Manchester Metrolink 5
This is the fifth DVD
programme featuring the Manchester Metrolink light rail system from independent
transport videos. Manchester
Metrolink opened in 1992 with a 19-mile route that ran from Bury to Altrincham
via Manchester city centre using former railway lines inherited from British
Rail. In view of this all stops were
constructed to mainline railway platform height. Initially there was some 3km of street
running from Victoria station to Piccadilly station, but this has now been
extended as the system has developed.
Major extensions to the network began in 2009 and by 2014 the trams also
served Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury and Eccles. In late 2014 the trams reached Manchester
Airport and in early 2015 the area of Victoria station used by the trams was
completely remodelled. Work also began
on the second city crossing (2CC) and this opened during March 2017. The fleet
now consists of 120 Bombardier M5000 trams, which are 2-section bi-directional
cars manufactured by Bombardier in their factories in Bautzen, Germany or
Vienna, Austria. Although the trams may
all look similar, trams 3001 – 3060 can be used throughout the system as they
are fitted with an automatic tram stop system, but trams 3061 – 3120 do not
have this system so can only be used on the Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury,
Manchester Airport and Rochdale lines.
All of the trams operate in a yellow and silver livery.
The line featured in this programme is the
line to Manchester Airport. Our filming
begins at the Piccadilly tram stop underneath the Piccadilly main line railway
station in Manchester city centre before moving along to the busy Piccadilly
Gardens where most of the trams pass through operating to all parts of this growing
tram network. We continue filming in the
city centre before venturing out on the Airport line to give you a flavour of
tramway operations in May 2019. City
centre locations featured are Mosley Street, Princess Street, Lower Mosley
Street and St Peter’s Square. It is at
St Peter’s Square that we board tram 3053, a Bombardier M5000, for the
relatively short journey to the Trafford Bar stop. Here we see trams passing
through on the Altrincham, East Didsbury and the Airport lines toward the city
as well as trams operating from the city centre. The next location is Barlow Moor Road,
Chorlton-cum-Hardy which is the first stop on the Airport line. From here we call at Sale Water Park and then
travel on tram 3030 to Wythenshawe Park.
More filming is completed at Benchill, Hollyhedge
Road and Wythenshawe
town centre. Further locations featured
are Simonsway and Robinswood Road in Wythenshawe. We then board
tram 3053 and arrive at
Shadowmoss where we get a good view of the aircraft landing at
Manchester Airport! We conclude our journey to Manchester Airport
on tram 3095. To finish our programme we
return to the city centre, but this time in December 2019 to film the
trams in
action at Corporation Street, Balloon Street, Shudehill, Piccadilly
Gardens, Mosley
Street and St Peter’s Square.