Metrolink - Trafford Park Extension

[telstarbox]

The public consultation has opened today and runs until 26 September 2014. There are also public exhibitions.

The proposed stops are at Wharfside, Imperial War Museum, Village, Parkway, EventCity and the Trafford Centre.

Manchester United and Lostock Parkway have been dropped.

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/Consultations/Metrolink-Trafford-Park-Line/Pages/default.aspx

 

[Jonny]

Manchester United and Lostock Parkway have been dropped.

Lostock Parkway??? Isn't that somewhere past Bolton?

 

[AndyHudds]

Why would they drop a stop at 'Manchester United'? Surely that would be a top priority, it would take pressure of the other line and stop at 'Old Trafford' and improve access to the stadium by public transport. Having travelled to Old Trafford by Metrolink for a play off final when there was only 55k there, I would deffo say an extra journey option is a good idea. Although I can understand that shoppers might not wish to travel with a load of rowdy football fans when trying to get to the Trafford Centre. But looking at the 'Wharfside' section, wouldn't that be for Old Trafford?

And there is a station at Lostock near Bolton, yeah..

 

[Moonshot]

Excellent idea - this area of Manchester is in need of something like this. Lets get on with it.

 

[Shrimper]

I think the 'Manchester United' stop has been renamed, not dropped - Wharfside will serve the stadium and couldn't be much closer.

 

[AndyHudds]

I think the 'Manchester United' stop has been renamed, not dropped - Wharfside will serve the stadium and couldn't be much closer.

Yeah, that's what I gathered after further checking the link provided. How are they going to address the 'home matchday' issue with the 'Trafford Centre shoppers'. Thousands of fans will put off shoppers using Metrolink on home matchdays. That line could be permanently rammed!!

 

[Busaholic]

Yeah, that's what I gathered after further checking the link provided. How are they going to address the 'home matchday' issue with the 'Trafford Centre shoppers'. Thousands of fans will put off shoppers using Metrolink on home matchdays. That line could be permanently rammed!!

Perhaps it would be possible to run some trams non-stop through Wharfdale, particularly after a match, with others terminating there. When I workrd for London Underground in 1970s some trains didn't stop at Arsenal on Piccadilly Line at match times.

 

[Moonshot]

Perhaps it would be possible to run some trams non-stop through Wharfdale, particularly after a match, with others terminating there. When I workrd for London Underground in 1970s some trains didn't stop at Arsenal on Piccadilly Line at match times.

Thousands of football fans already use Metrolink anyway - both at Uniteds and Citys matches. Indeed City have their own station dedicated to that.

As far as Im concerned, there are no negatives in the announced plans....Trafford Park is in need of a boost in general as there are some significant sized areas of brownland in need of development.

 

[telstarbox]

"Wharfside" will serve MUFC (as well as the existing Exchange Quay, MediaCity and Old Trafford stops).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Lostock Parkway??? Isn't that somewhere past Bolton?

No, there was a proposed "Lostock Parkway" stop in the original TfGM proposals. Since then I believe Peel Group lobbied for the stop at EventCity instead.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lostock Parkway??? Isn't that somewhere past Bolton?

There is a historical district of Lostock in what I refer to as "Greater Urmston".

 

[Jonny]

There is a historical district of Lostock in what I refer to as "Greater Urmston".

It would still be very confusing for the general public at large though. At least the NaR Lostock Parkway near Bolton on the Chorley line is distinct from Lostock Gralam on the Mid-Cheshire line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And, coming back to the original plans, what about the Trafford Park railway system (as opposed to the Manchester Ship Canal railway)?

 

[telstarbox]

What about it? Lots of it is single track and in a poor state. The sections which do still see trains have 'heavy rail' signalling which Metrolink can't use.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And, coming back to the original plans, what about the Trafford Park railway system (as opposed to the Manchester Ship Canal railway)?

I think that you must think back to the goods traffic raison d'etre for the Manchester Ship Canal Railway with many sidings serving those premises in Trafford Park and using short-wheelbase locomotives that could negotiate the radii of some of the trackwork.

 

[table38]

And, coming back to the original plans, what about the Trafford Park railway system (as opposed to the Manchester Ship Canal railway)?

Trying to make sense of the maps, it appears to me that the new tram line will need to cross the Trafford Park railway at the Village Circle roundabout.

I wonder if we'll get a rare flat crossing, or if they will just rip out the Trafford Park tracks!

 

[Moonshot]

Trying to make sense of the maps, it appears to me that the new tram line will need to cross the Trafford Park railway at the Village Circle roundabout.

I wonder if we'll get a rare flat crossing, or if they will just rip out the Trafford Park tracks!

Im actually suprised that the metal thieves havent already done this for free!!

 

[edwin_m]

It would still be very confusing for the general public at large though. At least the NaR Lostock Parkway near Bolton on the Chorley line is distinct from Lostock Gralam on the Mid-Cheshire line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And, coming back to the original plans, what about the Trafford Park railway system (as opposed to the Manchester Ship Canal railway)?

Don't forget Lostock Hall near Preston. These Lostocks seem to have put themselves about a bit.

 

[Emyr]

Based on the sheer number of stops between Pomona and the MediaCityUK stop, will the IWM stop now be the fastest option for MediaCityUK workers?

 

[telstarbox]

Yes, using the footbridge to cross the Manchester Ship Canal.

 

[Mikey C]

I think the 'Manchester United' stop has been renamed, not dropped - Wharfside will serve the stadium and couldn't be much closer.

Seems daft to give it such a bland name, or will they only name it after the club if it coughs up towards the line?

 

[telstarbox]

It might be better for the tram stop to have a different name from the existing Manchester United FC station.

At present football fans use Old Trafford and Exchange Quay - this would continue even with the new line as Exchange Quay is closer to the north stand, etc. Regular fans know where to alight and others just follow the crowd!

 

[The Snap]

It might be better for the tram stop to have a different name from the existing Manchester United FC station.

At present football fans use Old Trafford and Exchange Quay - this would continue even with the new line as Exchange Quay is closer to the north stand, etc. Regular fans know where to alight and others just follow the crowd!

That basically sums up all United fans....

 

[Moonshot]

Based on the sheer number of stops between Pomona and the MediaCityUK stop, will the IWM stop now be the fastest option for MediaCityUK workers?

In a word...yes. The reason being that the bus service from Manchester Piccadilly Gardens empties out at this stop as well currently.

 

[davetheguard]

Has the funding for this new Metrolink line been secured yet? I've not seen anything in the railway press.

 

[rebmcr]

Has the funding for this new Metrolink line been secured yet? I've not seen anything in the railway press.

The plan for this line has always been for private funding.

 

[telstarbox]

TfGM says:

The budget for the project has been estimated at £350 million and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) officials are actively exploring funding opportunities with the government.

The GMCA has already approved an initial £37 million of funding to get the scheme ‘shovel ready’, which included an order for 10 new trams to serve the line at around £2 million a vehicle.

Ordering the vehicles early ensured TfGM secured the best price by maintaining the current supply stream from Bombardier, who is already providing a total of 94 new trams for the Metrolink network.

The new line could be built as early as 2019/20, but this would be subject to the timescales involved with securing both the necessary powers and full funding.

The route design is being future-proofed to allow for a future extension through to Port Salford, should a future business case demonstrate sufficient value for money.

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=462