From Rio to Manchester - Transport in the city gets set for celebrations

Nicola White shows her Olympic gold medal

Fans heading to see their Olympic and Paralympic heroes in Manchester later this month are being given a helping hand by transport leaders.

More than 150,000 people from across the country are expected to descend on Manchester city centre to celebrate the achievements of Team GB and Paralympics GB in Rio with the Athletes’ Parade on Monday 17 October.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has today launched a bespoke Athletes’ Parade travel webpage to help make it easier for people to get to the event.

The parade, which will be one of the largest single events the city has seen in recent years, starts at Castlefield at 4.30pm and then makes its way through the city before culminating in a civic reception in Albert Square.

A number of roads will be closed in the hours leading up to the event and some bus services will be affected so passengers are advised to check before they travel.

To help manage the increase in demand across all forms of transport and on the roads, TfGM is working closely with operating companies and other partners to increase capacity on the rail and Metrolink networks, while more than 5,000 free parking spaces are being made available at Old Trafford, the Etihad Stadium, the Macron Stadium, Horwich Parkway and Sale Water Park on the day.

With so many people expected to attend the celebrations, and demand on transport due to be high, employers are also being advised that they too can play a vital role in reducing demand on the transport network throughout the day.

For businesses that are expecting a delivery on the day then they should consider that a number of roads will be closed for much of the afternoon and into the evening and so if possible they may wish to consider rescheduling.

Additionally, they should encourage their staff to think about how they’ll travel, as well as considering the travel needs of those who may be visiting for appointments or meetings.

John Fryer, Events Manager for TfGM, said: “It goes without saying that we are delighted to be playing a part in helping to create an unforgettable experience for the people of Greater Manchester and for those who are visiting our great city from further afield.

“This is one of the most important celebrations that the city has played host to and with so many people expected to visit we’re really encouraging everyone to plan their journey and to know the travel options available to them.

“We strongly urge large employers within the city to consider the travel needs of their staff and visitors and wherever possible allow staggered leaving times to avoid the evening rush.
“The Athletes’ Parade travel webpage will provide all the travel information people will need in one place and so we hope that it enables them to enjoy this momentous event to its fullest.”

With many people expected to attend from neighbouring regions like Yorkshire, Cheshire and North Wales, demand on rail services will likely be higher than usual.

Adam Fairclough, Head of Customer Experience Change for TransPennine Express, said: "We are pleased to welcome visitors to Manchester in celebration of our wonderful athletes.

"Train services and stations are expected to extremely busy and people should allow extra time to travel and plan their journeys accordingly. Those in need of a little extra help or assistance should book ahead.

"There will be additional staff out to support the event and look forward to welcoming customers on-board."