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Manchester’s new Second City Crossing is now open

Posted: 28 February 2017 | Rachael Harper | No comments yet

The Second City Crossing, Manchester city centre’s second city tram line, is now open, completing Metrolink’s ‘big bang’ expansion.

The Second City Crossing, Manchester city centre’s second city tram line, is now open, completing Metrolink’s ‘big bang’ expansion.

The new 1.3km long line will offer new links, more frequent trams through Manchester city centre, improved service reliability and better operational flexibility.

Transport for Great Manchester owns and manages Metrolink and has overseen the expansion. Chair of the TfGM Committee, Councillor Andrew Fender, said: “I am extremely proud to see the completion of the Second City Crossing. It’s been a remarkable journey and my thanks goes to all those who’ve worked so hard to turn those early dreams and ambitions into a reality and who have, ultimately, delivered a world-class transport system to the people of Greater Manchester.”

 

Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink Director (left) and Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee

 

This is all part of £1.5 billion extension plan that has seen the Greater Manchester Metrolink light rail network grow to three times its original size – it now has some 93 stops, over 60 miles of track and transports a record-breaking 37 million passengers a year.

 

 

TfGM Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, added: “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved with our partners over the last eight years as we’ve expanded the Metrolink network to become the largest light rail system in the UK. The Second City Crossing opening is the culmination of years of hard work to complete the Phase 3 big bang expansion.”

“We’ve expanded the Metrolink network to become the largest light rail system in the UK”

Manchester city centre is currently undergoing a larger transformation as part of its Grow Project, which has seen an investment into the city’s infrastructure improvements. This includes bus priority measures, better cycle routes and major rail improvements. Construction work is now under way on a new Metrolink line through Trafford Park to the Trafford Centre.

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