Ground broken on new £350m rail line

MAKING a start . . . Trafford Council leader Sean Anstee, Mayor of Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd and chair of the TfGM Committee Andrew Fender

WORK has started on the much-anticipated £350 million Metrolink Trafford Park line.

The project will see a new six-stop line offering rapid transport connections to key business and leisure destinations on a 3.4-mile route to the Trafford Centre.

Boosting public transport connections to over 1,300 businesses at Trafford Park, Europe's largest industrial estate, the route will also take in other major visitor attractions including Old Trafford football stadium, the Imperial War Museum North and EventCity.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will continue its collaboration with MPact-Thales (MPT) and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff on the scheme, having successfully worked together to deliver extensions to MediaCityUK, Manchester Airport, Ashton, East Didsbury and Oldham and Rochdale, with the finishing touches being applied to the Second City Crossing.

Advanced utility works are now under way, which will run concurrently with other enabling works. Some local traffic management measures will be required at sites on Barton Dock Road, Village Way, Village Place and Trafford Wharf Road.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Tony Lloyd, said: "It's great to see the first spades in the ground for yet another Metrolink line.

"Metrolink is one of Greater Manchester's major success stories, helping to drive regeneration and boost local economies.

"Trafford Park is the largest industrial estate in Europe and deserving of first class transport links - and this new route also takes in other iconic destinations, from Old Trafford to the Trafford Centre."

Public support for the Trafford Park line was established at a major public consultation in summer 2014, where 89 per cent of respondents were in favour.

The new line will branch off from the existing Pomona stop.