Metrolink

Update: It has been announced that the Chorlton Branch will have trams running on it and be open to paying customers from the week of 26th June following completion of track and system tests. Surely not too long before the Didsbury section opens?!?

The Metrolink will be arriving in Didsbury via the Chorlton to East Didsbury branch in Phase 3b of the Metrolink extension programme.

The Didsbury extension is 4.5 miles in length and will require an additional 10 trams to service it. The ground works have already started and the line is expected to open before the end of 2013.

What?

So what is planned to be built and how will it affect me?

A new extension to the Manchester Metrolink network will be built to link the Trafford Metrolink line to Chorlton, Withington and Didsbury. Eventually there may be a link all the way through to Stockport town centre (see map). Taking a tram into town along the Chorlton to East Didsbury branch will result in you arriving in town close to the GMEX and Central Library.

Journey times and prices have not yet been announced.

When?

When are parts of the scheme planned to take place?

The groundworks have already started along the old railway line planned to be used. Trees are being cleared and ground levelled. The groundworks should be complete before the end of 2009 in order for the track laying to begin.

The opening of the Chorlton to Didsbury branch is likely to be at some time before the end of 2013 and possibly 2012.

Where?

Where will the metrolink run?

The Didsbury Metrolink line will run down an old railway line which passes roads including Burton Road, West Didsbury, Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury Village and School Lane, Didsbury Village.
There will be Metrolink stops close to Burton Road and Close to School Lane.

You can view a map below or view a larger version of our Didsbury Metrolink Map on the Google Maps website.

Where will the stations be?

The Didsbury Metrolink station will be located on the South side of the School Lane bridge over the old railway.
The West Didsbury Metrolink station will be located on the Didsbury side of the Palatine Road bridge over the old railway.
The Burton Road Stop will be on the Chorlton side of Burton Road near Tesco.

View the station plan pdfs:
East Didsbury
Didsbury Village
West Didsbury
Burton Road
[source]

Anything else?

Well there is talk of a Stockport extension.

The old railway will be the route until the trams reach the Heaton Mersey Bowl. At this point, the filled in railway line will be cleared to allow for a new tunnel and embankment.

At Craig road traffic lights will allow the Metrolink to cross. The trams will then head for the M60’’s crossing of the mersey. The first crossing will happen where the current M60 bridge crosses the river. There will then be a station which serves Cheadle Heath. The tram will then cross back to service the area around the pyramid office blog before a final crossing to allow trams to run in both directions down Chestergate to and from the current bus station.

Contact Information

You can email for more information: future.metrolink@gmpte.gov.uk
Or view the following website: http://www.gmpte.com/futuremetrolink