Английская Википедия:Airport Line (Manchester Metrolink)

Материал из Онлайн справочника
Перейти к навигацииПерейти к поиску

Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:For Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use British English Шаблон:Infobox rail line The Airport Line is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink in Greater Manchester running from Manchester city centre to Manchester Airport via the suburb of Wythenshawe. The line was opened in November 2014 as part of phase three of the system's expansion.

Route

The line runs mostly on reserved track alignments with short sections of street–running. The southern half of the route mostly uses the wide grass verges alongside roads.[1]

From Manchester city centre, the route is shared with the Altrincham Line as far as Шаблон:Tram, and then the South Manchester Line as far as Шаблон:Tram. The Airport Line proper starts at a junction just south of St Werburgh's Road stop, where the line leaves the former railway trackbed, and runs off to the south-west. It joins Mauldeth Road, running along the central reservation to Шаблон:Tram stop. It then runs on street along Hardy Lane for a short distance, before crossing onto a tram only viaduct crossing the River Mersey and the Mersey Valley flood plain.[1]

Файл:Metrolink Airport Line, Simonsway, David Dixon, Geograph 4235987.jpg
Tram running on tracks alongside Simonsway. Between Robinswood Road and Peel Hall.

The line then continues on a low embankment to Sale Water Park stop, serving the Sale Water Park; this stop is also near Junction 6 of the M60 motorway and has park and ride facilities. The line then runs parallel to the M60 for a short distance before turning south-west and crossing it on a tram only bridge.[1]

After crossing the motorway the line serves Шаблон:Tram stop. Between Northern Moor stop and Шаблон:Tram stop the line runs on a strip of land which was originally reserved for a road scheme. The line then crosses onto Moor Road, where it serves Шаблон:Tram stop, before crossing onto a reserved track section alongside the road. A tram bridge takes the tracks over the Mid-Cheshire railway line and into Шаблон:Tram stop. The line then runs alongside the road for the next few miles, serving stops at Шаблон:Tram and Шаблон:Tram, before crossing the M56 motorway on a purpose-built bridge.[1]

The line then runs along Hollyhedge Road with other traffic, before turning onto a segregated section of track alongside Brownley Road, serving stops at Шаблон:Tram and Шаблон:Tram. The route crosses to another segregated alignment on the south side of Poundswick Lane, crossing the northern end of Rowlandsway before turning left into Шаблон:Tram stop.[1]

Файл:Metrolink Airport Line Map.png
Map of the Airport Line

The line then runs along segregated roadside track sections, for the next few miles, serving stops at Шаблон:Tram, Шаблон:Tram and Шаблон:Tram, before passing under Ringway Road via an underpass, and into the terminus at Шаблон:Stn station: The two tram platforms at the Airport station were built alongside the mainline rail platforms allowing interchange between the trains and trams.[1]

The total distance between St Werburgh's Road and Manchester Airport is 9 miles (14.5 km).[2]

History

The line was opened as part of the third phase of the system's development, which also included new lines to East Didsbury, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Rochdale.

Construction work for all Phase 3b lines began in March 2011.[3] On the Airport Line, a 580-tonne steel bridge was erected in Wythenshawe over the M56 motorway on 25 November 2012.[4] The Airport Line opened on 3 November 2014, more than one year early,[5] and at a cost of £368 million.[6]

Proposed future development

Wythenshawe Loop

The original plans for the line included a loop from Roundthorn tram stop to the existing line at Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe Hospital and Newall Green. The line would have had stops at Шаблон:Tram, Шаблон:Tram and Шаблон:Tram.[7] Although axed in 2005 to control costs, the Wythenshawe Loop remains an aspiration of TfGM. The route could link with HS2 Manchester Airport High Speed station.[8]

TfGM have submitted a bid for funding to extend the Airport Line to Terminal 2.[9]

Extension to Manchester Airport High Speed station

Plans for the (now cancelled) Manchester Airport High Speed station released in 2020 included provision for an east–west tram link. This would have seen the Airport Line extended to serve the new station.[10]

Services

As of January 2018, trams operate from Manchester Airport every 12 minutes, and terminate at Шаблон:Stn in the City Zone.[11] At opening, Airport Line services had terminated at Шаблон:Tram and later Шаблон:Tram due to lack of capacity through the city-centre, which was remedied by the opening of the second city crossing.[12] In March 2016, an early morning service was introduced between the airport and Шаблон:Tram,[13] which was in February 2017 also extended to Deansgate-Castlefield.[12] TfGM have indicated that there could also be a 6-minute service at peak times after 2017.[14]

Usage

During the first full year of operation, 1.88 million journeys were made on the Airport Line.[15]

See also

  • Styal Line; heavy-rail line also serving Manchester Airport.

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commons category Шаблон:Attached KML

Шаблон:Manchester Metrolink stations Шаблон:Airport rail links in the United Kingdom

Шаблон:Authority control