All stops on the Manchester Metrolink system

[Mcr Warrior]

Now that the Manchester Metrolink system has been further extended with an extra 15 stops on the Airport line, what would be the approximate minimum time required to ride the whole network and visit every Metrolink station?

 

[northwichcat]

There used to be an approximate time for each route end to end on the route map but Metrolink seem to have removed it from the latest version. If someone has an out-of-date version still they may help.

The stops section on www.metrolink.co.uk site seems out-of-date. Under stop information for Altrincham they mention onwards connections including a 288 bus - which hasn't existed for over 5 years, as well as the withdrawn Warrington Coachway services from Altrincham.

 

[gordonthemoron]

depends how many pubs you visit

 

[WatcherZero]

Was 5.25 hours before Droylsden-Ashton and Airport opened, back and forth on airport add 1:30, back and forth Ashton add 28 minutes so roughly 7-7.5 hours.

 

[Polarbear]

If you wanted to tour the whole of the Metrolink system, I would suggest getting a tram & bus day saver. This would allow you to get between some of the extremities of the system without having to double back through central Manchester every time.

For example, you could do the tram to Ashton for the bus to Rochdale & similarly, jump the bus to get from Manchester Airport to Altrincham.

 

[Boysteve]

Was 5.25 hours before Droylsden-Ashton and Airport opened, back and forth on airport add 1:30, back and forth Ashton add 28 minutes so roughly 7-7.5 hours.

Actually I did it in 4 hours 51 minutes 5 seconds on 29th June 2013, which was before Droylsden-Ashton, the Airport line, and also Rochdale Town Centre. I have all the details on a Microsoft Word file. I say I visited every stop, but it was a Saturday and I passed straight through Woodlands Road twice without stopping so I may have failed on a technicality of course!

I have just consulted the Metrolink timetables on the TFGM journey planning website.
If tells me that it should be possible to visit every stop in 6h37m!

10:05 Rochdale Town centre to Shudehill 10:56
10:59 Shudehill to Bury 11:24
11:29 Bury - Market Street 11:56
*toilet break in Burger King perhaps*
12:09 Picc' Gardens to Ashton 12:42
12:47 Ashton - Eccles 13:51
*toilet break in Morrisons*
14:01 Eccles to Broadway 14:11
RUN
14:19 Media City to Cornbrook 14:30
14:36 Cornbrook to Alty 14:54
14:59 Alty to Trafford Bar 15:15
15:22 Trafford Bar to East Didsbury 15:39
15:49 East Didsbury - St.W Rd 16:00
16:10 St.W Rd - Airport 16:42**

**In reality the Airport line timetable is very challenging, I have been on the line 4 times and all journeys take ~3 minutes longer than timetabled, therefore I would not expect to arrive until 16:45 giving a total travel time of 6h40m.
.....and yes, you need to think about a quick toilet visit, believe me!

 

[thenorthern]

The Airport line is quite slow I did it and I think it took 55 Min from Cornbrook and I took the mainline back to Piccadilly so I would recommend a train and tram ticket to prevent you doubling back via the city centre each time, the Ashton line takes a while as well and every time I have gone on it I have taken the train back as its much quicker.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

There used to be an approximate time for each route end to end on the route map but Metrolink seem to have removed it from the latest version. If someone has an out-of-date version still they may help.

The stops section on www.metrolink.co.uk site seems out-of-date. Under stop information for Altrincham they mention onwards connections including a 288 bus - which hasn't existed for over 5 years, as well as the withdrawn Warrington Coachway services from Altrincham.

There is a internet archive known as The Way Back Machine. It doesn't have all webpages but it saves alot. It might be worth looking via that site if the times were shown as text on a page rather than on a PDF.

 

[telstarbox]

Arndale toilet is nicer than the BK one and close to the entrance from Market St!

 

[Kite159]

I'm hoping to do Metrolink on a Friday next month, probably starting from Victoria at around 10:20, I was going to head north first (either Bury or Rochdale depends which tram arrives first at Shudehill), is there a bus which runs between the 2 ends to avoid doubling back?

 

[James268]

Yes, the 471. It's a frequent service (<10 mins) and the journey takes around 35 mins.

http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/471.pdf

 

[Kite159]

Thanks

I'm guessing the Wayfarer is valid from Denton (as the train stops at 9:32), but isn't on the map due to the limited service?

 

[telstarbox]

IIRC this came up before and the consensus was yes.

 

[martin2345uk]

At present the greater challenge would be getting around the Metrolink system and avoiding points failures.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

As a Rochdalian, Ive concocted the following itinery, which should take about 8 hours
1. Take the 09:00 471 bus to Bury (I have a weekly bus pass anyway, valid before 0930)
2. Take the 09:41 tram to Cornbrook, change for Media City, walk to whatever the shack is by the triangle (or get the tram back); then get the tram to Eccles.
3. A briskish walk should make the 11:10 train to Manchester Victoria, which connects nicely with the 11:29 to Ashton.
4. A tram back to Manchester Piccadilly (11:46) should connect with an airport train at 12:30, although as this is a through train from Glasgow it may well be late! Nevertheless...
5... arrival at Manchester Airport at 12:45 and departure at 12:49 gets one to East Didsbury (via Firswood) for 14:12.
6. There's a 323 back into Piccadilly at 14:26 (arr 14:41). Thence tram to Altrincham arriving 15:18.
7. The tramride allthe way back to Rochdale takes about 1hr 30, so back at base for 5pm ish.

I've really nothing better to do on Christmas Eve, after all

 

[185]

3. A briskish walk should make the 11:10 train to Manchester Victoria, which connects nicely with the 11:29 to Ashton.

Remember-
Ashton is from Picc Gardens
Vic is shut for trams, 3 min walk to Shudehill

 

[rebmcr]

Remember-
Ashton is from Picc Gardens
Vic is shut for trams, 3 min walk to Shudehill

He's getting the train to Ashton and the tram back.

 

[Kite159]

Ashton tram to train station isn't that well sign posted.

The seats are uncomfortable for 30+ minutes rides (only had one ticket check all day, fare evasion must be high) (managed the whole system apart from the curve from media city to the Eccles line and the curve between Piccadilly garden and Victoria).