The Manchester Metrolink extension to the Airport has now officially opened to the public with the first fare paying passengers welcomed onboard double unit 3080+3070. These two vehicles operated the first journey on Monday 3rd November departing Cornbrook at 0500 for the Airport which was an extra passenger service added for just one day to cater for the crowds expected to want to travel on the first service of the day, as has been traditional as extensions have opened in the past few years.
The Airport extension is 14.5km and leaves the South Manchester line shortly after St Werburgh’s Road. New stops have been constructed at Barlow Moor Road, Sale Water Park, Northern Moor, Wythenshawe Park, Moor Road, Baguley, Roundthorn, Martinscroft, Benchill, Crossacres, Wythenshawe Town Centre, Robinswood Road, Peel Hall, Shadowmoss and Manchester Airport. A number of major structures have also been built including a viaduct over the River Mersey and two new bridges over the M60 and M56. Services will initially run between the Airport and Cornbrook every 12 minutes but once the Second City Crossing is completed they are likely to be extended to Victoria. Journey times from the Airport to Cornbrook should be 45 minutes.
Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “Seeing our trams reach Manchester Airport more than a year ahead of schedule is a truly amazing achievement – and a game-changer for the communities set to benefit from its 15 new stops and frequent, fully accessible services. For Wythenshawe in particular, Metrolink provides new and easier ways for people across Greater Manchester to reach the town centre and all it has to offer – as well as making it a more attractive place to live, work and do business. The arrival of the new town centre interchange next year will, of course, make it even easier still. For people already living along the line, it will provide new ways of getting to work, leisure, health and education opportunities. Because of that, it’s going to be a catalyst for great change and growth, and I am truly delighted we’ve been able to start that process so much earlier than we expected when we first started this very ambitious and challenging project.”
Although Monday 3rd November marked the start of fare paying passenger journeys on the Airport line, selected lucky local residents were able to enjoy a free preview service on Saturday 1st November between the Airport and Barlow Moor Road. This saw 3062, 3065, 3070, 3071, 3075, 3078, 3085 and 3086 operating a service at the normal 12 minute frequency.
The Manchester Metrolink network is now 92.5km long (that’s 57.5 miles if you prefer) and serves 92 stops. The Airport line has opened over 12 months ahead of the original schedule (it was listed as opening in 2016) and the next piece of the Metrolink jigsaw to open will be part of the Second City Crossing.
Very exciting day all round with good loadings and fine weather. The operation at Cornbrook now sees a very intense tram service with visible lines of trams in each direction. Just hope that things can be kept moving there without too much of a hitch as this is a critical part of the system. Trams were only using one platform at the airport but the second platform looked finished with the side facing Network Rail roped off with barriers. Some enthusiasts were using the second platform to take photographs until an over zealous official made them leave, which seemed odd as there was a ticket machine sited between the two. Most however entered into the spirit of the day.
Yes, it should be applauded,
But, the line is not yet ready.
1) The great gate of Kiev Or The Berlin Wall,
call it what you will but you cannot access the Metrolink platforms
(4 or 5) from the others 1 to 3, at Manchester Airport. Thisis due to a
green gate being closed, I do not know why, nor is it known by
any staff there. You have instead to ascend a longish looping walkway to the Concourse ( yes there is a lift, but it was OOS around 3pm yesterday and yes there is a an escalator, but it had engineers working on to after it also had failed) so the long walk to the bus station and then descending more stairs to the Metrolink platform. Only then can you access the trams, and
only then see a display screen showing next tram in 19 minutes, 2nd in 24
minutes, so the ‘usual’ 12 minute service was not in operation yesterday
afternoon. We arrived by rail, same time as 3062 arrived, but due to the
gate closure, could not access 3062 and had to wait the 19 minutes.
After that, the ride to Cornbrook, well let us say it is not pretty, its a tour
of many Wythenshawe housing estates, and near enough a tour of their
gardens, its so near to many of them. Will there be enough room for the trams to pass when they put their bins out on Thursday ??
If the trams were due in 19 and 24 minutes it suggests the first one was running a bit late rather than not running to the booked frequency. I did note on the Metrolink website yesterday it was showing slight delays due to an earlier incident at Cornbrook but I can’t recall what time it was. I did the airport run today and have called it the LNWR route to the airport, but I don’t mean London & North Western Railway, I mean the Long N’ Winding Road! It also came as something of a shock while travelling between Shadow Moss and the airport when an inbound aircraft passed us!
Strange day yesterday. I did not see many Metrolink Staff apart from the drivers till after midday. I have also spoken to more people that had issues with the opposite platform and the fact that they could not access the ticket machine (which was sited between the two Metrolink platforms) from the National Rail platforms which seemed to defeat the object of it being an interchange. I could also see that Airport Line trams at Cornbrook were finding it difficult to find a slot to enter the middle track for their return journey due to the sheer volume of trams on the line.
Thanks Ken,
Yes I can see the Beatles connection for the L&NWRoad.
Didn’t say , but the 3rd tram shown was 27 minutes, perhaps that
better shows the mis-alignment of the service rather better.
In a total shock, I have had two mails from Metrolink in response to
my complaint about the Airport Platform situation encountered.
(You usually have to wait at least a fortnight for one) However they simply do not understand that a platform & a ticket machine are inaccessible, calling it a ‘security’ problem. What problem ?
Mike
If they do not want passengers to use platforms 3 and 4 then they should screen both off instead of just platform 3 and kindly put a sign up advising the public why they can not access this area. Maybe then save a lot of hassle all round. Maybe the management need to liase a bit more with the contractors working there.
Isn’t the railway side of the platform the new platform 4, which would make the Metrolink platforms 5 and 6? If so I’m not sure whether it is officially open yet, in which case I suspect that is why Metrolink are not using that side of their terminal either at present, presumably waiting the processing of the mandatory red tape. Presumably both platform faces will open together. If I remember right there is only plastic fencing separating the two sides of the platform further along towards the departure end. But I might be wrong on both counts!
Message posted on behalf on freel007 who is currently unable to post:
I think you are right about the platform numbering Ken. That is of course assuming that the Metrolink platforms are to be numbered in with the rail platforms.
The new rail platform 4 is to be connected early next year. According to Network Rail’s website platform 3 will be closed from January 11th through to February 9th with a total rail closure between 17th January and 9th February. Tram services will be affected until midday on Sundays during November and again on Saturday 17th January till midday Sunday 18th January
when services from Cornbrook will terminate at Wythenshawe Town Centre with a replacement bus service between there and the Airport.
As for the platform access problems I understand that the lack of a direct link at platform level has been brought about by rail revenue protection concerns as there would be an unattended exit via the Metrolink platforms. Strangely over recent months First Transpennine don’t seem to have been checking tickets anyway. The second Metrolink platform is at present only configured for use as emergency stabling capacity so passengers should have no need to access it. I agree that it should therefore be properly fenced off.
There will never be direct access from the Network Rail platforms to the Metrolink platforms! This is because of Northern Rail policy of gating their stations! I’m told much discussion has gone on with TfGM about altrincham, but its been put on the back burner!
Are you sure? Manchester Airport railway station is managed by First Transpennine Express and not Northern Rail.
Strange this as at Wimbledon one can get off a train and straight on to a tram without going through a ticket barrier. Why can they do it in London and not in Manchester?
Let us hope that TfGM can force the issue, a good testcase for the future. I havw a photograph taken today of said Green Gate befor and after surmounting the long and winding staircase up and then a walk across towards the bus station and down more stairs. This is hardly easy access and makes a mockery of public transport in a high profile area. I also note that there are no signs visible from the Network Rail platforms showing Metrolink. It seems as if Metrolink does not exist in respect of the railway. Shall we call it the Greengate scandal. Shame on those who perpetuate such utter dinosaur tactics.
Unsure about the gate problem under discussion. At around 1245 on Monday, a friend and I simply approached the gate, opened it, and walked through to the Metrolink platform!
You must have been lucky. The main event was at around 11am when a sizeable number of photographers were forceably moved on.
A trip yesterday afternoon suggests this route is a mistake, at a time when the schools were chucking out and shoppers might have been expected to have been returning home at no point were there more than about twenty passengers and some of those were enthusiasts.
;
It seems to me that once you mention the magic word “Airport” then normal financial considerations no longer apply.