Heaton Park Tramway lays the tracks for a brighter future

Heaton Park Tramway

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Manchester’s second tram system, the Heaton Park Tramway, has received a large donation of used tram rail and fittings, spares from the Metrolink Second City Crossing.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) provided the rail and fittings to contribute to the growth of the popular park tramway, which has already been extended three times and is now approximately 1km in length.

The tramway is run by the Manchester Transport Museum Society (GMTS), which is made up of volunteers looking to preserve documents and artefacts relating to public transport in the Manchester region.

The equipment was taken from the single section of track that was used to run trams through part of the city while St Peter’s Square was redeveloped.

St Peter’s Square stop, one of the busiest and most popular on the network, now boasts two island platforms and two sets of track in either direction.

The Second City Crossing is the final piece of Metrolink’s £1.5bn ‘big bang’ expansion programme – which has seen extensions to MediaCityUK, East Didsbury, Rochdale via Oldham, Ashton and Manchester Airport – and will allow more trams to run through the city centre and across the 93-stop network.

Honorary Alderman Keith Whitmore, Chairman of Heaton Park Tramway, said: “We have worked closely with TfGM for a number of years and acknowledge their respect for preserving transport history within Greater Manchester.

“We are delighted with this donation which will contribute to the extension of the second tramway in Heaton Park.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “The tramway is extremely popular with visitors and one of the many features that makes Heaton Park such an attractive and special destination.

“As the Metrolink network continues to expand I’m pleased that we’ve been able to make this donation and help Manchester’s second tram system grow too.”