The major project to extend Manchester Metrolink a further 5.5km between Pomona and the Trafford Centre is continuing to make excellent progress with plenty of track now in place alongside the construction of platforms at the six new tram stops. The line is scheduled to open in 2020 and the good progress being made would suggest that this is very much on track at the moment. Steve Hyde made a trip onto the route again and the below photos show recent progress.
The Trafford Park line will leave the current Eccles line at Pomona and will then travel for 5.5km to the Trafford Centre. It is likely to be a popular route with locals and visitors to the area alike as it will have stops conveniently located for Manchester United’s Old Trafford football ground, the Imperial War Museum North, EventCity and the Trafford Centre. The initial service on the line will run to Crumpsall (on the Bury line) and work on providing a third platform there is also ongoing. It has been confirmed that the line will be in zones 2 and 3 of the Metrolink zonal fares system with the border between the two being set as Parkway.
This is the tramstop at Village located on Village Way. This was the first of the six new stops to have platforms constructed and now has shelters in situ. Work on installing the cabling for the stop infrastructure is also now underway. As can be seen track is also in place here.
The very end of the line at Trafford Centre looking north west towards the terminus stop at this location. Significant progress has been made here with tracklaying and stop construction. (Both Photographs by Steve Hyde, 14th May 2019)