MediaCityUK tram stop is a stop on the Manchester Metrolink light rail system. It is located in MediaCityUK, in Salford. The stop serves MediaCityUK, The Lowry, the Imperial War Museum North and other parts of Salford Quays. It is at the end of a short spur from the Eccles Line.

MediaCityUK
Metrolink station
MediaCityUK tram stop in February 2018
General information
LocationMediaCityUK, City of Salford
England
Coordinates53°28′20″N 2°17′50″W / 53.47215°N 2.29727°W / 53.47215; -2.29727
Grid referenceSJ803973
Line(s)Eccles Line
Other information
StatusIn operation
Fare zone2
History
Opened20 September 2010
Location
Map

History

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The Metrolink extension in 2010

MediaCityUK is a development within Salford Quays, on the site of the former Manchester Docks. When an active port, the quays were served by numerous railway goods lines.

The Metrolink's extension into Salford Quays was part of a programme of urban renewal for the area around the Manchester Ship Canal. Plans for a light rail system into Salford Quays have existed since around 1987, initially as far as Broadway;[1] the proposals evolved, with plans for a branch line to serve the Lowry arts centre.[2] The MediaCityUK extension replaced that proposal.[3] It opened on 20 September 2010,[4] as the terminus of a specially-constructed 360-metre-long spur (0.22 mi) from the Eccles Line.

Services to the station were suspended following an incident at the Harbour City crossover on the second day of operation. A driver reversed after only partially passing over spring-loaded points causing the tram to straddle two tracks and hit a central support column.[5]

Services

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Service pattern

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Preceding station   Manchester Metrolink Following station
Broadway
towards Eccles
Eccles–Ashton via MediaCityUK (off-peak only) Harbour City
Terminus MediaCityUK–Etihad Campus (peak only) Harbour City
Out-of-station interchange (Imperial War Museum)
Village The Trafford Centre–Deansgate Wharfside

The station was originally served by a dedicated Piccadilly - MediaCityUK service during enhanced service (07:00-20:00 Mon-Fri; 09:00-18:30 Sat). However, as of 28 January 2018, services were extended to operate between MediaCityUK and Etihad Campus during enhanced service every 12 minutes, with Eccles - Ashton services calling outside of these times.[6] The Etihad Campus service was further extended to Ashton in January 2019[7][8] meaning a through service between MediaCityUK and Ashton during all hours of operation.

The MediaCityUK to Ashton service was withdrawn in March 2020, along with other enhanced service, in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, all trams to and from Eccles called at MediaCityUK. On 25 September 2023, services were reintroduced between MediaCityUK and Etihad Campus during enhanced service every 12 minutes.[9] Trams to and from Eccles only call at MediaCityUK outside of enhanced hours (before 07:00 and after 20:00 Mon-Fri; Before 09:00 and after 18:30 Saturdays; all day Sundays and Bank Holidays).

Connecting bus routes

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MediaCityUK tram stop is served nearby by Diamond Bus North West services 29, 73 and 79, Go North West Orbits 53, travelling between Cheetham Hill and Salford Shopping Centre[10] and Stagecoach Manchester service 50, linking Salford Shopping Centre in Pendleton, Salford Crescent railway station, Salford University, Salford Central railway station, Manchester and East Didsbury with Salford Quays and MediaCityUK.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Metrolink Community Liaison (1987). "Metrolink - Light Rail in Greater Manchester". Publicity Brochure. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive.
  2. ^ "Metrolink Future Network" (PDF). GMPTE. 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Mediacity:uk". GMPTE. Archived from the original on 16 November 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Metrolink trams pull in to MediaCityUK station for first time". Manchester Evening News. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Eccles Metrolink line reopens after Salford Quays tram crash". MEN. 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  6. ^ "News 2012 — Manchester Metrolink — LRTA". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
  7. ^ Charlotte Cox (23 January 2019). "Ashton line trams to double from next week - with a service running every six minutes". Manchester Evening News.
  8. ^ "Metrolink Corporate Scheme ticket" (PDF). TfGM/University of Salford. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  9. ^ Paul Britton (19 September 2023). "Metrolink announces return of later running trams on Fridays and Saturdays". Manchester Evening News.
  10. ^ "53 - Cheetham Hill to Salford". www.gonorthwest.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. ^ "50 Bus Route & Timetable: East Didsbury - Media City | Stagecoach". www.stagecoachbus.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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