3.1 million passenger journeys were made on Manchester Metrolink during October – the most passengers ever recorded on the network in a single month. A number of major sporting events (Rugby Union World Cup, Rugby League Grand Final plus big football matches across the network) contributed to these figures as a large number of people had to be transported across Greater Manchester.
Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink Director, was delighted with the numbers carried: “I am delighted that record numbers are continuing to get on board with Metrolink. October was quite unusual in that we saw capacity crowds attend both Old Trafford and the Etihad simultaneously on two occasions for some major sporting spectacles. Our record passenger journeys will, in part, have been influenced by this, but more importantly it demonstrated how Metrolink is set up to support Manchester as a city capable of hosting major international events. With the Christmas Markets – a major visitor attraction for the city – now open, the opening of the new Exchange Square stop just around the corner and the Second City Crossing on the horizon, I look forward to welcoming even more people to our growing network and beating this record sooner rather than later.”
Of the lines the Altrincham line saw the highest passenger numbers (728,000 – obviously the lure of Altrincham football matches was very high, or maybe the fact Old Trafford is on that line was a small factor!) with the Bury line seeing 686,000 passenger journeys (Bury FC maybe?) whilst at the other end of the scale the Airport line saw 195,000 passengers embark on a journey.
The previous record month had been November 2014 when 2.9 million passengers were carried.
Pleasing to see the facts re affirm the light rail revolution gathering momentum. Manchester Metrolink navigating rapid growth in term of passenger numbers and network scope broadly very well indeed