Metrolink: all routes

[ValleyLines142]

How long would it take to cover the entire Metrolink network? I fancy doing it one day!

 

[TOCDriver]

How long would it take to cover the entire Metrolink network? I fancy doing it one day!

You can easily do it in one day

 

[Eagle]

About six hours, I reckon (less if you use buses and trains to get between the branch termini).

Of course, you might want to wait until the extension to Ashton opens in the next month or two.

 

[gnolife]

From first hand experience, it's doable in 4:28, but to follow the itinerary that I used, you have to be able to run East Didsbury NR - East Didsbury MTLK in 4 minutes. This is not the easiest run in the world to do, due to the rather busy A34 seperating the two.

 

[45rpm]

The tricky part is whether or not you wish to traverse all 3 sides of the MediaCityUK triangle as at certain times all Eccles services run via MediaCityUK & at other times they avoid it. Ideally you wouls want to go to Eccles direct & return via MediaCityUK (or vice-versa of course). All the other lines are just out & backs so timing your move isn`t so important.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I've come up with the following plan in order to do the challenge:

From Piccadilly, take the 216 bus to Droylsden (20 minutes)
Droylsden to Bury (44 minutes)
Bury to Altrincham (48 minutes)
Altrincham to Eccles changing at Cornbrook (44 minutes)
Eccles to East Didsbury changing at Cornbrook (49 minutes)
East Didsbury to Rochdale (60 minutes)

I'm hoping that either the Altrincham to Eccles or Eccles to East Didsbury (both with a change at Cornbrook on the way) does go via MediaCity.

So, by adding that up, it comes to 4 hours and 25 minutes (265 minutes).

Does this look achievable? Or does my plan need improving. Please say if it does, any advice is much greatly welcomed. Thanks!

 

[telstarbox]

Remember that the section from Droylsden to Ashton opens on 9 October if you want to include the full East Manchester Line.

You can get trains from Victoria to Rochdale, Victoria to Ashton, or Piccadilly to East Didsbury if you want to avoid doubling back.

 

[gnolife]

I've come up with the following plan in order to do the challenge:

From Piccadilly, take the 216 bus to Droylsden (20 minutes)
Droylsden to Bury (44 minutes)
Bury to Altrincham (48 minutes)
Altrincham to Eccles changing at Cornbrook (44 minutes)
Eccles to East Didsbury changing at Cornbrook (49 minutes)
East Didsbury to Rochdale (60 minutes)

I'm hoping that either the Altrincham to Eccles or Eccles to East Didsbury (both with a change at Cornbrook on the way) does go via MediaCity.

So, by adding that up, it comes to 4 hours and 25 minutes (265 minutes).

Does this look achievable? Or does my plan need improving. Please say if it does, any advice is much greatly welcomed. Thanks!

You're not going to get a call at Woodlands Road and the direct Eccles - MCUK - Cornbrook in on that plan you've got - last tram at Woodlands is about 16:00, first tram Eccles - MCUK direct isn't until almost 20:00. I'd suggest, if you want speed rather than all the track, is running from Broadway to MCUK, then tram from there to Cornbrook.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Remember that the section from Droylsden to Ashton opens on 9 October if you want to include the full East Manchester Line.

Yeah, definitely won't be going up to Manchester before then, so will include this too. That'll add about another fifteen minutes on.

You can get trains from Victoria to Rochdale, Victoria to Ashton, or Piccadilly to East Didsbury if you want to avoid doubling back.

Yeah I know, think this would mean getting a combined tram/train ticket, was just going to do it on an All Day Metrolink ticket.

You're not going to get a call at Woodlands Road and the direct Eccles - MCUK - Cornbrook in on that plan you've got - last tram at Woodlands is about 16:00, first tram Eccles - MCUK direct isn't until almost 20:00. I'd suggest, if you want speed rather than all the track, is running from Broadway to MCUK, then tram from there to Cornbrook.

The Woodlands Road stop isn't too much of an issue, but might consider the Broadway to MediaCity, then to Cornbrook.

Thanks both!

 

[Searle]

Just make sure to add in loo stops to your itinerary, there aren't many around and after going all the way out to Rochdale and back, I was bursting!

 

[185143]

Just make sure to add in loo stops to your itinerary, there aren't many around and after going all the way out to Rochdale and back, I was bursting!

Same Here! I know it's not the quickest, but we did it Tram-only, around 7 and a half hours! we did

Market Street-East Didsbury
East Didsbury-Rochdale
Rochdale-Victoria

All on the same tram! We HAD to run over to the train station in Rochdale, for obvious reasons!

 

[Bevan Price]

And don't forget that the routes from Rochdale Station to Rochdale Town Centre, and through Oldham Town Centre do not open until some time in 2014, so you will need another trip then.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

I've no interest in setting time records, but as a Rochdalian I'd probably do something like:
Bus to Bury
Tram to Asbton
Train to Eccles
Tram to Cornbrook via Media City
Tram to Altrincham
Train to SManchester P via Stockport
Train to East Didsbury
Tram to Rochdale.