incurred from having to move utility supplies from under the road and dig up the road surely must exceed the costs for demolishing the old houses

Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (18/03/2010 at 15:35)

flo, Manchester: "I'm still not sure we need it! Why pay an over inflated price to only get to Piccadilly Station when I can pay less to get the bus right into the City Centre? Not to mention the chaos it's causing right now...."

The line doesn't end at Piccadilly Station, it will connect directly with the rest of the Metrolink network, including going right through the City Centre.

And if the price isn't worth paying, then you don't have to use it. Some must want to use it though, seeing as overcrowding is currently an issue. Improved journey times and comfort oover bus make it worthwhile for some.

petan, openshaw (18/03/2010 at 17:16)

It will roughly be £3.80 from Piccadilly to Droylsden it is i think 5 stops and that is the cost of 5 stops from the town centre. I for one will still be using the bus but have been told that they will be cutting the number of buses down.

mode, city centre (18/03/2010 at 21:04)

Does anyone ever post anything good about the Metrolink on the M.E.N comments section. Moan moan moan! oh and winge.

Vote for David, tory land (18/03/2010 at 21:48)

The farcical situation is that the bus may well be quicker as it is on the Eccles line. House to destination from Sale moor to Manchester it can be faster by bus. Buses on Blackpool prom' were faster last summer, and on the proposed Chorlton line buses too will be faster.

Vote for David, tory land (18/03/2010 at 21:50)

arachne, The Web. Good news on that The Altrincham to Stockport line may have four halts built along the route. Nowt to do with GMITA though haha LOL

Cycle Boy, Denton (18/03/2010 at 22:39)

why does everyone have to be negative about such a positive investment in public transport! It's great that its happening although i do agree with Flo; that we will need to have a "circle" type of line in the future... I would suggest that the Fallowfield loop line which is just a cycle track these days; it skirts around the outer lying areas although still within the m60.

Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (19/03/2010 at 00:00)

I think you're about £1 over there Petan (based on current prices), unless you're talking about a return. Where did you hear they were cutting the buses down?

petan, openshaw (20/03/2010 at 12:55)

mode if you live in the city centre in one of those posh appartments you do not have to travel every day stuck in traffice because of all the work taking place because of the metrolink The people in Droylsden and the surrounding areas DID NOT get any say in the matter and I know what the outcome would have been if they did have a vote it would have been NO for the metrolink

brian green (21/03/2010 at 06:54)

over priced, over crowded, ignorant rude staff and disgusting stations, run by an unelected authority

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