Record numbers getting on board with Metrolink

Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stop

More people than ever are getting on board with Metrolink.

October saw record passenger numbers use Greater Manchester’s tram network, with 3.1 million passenger journeys made across the 31 days.

The previous record was 2.9 million passenger journeys made in November 2014.

October saw a number of major sporting spectacles come to the region, and as with all other major events held throughout the year, Metrolink was on hand to help people get around.

On 10 October 2015, the Rugby World Cup came to the Etihad Stadium while Old Trafford played host to Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford and helped move more than 20,000 people to and from both venues alone.

Footage captured in a timelapse video shows how the region’s transport system is set up to support such major events.

And on 28 October 2015, both Manchester City and United clubs played home matches simultaneously for the first time since 2009 with similar numbers once again using the tram network to get around.

Earlier this year it was announced that the number of annual passenger journeys exceeded 31 million for the first time, following on from the opening of the 15 stop Manchester Airport line on 3 November 2014. More than 33 million passenger journeys are expected to be made in 2015.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “I am delighted that record numbers are continuing to get on board with Metrolink.

“October was quite unusual in that we saw capacity crowds attend both Old Trafford and the Etihad simultaneously on two occasions for some major sporting spectacles.

“Our record passenger journeys will, in part, have been influenced by this, but more importantly it demonstrated how Metrolink is set up to support Manchester as a city capable of hosting major international events.

“With the Christmas Markets – a major visitor attraction for the city – now open, the opening of the new Exchange Square stop just around the corner and the Second City Crossing on the horizon, I look forward to welcoming even more people to our growing network and beating this record sooner rather than later.”

Metrolink now runs to 92 stops across Greater Manchester, with more than 3,000 free parking spaces for customers.

Breakdown of passenger numbers by line (thousands):

Bury 686

Altrincham 728

Eccles via MediaCityUK 383

Rochdale via Oldham 415

East Didsbury 377

Manchester Airport 195

Ashton-under-Lyne 246

City 81

Total 3,111