Manchester Metrolink: Fallowfield Loop

[William3000]

Just east of St Werburgh’s Road, the former Fallowfield Loop line diverges and is now a cycleway and footpath I believe.

I have always wondered whether this could be opened as part of a Metrolink extension to link the busy Fallowfield university campus with the tram network.

I am conscious that the route probably runs in a direction that isn’t the primary direction of travel along Wilmslow Road/Oxford Rd through Rusholme to the universities but could it open up new journey opportunities?

Possible new stops could include Whalley Range (just south of the high school), Yew Tree Road, Fallowfield (where some diversion may be required where the trackbed has been breached), Ladybarn (which could include a new heavy rail interchange where the Styal line crosses), Levenshulme South - it carries on further and could provide an orbital line with stops at Barlow Road, possibly another heavy rail interchange at Shillington Road where the Marple line crosses, Hyde Road, Gorton heavy rail interchange, and then on road to meet the Etihad Campus.

 

[Topological]

Since Oxford Road got made buses only the advantage of the circuitous tram route versus the more direct bus are much reduced.

Whether a West/North West facing junction near Pomona could allow an "orbital" service to Media City / The Trafford Centre is less clear, though again I am not sure that the demand would be sufficient to maintain a Metrolink frequency.

The student market will always be on the bus since any Metrolink would not serve either university. Once you have a bus pass there is little benefit in taking any other mode of transport. However, I will confess I have not checked whether the GMPTE version of the "unirider" adds Metrolink for no extra cost. Certainly, in Stagecoach days the bus passes tied us to the bus (I used to get Finglands at £3 per week and that was Oxford Road corridor only, but the similarly priced annual Unirider covered all Stagecoach in South Manchester including Trafford Centre)

 

[TheGrew]

As I think I have said on other threads, I think Metrolink should have a line that routes directly down Oxford Road and intersects the existing St Peter's Square before continuing along Peter St, Quay St & Chapel St.
If the intersection was an issue, I imagine you could route it through Whitworth St and along Deansgate.

 

[Topological]

As I think I have said on other threads, I think Metrolink should have a line that routes directly down Oxford Road and intersects the existing St Peter's Square before continuing along Peter St, Quay St & Chapel St.
If the intersection was an issue, I imagine you could route it through Whitworth St and along Deansgate.

The challenge with Metrolink on Oxford Road is Rusholme. Buses have the option to divert (and do), but a fixed rail would compel Metrolink to sit in the traffic.

The very loosely proposed Manchester Underground would be the answer on the Oxford Road corridor, but the chances of that happening are basically 0.

 

[HSTEd]

The challenge with Metrolink on Oxford Road is Rusholme. Buses have the option to divert (and do), but a fixed rail would compel Metrolink to sit in the traffic.

The very loosely proposed Manchester Underground would be the answer on the Oxford Road corridor, but the chances of that happening are basically 0.

I've spent an inordinate amount of time looking at it and there are not too many obvious solutions for the Curry mile section.

I gave up and now crayon an urban ropeway solution instead!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've spent an inordinate amount of time looking at it and there are not too many obvious solutions for the Curry mile section.

Banning private cars from it is an entirely reasonable solution. There would be a lot of moaning from the "yoof" who turn it into a car cruise every night but that would be a positive side effect to be honest; antisocial car use along there is a major problem. Commercial vehicles could remain permitted for delivery purposes, with enough lay-bys provided for them to be off the road.

Providing for cycles without them going down the tram tracks might be more challenging but should be possible.

We could even be properly radical and look at compulsory purchase to redevelop the whole thing and widen the road a bit. It's full of very poor quality property which would be no great loss and isn't primarily residential (businesses are easier to relocate as they don't get as attached to specific buildings).

 

[Topological]

I've spent an inordinate amount of time looking at it and there are not too many obvious solutions for the Curry mile section.

I gave up and now crayon an urban ropeway solution instead!

People would find ways to "park" and obstruct the ropeway, same applies to an underground and even teleportation devices.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Dec 2025 ==

Banning private cars from it is an entirely reasonable solution. There would be a lot of moaning from the "yoof" who turn it into a car cruise every night but that would be a positive side effect to be honest; antisocial car use along there is a major problem. Commercial vehicles could remain permitted for delivery purposes, with enough lay-bys provided for them to be off the road.

Providing for cycles without them going down the tram tracks might be more challenging but should be possible.

We could even be properly radical and look at compulsory purchase to redevelop the whole thing and widen the road a bit. It's full of very poor quality property which would be no great loss and isn't primarily residential (businesses are easier to relocate as they don't get as attached to specific buildings).

The main issue is making sure that people do not stop, whether that is to pick up/drop off, nip into a shop or whatever. Every time I go through Rusholme there is a vehicle obstructing the main carriageway in one way or another.

The road is wide enough to have the cycles segregated, but the two traffic lanes need to keep moving.

 

[HSTEd]

People would find ways to "park" and obstruct the ropeway, same applies to an underground and even teleportation devices.

On top of buildings?!

The ingenuity of people in Rusholme truly knows no bounds in that case!

 

[William3000]

As I think I have said on other threads, I think Metrolink should have a line that routes directly down Oxford Road and intersects the existing St Peter's Square before continuing along Peter St, Quay St & Chapel St.
If the intersection was an issue, I imagine you could route it through Whitworth St and along Deansgate.

It’s an incredibly busy bus route which indicates there is huge demand so I’m sure that would work

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Dec 2025 ==

Since Oxford Road got made buses only the advantage of the circuitous tram route versus the more direct bus are much reduced.

Whether a West/North West facing junction near Pomona could allow an "orbital" service to Media City / The Trafford Centre is less clear, though again I am not sure that the demand would be sufficient to maintain a Metrolink frequency.

The student market will always be on the bus since any Metrolink would not serve either university. Once you have a bus pass there is little benefit in taking any other mode of transport. However, I will confess I have not checked whether the GMPTE version of the "unirider" adds Metrolink for no extra cost. Certainly, in Stagecoach days the bus passes tied us to the bus (I used to get Finglands at £3 per week and that was Oxford Road corridor only, but the similarly priced annual Unirider covered all Stagecoach in South Manchester including Trafford Centre)

Isn’t it all part of the Bee network now allowing one to change seamlessly between bus, tram, and train

 

[Topological]

It’s an incredibly busy bus route which indicates there is huge demand so I’m sure that would work

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Dec 2025 ==


Isn’t it all part of the Bee network now allowing one to change seamlessly between bus, tram, and train

I have now checked.

Our students can buy a £330 bus pass: https://tfgm.com/tickets-and-passes/all-terms-bee-bus-student

However, there does not seem to be an option for trams at the moment.

This ticket is valid between 1 September and 30 June and can be used at anytime on Bee Network buses up to the last service of the day on the 30 June (or 4am if the service runs for 24 hours).

Who can use this ticket​

• If you are a student at any college or university in Greater Manchester, you can buy Student tickets.
• You will need proof that you are a current student. A Greater Manchester official college or university ID is suitable (Not NUS card).

Price​

The cost of an All Terms Bee Bus ticket is £330.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The main issue is making sure that people do not stop, whether that is to pick up/drop off, nip into a shop or whatever. Every time I go through Rusholme there is a vehicle obstructing the main carriageway in one way or another.

Realistically this is too difficult to enforce, so I'd say the only viable way would be to ban the traffic entirely, which can easily be camera enforced.

 

[HSTEd]

Isn’t it all part of the Bee network now allowing one to change seamlessly between bus, tram, and train

No, annual passes for buses only are considerably cheaper than multi mode passes. Although substantially more expensive than my previous Stagecoach non-student annual pass.

I know, I have one.

 

[Topological]

Realistically this is too difficult to enforce, so I'd say the only viable way would be to ban the traffic entirely, which can easily be camera enforced.

I would be happy with that, but I suspect local residents would not. Rusholme would benefit from a sensible car park.

I doubt we will see any movement with Rusholme though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I doubt we will see any movement with Rusholme though.

I suspect that as well, and further suspect that concerns about potentially getting race/religion dragged (incorrectly) into the issue because of the local demographic might make the relevant Council a bit scared of addressing it properly.

I'd agree that you probably just want a multi storey at each end of the main "curry mile" (more of a kebab and shisha mile these days) and to ban private cars and private hire from the bit in the middle entirely, enforced by camera. You could allow black cabs as they will largely behave; space could be provided for them to pull in such that the tram tracks were not obstructed.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Providing for cycles without them going down the tram tracks might be more challenging but should be possible.

There are segregated cycle tracks on both sides of Oxford / Wilmslow Roads already as far as Withington Village. There are still dozy pedestrians straying into them of course, as I can attest when riding!

Extending the tram just to the University / MRI would be a start - it is only buses and cabs on this section now so it would be easier to achieve.

 

[The Pelican]

Even though an Oxford Road tram line would certainly improve it, a St Werburgh's Road- Fallowfield Loop- Fairfield-Droylesden tram line on it's own seems like it would do quite well to me- the East Didsbury tram line has been successful, and will be extended to Stockport soon. The main question is if it runs into the centre, or turns off towards Eccles or the Trafford Centre.

 

[daodao]

Even though an Oxford Road tram line would certainly improve it, a St Werburgh's Road- Fallowfield Loop- Fairfield-Droylesden tram line on it's own seems like it would do quite well to me- the East Didsbury tram line has been successful, and will be extended to Stockport soon. The main question is if it runs into the centre, or turns off towards Eccles or the Trafford Centre.

It really would not be a sensible use of resources. The demand for inter-suburban journeys is minimal compared to travel into the city centre. There are now relatively few bus routes just between suburbs and the few that do exist run no more often than half hourly at best.

 

[William3000]

It really would not be a sensible use of resources. The demand for inter-suburban journeys is minimal compared to travel into the city centre. There are now relatively few bus routes just between suburbs and the few that do exist run no more often than half hourly at best.

I think you’d be surprised. Many people travel between suburbs and town centres within the conurbation. The North London Line and overground in London is an excellent example of induced demand arising

 

[daodao]

,

I think you’d be surprised. Many people travel between suburbs and town centres within the conurbation. The North London Line and overground in London is an excellent example of induced demand arising.

Manchester is not London. Town centres within the conurbation such as Stockport are secondary focal destinations, but not suburbs.

The former GCR Fallowfield loop line did not serve any town centres directly and was a roundabout route to central Manchester. While the line was useful as a strategic link until Manchester Central station closed, the local passenger service never competed effectively with the first generation tramways once they were electrified and extended into the expanding southern suburbs. By the time of nationalisation in 1948, the service had reduced to a skeleton provision at rush hours only, and the local stations closed in 1958 well before the Beeching axe.

 

[William3000]

,

Manchester is not London. Town centres within the conurbation such as Stockport are secondary focal destinations, but not suburbs.

The former GCR Fallowfield loop line did not serve any town centres directly and was a roundabout route to central Manchester. While the line was useful as a strategic link until Manchester Central station closed, the local passenger service never competed effectively with the first generation tramways once they were electrified and extended into the expanding southern suburbs. By the time of nationalisation in 1948, the service had reduced to a skeleton provision at rush hours only, and the local stations closed in 1958 well before the Beeching axe.

Just saying ‘Manchester isn’t London’ doesn’t butter any parsnips. The fact is the North London line similarly was virtually empty and underused but opening it up creating new links etc. The Fallowfield loop line would link centres like Levenshulme, Fallowfield, Charlton directly, opening up new opportunities. The fact that few people were using trains/trams in 1958 is irrelevant to today. I should stress I’m not saying that the Fallowfield loop line should reopen to trams but were it to do so, it would inevitably generate new journeys. And a new heavy rail station at Ladybarn linked directly to a tram stop would give the Fallowfield campus fast links into Piccadilly. It would also provide a new route to the Etihad campus on match days for supporters from south Manchester - City’s home for 80 years and the new Coop Live arena. Also by providing interchange stations at places like Gorton, Ladybarn, and Abbey Hey it could really open up new journey opportunities.

 

[daodao]

Just saying ‘Manchester isn’t London’ doesn’t butter any parsnips. The fact is the North London line similarly was virtually empty and underused but opening it up creating new links etc. The Fallowfield loop line would link centres like Levenshulme, Fallowfield, Charlton directly, opening up new opportunities. The fact that few people were using trains/trams in 1958 is irrelevant to today. I should stress I’m not saying that the Fallowfield loop line should reopen to trams but were it to do so, it would inevitably generate new journeys. And a new heavy rail station at Ladybarn linked directly to a tram stop would give the Fallowfield campus fast links into Piccadilly. It would also provide a new route to the Etihad campus on match days for supporters from south Manchester - City’s home for 80 years and the new Coop Live arena. Also by providing interchange stations at places like Gorton, Ladybarn, and Abbey Hey it could really open up new journey opportunities.

Rail infrastructure, even light rail, is extremely expensive to build. Limited resources are available for this purpose, and should be reserved for developing key routes into and between key traffic nodes such as city centres. Places like Levenshulme, Fallowfield and Chorlton-cum-Hardy are mere suburban centres and potential public transport traffic between such places only warrants half hourly bus services, at most, as the links between them don't form part of radial routes into Manchester city centre.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Rail infrastructure, even light rail, is extremely expensive to build. Limited resources are available for this purpose, and should be reserved for developing key routes into and between key traffic nodes such as city centres. Places like Levenshulme, Fallowfield and Chorlton-cum-Hardy are mere suburban centres and potential public transport traffic between such places only warrants half hourly bus services, at most, as the links between them don't form part of radial routes into Manchester city centre.

I'd do a survey of road traffic before you conclude that. A lot of people simply won't use buses but would use a tram service.

 

[mmh]

Manchester is not London. Town centres within the conurbation such as Stockport are secondary focal destinations, but not suburbs.

No different to London, which also has town centres within it, which people from the "suburbs" around them travel to for shopping etc. Just replace Stockport with Croydon, or Wimbledon, or Kingston, or Lewisham, or...

 

[daodao]

No different to London, which also has town centres within it, which people from the "suburbs" around them travel to for shopping etc. Just replace Stockport with Croydon, or Wimbledon, or Kingston, or Lewisham, or...

With respect to local passenger traffic, the former Fallowfield loop line only connected suburbs, not town centres.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The former Fallowfield loop line only connected suburbs, not town centres.

Wasn't the 'Fallowfield Loop' created to provide a connection from Sheffield Victoria (via Guide Bridge, Fallowfield and Chorlton) into Manchester Central? When it was operated as heavy rail, wasn't it primarily intended to be used by longer distance freight and passenger services, local trains being a secondary consideration?

 

[jfollows]

Didn't it provide a connection from Sheffield Victoria (via Guide Bridge, Fallowfield and Chorlton) into Manchester Central? When it was operated as heavy rail, wasn't it prinarily intended to be used by longer distance freight and passenger services, local trains being a secondary consideration?

Absolutely.
I failed to take an opportunity to travel over it before it closed, after the closure of Manchester Central but the CLC service from Liverpool to Manchester was diverted over it one weekend.
It also stayed partly in use because of Reddish Depot, which I did manage to visit by train (9 September 1973).

 

[daodao]

Wasn't the 'Fallowfield Loop' created to provide a connection from Sheffield Victoria (via Guide Bridge, Fallowfield and Chorlton) into Manchester Central? When it was operated as heavy rail, wasn't it primarily intended to be used by longer distance freight and passenger services, local trains being a secondary consideration?

I agree. My comment was related to its potential conversion to Metrolink for a local stopping passenger service.

 

[Topological]

There are two activity centres that will exist, but did not when the Fallowfield Loop line ran. Firstly, Salford Quays and secondly Stadium District (or whatever the Manchester United project gets called).

I would still say they are more likely to lead to an improved bus rather than anything Metrolink though. The current 53 sort of does the job, but does not serve Fallowfield.

The problem with just doing the Fallowfield loop remains that it faces central Manchester once it joins the rest of Metrolink.

 

[edwin_m]

The problem with just doing the Fallowfield loop remains that it faces central Manchester once it joins the rest of Metrolink.

There was a curve towards Liverpool, which went near where the Trafford Metrolink now is. But the burrowing junction west of Trafford Bar has taken over the bridge where the original line went towards this curve (and the curve into Central), and I imagine Bridgewater Way and nearby development have obliterated the rest.

 

[MatthewHutton]

The very loosely proposed Manchester Underground would be the answer on the Oxford Road corridor, but the chances of that happening are basically 0.

I think this is a bit pessimistic as plenty of other European cities the size of Manchester have metros.

Of course it would have to be Milan standard or Oslo standard and not London standard, but I think that would be worth it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2025 ==

Rail infrastructure, even light rail, is extremely expensive to build. Limited resources are available for this purpose, and should be reserved for developing key routes into and between key traffic nodes such as city centres. Places like Levenshulme, Fallowfield and Chorlton-cum-Hardy are mere suburban centres and potential public transport traffic between such places only warrants half hourly bus services, at most, as the links between them don't form part of radial routes into Manchester city centre.

If you don’t run a bus more often than that then people will drive instead. Buses have to be turn up and go.

Oxford-Swindon and Oxford-Witney run every 20 minutes and Oxford-Aylesbury runs every 15 minutes, so clearly within a big city suburban buses could run at a decent frequency.