Trams and public transport are a constant source of contention in and around Greater Manchester, so when there’s good news, we hang onto it. Now, good news comes in the form of the Trafford Centre tram line being extended to Crumpsall, where it previously terminated at Deansgate-Castlefield – a small win we’ll take.
Not only does this quiet change mean those going to or from Crumpsall will be able to travel all the way to the Trafford Centre without swapping trams, but that it will continue from Deansgate-Castlefield through other central stops including Exchange Square, and St Peter’s Square – which, with this new addition, is now served by a whopping seven lines.
What is the new route of the red Trafford Centre tram line?
- The Trafford Centre
- Trafford Palazzo
- Parkway
- Village
- Imperial War Museum
- Wharfside
- Pomona
- Cornbrook
- Deansgate-Castlefield
- St Peter’s Square
- Exchange Square
- Victoria
- Queens Roads
- Abraham Moss
- Crumpsall
Why has the tram line been extended & will it stay?
It’s not entirely clear why the tram line has been extended, and there was no announcement from the Bee Network to highlight the new route.
With that in mind, we don’t know whether the line will continue to serve the further stations between Deansgate-Castlefield and Crumpsall, or whether it is purely associated with the temporary works being carried out on other lines.
Improvement and maintenance works are taking place throughout 2026, which the Bee Network says “could mean that trams operate to different destinations than usual, and some lines may have separate tram services, linked by a replacement bus service“.
What other changes are there to the Metrolink map?
The updated Metrolink map also shows some cryptic walking symbols around the Salford Quays area, which we can only speculate about. One suggestion is that there will be a drive towards active travel in the area, creating clearer, well-lit pathways to encourage walking between the likes of Wharfside and Salford Quays, and Imperial War Museum and MediaCityUK.
Another potential reason could be the planned extension of Castlefield Viaduct to connect the city centre with Pomona, transforming the area into ‘Manchester Waters‘ – but of course, we would expect the walking symbols to extend to Deansgate-Castlefield, if this were the case.
In any case, do make sure you check before you travel on the tram network, and let us know how you get on with these changes.
