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Manchester Metrolink

From Bradshaw, the companion guide to On Our Lines

Manchester Metrolink is Britain's only high floor tram System which opened in 1892 with following extensions. The system first opened with the T68 Trams from AB. The idea of Manchester Metrolink was to Link Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations after the failed PicVic Tunnel Project.

M5000 Tram heading to East Didsbury

Route

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Original Network

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The original Network was done in under 2 years, which saw the British Rail Bury & Altrincham. Unusally for a tram system this used Lights on Sticks, which have subquently mostly been removed and replaced by Line of Sight (LOS) apart between Altrincham and Timplery. This is down to the Northern Mid-Cheshire Line running next to the tram between Altrincham and the level crossings at the end Navigation Road.

M5000 departs Navigation Road
Navigation Road Level Crossing

Eccles Extension

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In 2000 a new extension was created from Cornbrook to Eccles which saw the introduction of the T68A trams which couldn't work the Altrincham Branch however they allowed for Growth in the Network.

Media City UK Spur

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In 2010 a new Spur of the Eccles line was built to serve the Media City UK area of Manchester.

Trafford Centre

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The Trafford Centre extension opened in 2020 and brings the network up to its current size.

Current Network map

Rolling Stock

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The Manchester Metrolink has had two main types of tram that being the T68 and M5000.

T68 & T68A

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M5000

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M5000 3025 arrives at Deangate Castlefield

The M5000s were ordered to replace the unreliable and inaccessible T68 & T68A Trams on the Network.

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