As we continue our “Then & Now” series looking at Manchester Metrolink before or during construction and then after trams started running we are back at Ayres Road.
Last week we were looking north at Ayres Road towards the junction with the Altrincham line and this time we are looking the other way towards Didsbury. Ayres Road goes over the Metrolink line to East Didsbury (also covered by trams on the Manchester Airport line with the two lines splitting at St Werburgh’s Road).
Image number one was taken on 4th March 2009 and shows the trackbed which a few years later would have the Metrolink tracks down and trams running upon them. Looking southwards towards the first stop on the line at Firswood we can see some machinery in the distance which has been used to help the work already completed.
Just over two years later on 16th June 2011 and final testing is underway on the line as far as St Werburgh’s Road (services would start on 7th July). A tram heads away from us as everything looks just so new and clean! (Both Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)