The link between real life Manchester and Coronation Street has been getting gradually tighter, with the Bee Network arriving in Weatherfield earlier this year. Now, the Corrie world has set foot into Manchester life as ITV Studios launched the ‘Coronation Street Experience’ tram, a unique homage to the show which will meander across the network for the next 12 months.
Created with visuals from Manchester based agency Meanwhile, the ‘insta-trammable’ rolling stock is dressed with a gorgeous mock up of illustrations from the cobbles giving passengers the change to head to Rochdale through the legendary Rovers doors, arrive at Kingsway through the Kabin door, make their way to the Velopark via Vera and Jack’s infamous clad No. 9 door, or rock up at Radcliffe through the entrance to Roy’s Rolls!
A bit of fun for the city as the summer takes hold and a great way to head towards the ‘Coronation Street Experience‘, the team also snuck into the real world briefly as the Imperial War Museum stop became ‘Weatherfield North’ for the day − the closest stop to the experience itself.
Jurian Van de Meer, EVP Brand Licensing, ITV, said: “We are beyond excited to launch the Coronation Street Tram as we celebrate a year of the Coronation Street Experience. We can’t wait to see the reaction from fans in Manchester as this iconic tram rolls through the city, bringing the magic of the Coronation Street Experience to life.”
John Whiston, MD Continuing Drama for ITV Studios said: “We’ve got our very own Weatherfield tram stop where our characters catch a handy tram ‘into town’. And we’ve even very occasionally got a virtual tram going past over our bridge.
“However we’ve never actually ventured onto Manchester’s Metrolink other than fictionally, so it’s exciting that an actual tram will sport some fine Coronation Street livery. All in the aid of telling people how easy it is to journey to the Coronation Street Experience on a ‘real tram’ so they can walk down those legendary cobbles. Bring flat shoes!”
So, look out for the Coronation Street tram on your travels through Manchester in the next year, and watch which door you step in through…