Manchester Metrolink (tour?)

Obviously because of my injuries (and not to mention a wrecked motorcycle) I can't drive or ride and am getting a bit bored. I can't walk that far either.

 

I wondered if it was possible to do the whole of the Manchester Metrolink network in a day? Perhaps unsurprisingly Mrs K and the kids had other stuff to do when I suggested it.

 

At present its not possible to do the whole system in one seamless journey, as there is currently a section closed and it effectively stops at Deansgate Castlefield but there are replacement buses from Cornbrook to get to "the other side", so to speak.

 

Armed with a weekend ticket (just in case) I set off on my little adventure.

 

On this section the "ends of the line" (aka termini) are the aforementioned Deansgate Castlefield, Eccles, Manchester Airport, Altrincham and East Didsbury. I don't think Media City UK is technically the end of a line, as its a spur but I've included it on the photo anyway.

 

The whole Manchester Metrolink system is 92 stops over 92 kilometres and I managed to do 44 stops covering the whole of this section.

 

So whats the verdict?

 

I'm pretty familiar with most areas of Manchester but it was interesting to see other parts of it from a track, rather than a road. Saying that, there aren't any amazing views that I can recall but the most interesting section was Salford Quays to Deansgate Castlefield where the track is raised up a bit.

 

I really didn't realise how big Wythenshawe is. I've not been there much, but I used to date one of the nurses who worked at the Hospital back in the 1980s and I used to pick her up after her shifts before going on elsewhere. Wythenshawe has been described in various places as "one of the largest council housing estates in Europe". The tram has free Wi-Fi so I could check out the map on the iPad as the tram moved through.

 

Whilst the Metrolink goes to the Manchester Airport, on the journey there and back there were only two people with suitcases on the tram so maybe it is used mainly by people who work there? I was surprised how long it took to get there from Manchester City centre. A taxi would obviously be much quicker, traffic permitting, but would cost much more.

 

I hopped off a few times to get a coffee, a beer or two and something to eat so it was no feat of endurance.

 

I love people watching so it was great for that. One high point was a lady and her two teenage children. She was in a wheelchair and clearly had a lot of health issues, but her kids were absolutely delightful, polite and immaculately dressed. Not just neat - but immaculate. As I stood up to get off the tram, one of the kids stood up to press the "door open" button for me as I was struggling with my bag due to having my arm in a sling.

 

I've also noticed that when you've got an arm in a sling you are never short of anyone to talk to. A rough diamond got on at one point and started having a chat. "See I'm in a sling too" he said. What have you been doing I asked. Fighting. Enough said. A nice guy though but probably not if you are on the end of a flying fist.

 

As I got near home an old acquaintance of mine stopped for a chat. He asked where I'd been and he thought it was " a bit sad" that I'd been on a tram tour. Not quite as sad as lying on the sofa watching yet another episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show though. I had a weekend ticket but couldn't quite face a second day. I will do it one day I guess, just to say that I've done the whole lot.

 

Stops visited:

 

Deansgate-Castlefield

Cornbrook

Pomona

Exchange Quay

Salford Quays

Anchorage

Harbour City

MediaCityUK

Broadway

Langworthy

Weaste

Ladywell

Eccles

Trafford Bar

Old Trafford

Stretford

Dane Road

Sale

Brooklands

Timperley

Navigation Road

Altrincham

Barlow Moor Road

Sale Water Park

Firswood

Chorlton

St Werburgh's Road

Withington

Burton Road

West Didsbury

Didsbury Village

East Didsbury

Northern Moor

Wythenshawe Park

Moor Road

Baguley

Roundthorn

Martinscroft

Benchill

Crossacres

Wythenshawe Town Centre

Robinswood Road

Peel Hall

Shadowmoss

Manchester Airport.

 

Conclusion:-

 

Manchester's Metrolink is a fabulous asset to Greater Manchester. It was clean, efficient and ran on time and very cost effective. I've lived here long enough to know that it has had its critics from time to time but with about 30 million passenger journeys a year that isn't entirely unexpected.

 

Done