At. Long. Last!
If you’ve long endured the pain of having to get a handful of buses just to visit the Trafford Centre, then you can finally rest with the news that the brand new Metrolink line has been completed seven months ahead of schedule.
Announcing the news today, TfGM has confirmed that the £350 million Trafford Park Line will officially launch March 22, meaning Mancs everywhere can finally access the Trafford Centre easier than ever before.
The announcement comes immediately after the completion of the line, with drivers currently undergoing a rigorous training programme ahead of the launch date. The brand new line is part of a wider scheme to create an integrated, modern and accessible public network – similar to London’s TfL network.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “It’s great that the Trafford Park line will open for business on Sunday 22 March. It is a much-needed addition to the Metrolink network and will encourage more people to use public transport to journey around our city-region, and in doing so reduce congestion on our roads and improve the quality of our air.
“Last June I set out Our Network – a vision for the type of world-class transport network I want us to have here in Greater Manchester. This new line is a great step towards that, and a shining example of what we can deliver with the right funding and powers.”
Not only will the new line provide easy access to the Trafford Centre and Old Trafford stadium, but also a number of large businesses based in the Trafford Park area such as Kellogg’s, Missguided, Unilever and Adidas – providing more accessible jobs for the people of Manchester.
Leader of Trafford Council, Councillor Andrew Western, said: “The opening of the Trafford Park Line will be hugely important for the continued development of the local and regional economy. It is fantastic news for the tens of thousands of people who come to Trafford Park and the surrounding areas for work and leisure.
“It will also help get more cars off the road as visitors will now have a real transport alternative via Metrolink to some of the country’s most famous retail and leisure destinations including Manchester United and the Imperial War Museum.”