THE NEW 14.5km Metrolink service running to Manchester Airport will open to passengers from Monday 3 November.
As is now common with Metrolink's new service announcements, the project has been delivered many months ahead of schedule.
“For Wythenshawe in particular, Metrolink will provide new and easier ways for people across Greater Manchester to reach the town centre"
The service will run every twelve minutes between Cornbrook station and Manchester Airport and take approximately 45 minutes to complete (Adult peak return ticket is £4.40).
Here's a sped-up driver's eye view of the journey (45 min journey in 2.5 mins):
Stations serviced between Cornbrook and Manchester Airport (including fifteen new stations):
Cornbrook - Trafford Bar - Firswood - Chorlton - St Werburgh's Road - Barlow Moor Road - Sale Water Park - Northern Moor - Wythenshawe Park - Moor Road - Baguley - Roundthorn - Martinscroft - Benchill - Crossacres - Wythenshawe Town Centre - Robinswood Road - Peel Hall - Shadowmoss - Manchester Airport
Although the service will only run as far as Cornbrook initially, this will change when the Metrolink's Second City Crossing project comes into service in 2017.
A 300-space park and ride facility (free for Metrolink passengers to use) will open at the Sale Water Park stop, conveniently located just off Junction 6 of the M60.
Footage of the M60 bridge installation – one of several major structures created for the new line:
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said:
“Seeing our trams reach Manchester Airport more than a year ahead of schedule is a truly amazing achievement – and a game-changer for the communities set to benefit from its fifteen new stops and frequent, fully accessible services.
“For Wythenshawe in particular, Metrolink will provide new and easier ways for people across Greater Manchester to reach the town centre and all it has to offer – as well as making it a more attractive place to live, work and do business.
New service
“The arrival of the new town centre interchange next year will, of course, make it even easier still.
“For people already living along the line, it will provide new ways of getting to work, leisure, health and education opportunities.
“Because of that, it’s going to be a catalyst for great change and growth, and I am truly delighted we’ve been able to start that process so much earlier than we expected when we first started this very ambitious and challenging project.”
Adult peak return examples:
- Manchester Airport to Cornbrook = £4.40
- Wythenshawe Town Centre to Manchester Airport = £2.40
- Baguley to Manchester City Centre = £5.70
The new service will bring changes to the first and last trams across the network and passengers are advised to check the Metrolink website from Monday 20 October to see if and how their first or last services are changing.
