The people of Manchester are being encouraged to plan their journeys ahead of a ‘Super Sunday’ that sees the return of the ever-popular Manchester Marathon and Manchester City take on rivals Arsenal at the Etihad.
More than 40,000 runners and countless supporters will arrive in Greater Manchester for the marathon on Sunday 19 April, which is again expected to be the busiest day of the year on Bee Network trams.
Runners will set off from the Trafford Arch, near Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium from 8.55am, with the 26.2 mile route covering areas such as Deansgate, Stretford, Sale, Chorlton and Altrincham before finishing outside the University of Manchester on Oxford Road.
The race will continue for much of the day, with the last wave of runners setting off at 11.30am and the cut-off time being six hours after the last participant has started the race.
There will be several road closures in Manchester and Trafford to enable the marathon to take place. These are likely to cause congestion and delays in the affected areas and there will be widespread bus diversions.
Tram will be the best way to get around on the day
The Altrincham and East Didsbury lines will be very busy – and people may have to wait to board a tram – you should allow at least 30 minutes extra time for travel. The quickest way to pay is using contactless ‘tap and go’ payments. Fares are capped and automatically calculated based on the number of zones someone travels through.
There are several stops located close to spectating points along the race route, including Altrincham, Timperley, Sale, Brooklands and Stretford. A list of the best places to watch and how to get there can be found on the dedicated Bee Network webpage along with an interactive map.
Bus travel
Those travelling by bus in Trafford, south Manchester or the city centre over the weekend should do so at quieter times where possible and check the Bee Network travel alerts hub for any diversions on their route.
If you have to drive
People are strongly advised not to drive. But for those that need to, using a park and ride site and continuing the journey by tram is a quick and easy way to travel to the event or into the city centre. Park and ride parking is also free with a valid Metrolink ticket.
Getting to Manchester City v. Arsenal
Manchester City’s clash with fellow title-chasers Arsenal kicks off at 4.30pm, with 55,000 fans will be making their way to the match. Significant queues are expected at Altrincham and Sale tram stops from around 12-3pm when runners will be passing through and spectators then make their way to the city centre to meet loved ones at the finish line.
Manchester City Match Day Buses
Match day buses will still run but with some route changes due to the marathon road closures.
For journeys to the game, Timperley and Brooklands will not be served by the MC5 and Hale, Altrincham and Stretford will not be served by the MC10. However, fans should be able to board another service if they make a short journey on foot, bike or tram.
The MC5 and MC10 will travel along their usual route on the journey home and make all the usual stops – as the road closures will have lifted by this point.
Booth Street West Park and Ride will also be unavailable for the Arsenal game – instead, there will be a Park and Ride option from Belle Vue School. This will also be available for the remaining home matches this season (Brentford, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa). The MC1, MC2 and MC6 will all stop at Belle Vue School pre and post-match.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The Manchester Marathon is one of the best days of the year, with thousands of people taking to the streets to break PBs and raise money for good causes with many more there to cheer everyone on.
“That day will also see Manchester City take on Arsenal at the Etihad with a sell-out crowd expected for a match which is going to be key for where the Premier League title may end up.
“This does mean the city centre and especially trams will be incredibly busy so please plan ahead and give yourself extra time to make journeys.
“The Bee Network app and website will be the best places to get the latest travel information and tap and go contactless payments are the quickest and easiest way to pay.”