Manchester Metrolink facts for kids

The Manchester Metrolink, often just called Metrolink, is a cool tram system in Greater Manchester, England. It helps people travel around the city and its nearby towns. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) owns the system, and the RATP Group runs it every day.

History of Metrolink

A 1910 map of railways in central Manchester

For a long time, Manchester's train lines ended at different stations in the city centre. These stations were not connected. This meant it was hard for people to travel across the city by train.

Early Plans for Connections

In the 1960s and 1970s, there was an idea to build a big tunnel. This tunnel, called the "Picc-Vic tunnel", would link the two main train stations: Piccadilly and Victoria. However, this plan was too expensive and was stopped.

How Metrolink Started

Metrolink was created by changing two old British Rail lines. One line went south to Altrincham and the other went north to Bury. These lines were changed into "light rail" lines.

The two lines were then connected in Manchester city centre. Here, the trams run on the roads, just like buses. A short branch line was also added to Piccadilly railway station. This first part of the Metrolink system opened in 1992. Later, a new line to Eccles opened in 2001.

Metrolink Expansions

Since then, many new parts of the Metrolink system have opened. More lines are also being built or planned for the future. Metrolink now has lines that go to places like Didsbury, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Rochdale, MediaCityUK, and even Manchester Airport.

These new lines made the system much bigger. It grew from 37 km (23 mi) to 97 km (60 mi) long, with 99 stops! A second line through Manchester city centre opened in 2017. There are also plans for lines to places like Stockport in the future.

Images for kids

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  Building the first part of the network near Manchester Piccadilly in 1991.

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  An older T-68A tram on the Eccles line, which opened around 1999–2000.

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  The line through Didsbury was re-opened as part of a big expansion.

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  Metrolink was extended to Manchester Airport, and new M5000 trams were introduced.

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  Two trams on the Second City Crossing in Cross Street in 2017.

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  Two M5000 trams joined together in Ashton-under-Lyne in 2013.

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  An AnsaldoBreda T-68 tram in Manchester city centre in 2008.

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  A map showing the Metrolink system.

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  Audenshaw tram stop on the East Manchester Line.

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  Bombardier M5000 trams parked at the Queens Road depot.

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  Ticket machines and smart readers at Manchester Airport tram stop.

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  Metrolink stops have yellow signs, like this one at MediaCityUK.

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  The Metrolink logo.

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  Old AnsaldoBreda T-68 and new Bombardier M5000 trams side-by-side in 2011.

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  Map of Phase 1 (1992).

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  Map of Phase 2 (1999–2000).

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  Map of the MediaCityUK line (2010).

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  Map of Phase 3a (2009–13).

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  Map of Phase 3b (2013–14).

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  Map of the Second City Crossing (2017).

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  Map of the Trafford Park Line (2020).

See also

In Spanish: Manchester Metrolink para niños