It was also considered in the original 1984 Metrolink proposals as handover to being a 'pure' Metrolink route. It then got replaced later by the current Ashton route, seemingly due to the expense of proving fully segregated infrastructure (e.g. flyovers), and the Ashton route is better aligned for what is now the area around the City of Manchester stadium velodrome (the focus area for Manchester's bid for the 2000 Olympics around the time the Ashton line was conceived)
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Future Metrolink Expansion
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It was also considered in the original 1984 Metrolink proposals as handover to being a 'pure' Metrolink route. It then got replaced later by the current Ashton route, seemingly due to the expense of proving fully segregated infrastructure (e.g. flyovers), and the Ashton route is better aligned for what is now the area around the City of Manchester stadium velodrome (the focus area for Manchester's bid for the 2000 Olympics around the time the Ashton line was conceived)
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RailUK Forums
Original plan for Metrolink phase 1 was:
Route A: Altrincham to Glossop/Hadfield
Route B: Bury to Rose Hill Marple
Route C: Rochdale to East Didsbury
Then they remembered the main objective was to come up with a cheaper alternative to a new heavy rail link between Victoria and Piccadilly!
It will be interesting to see if this will be revisited soon. Tram Train is looking less and less likely due to the Sheffield debacle. I would prefer a system were Trains were limited were possible to further out (e.g. roughly outside of M60) stations, with trams used for inner services. With the increasing economic focus on Manchester City Centre it makes sense to increase capacity and decrease journey times from satellite towns into Manchester and encourage trams for shorter journeys and were this isn't possible buses.
Really Leigh would have been the most sensible place to get a tram-train service to Manchester but now it's got the busway I can't see that happening.
For an ambitious scheme using tram-trains you could have a tram line on the streets on Stockport, connecting to the Denton line and then joining the East Manchester Metrolink line. It would improve the ease of getting around Stockport, provide Denton with a rail link to Manchester and would improve services to/from the Eithad Stadium.
For an ambitious scheme using tram-trains you could have a tram line on the streets on Stockport, connecting to the Denton line and then joining the East Manchester Metrolink line. It would improve the ease of getting around Stockport, provide Denton with a rail link to Manchester and would improve services to/from the Eithad Stadium.
Unfortunately, Stockport MBC are cold to the idea of an East Didsbury extension.
But keen on a Metrolink line. Their priority is a line to Manchester Airport and or an alternative line into Manchester that would be faster than via East Didsbury. Either idea would provide options to run into the town centre.
Altfish
Member
They already have some of the best (if not the best) rail connection to Manchester. There is a train every 5-minutes throughout most of the day, the majority non-stop to Piccadilly. Many go to Oxford Road and Deansgate and in the not too distant future there will be the opportunity to get to Victoria.
Connections to the Airport via Piccadilly are hardly an inconvenience with many trains reversing at Piccadilly. Any tram link to the Airport, although better for the intermediate places, will be no faster than the existing trains.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
As a body elected by those in the area administered by them, transport is just one of many areas that Stockport MBC have to deal with.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
People are probably discouraged from using the train from central Stockport to Manchester because climbing the steep hill to the station takes about as long as the rest of the journey. In the long term HS2 will take the fast London trains away from Stockport. A tram to the airport is seen as a way of reconnecting to HS2 as well, and with some clever engineering it can just about manage the climb from the bottom of the valley to the rail station.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Does the service 300 Stockport Metroshuttle that is free to all to use still call at Stockport railway station?
With regards to what you say about HS2, is it not the case that the Manchester Airport railway station on that line will be totally separated from the existing 4-platform heavy rail railway station.
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Yes and Yes.
Any Tram line would need to connect with both the existing station, terminal 3 and HS2 station (other side of M56). I think its the right priority for Stockport Council, tram links to Manchester would be much slower than by train and a Stockport to airport line would help componsate for worse connectivity after HS2. The existing bus service is popular demonstrating at least some demand. If neccessady a tram stop for Stockport Railway station could be at a lower level to the station and connect via lifts.
As the Buxton-Stockport-Manchester Airport bus service is commercial would there be restrictions on providing grants from taxpayer funds for the funding of a Stockport-Manchester Airport Metrolink line?
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
edwin_m
Veteran Member
The original plan for the Airport Metrolink had it looping back from the airport via Wythenshawe hospital to re-join the built route just south of Baguley. I believe TfGM has powers for this section and by chance it passes very close to the HS2 station. A curve onto the Stockport-Altrincham line at Baguley creates a relatively direct and fast link to the airport.
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