What transport infrastructure changes may be proposed to cater for the proposed Manchester United stadium?

[John R]

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Football

Hi, I don't want this to turn into a platform of match analysis etc, or indeed a place for talking about how awful it is, but something that has just cropped into my mind is how many rail enthusiatsts actually like the beautiful game too? I can think of a few members on here, yet trains...

www.railforums.co.uk

So I wonder what transport infrastructure changes will be proposed to get an extra 26,000 fans in and out of Old Trafford on match day.

 

[JamesT]

So I wonder what transport infrastructure changes will be proposed to get an extra 26,000 fans in and out of Old Trafford on match day.

“Rebuilding” the train station has been mentioned. There’s also lots of buildings shown on top of the current car parking, so not just the additional fans requiring transport.

 

[biggerisbetter]

Given that the proposals don’t just involve an increase in capacity but redevelopment of existing car parks and other land in the area to provide up to 15,000 new homes and commercial uses, I would imagine some fairly extensive improvements would be needed. You are probably looking at a target of doubling the number of people travelling to the ground by public transport.

I know that Trafford Council are keen on the bus services that now serve the Etihad on match days so I would imagine that this would form part of the improvements. Along with this I thing the following would be beneficial:

- Extension of the Trafford Centre line to Port Salford and increase in the number of Park and Ride spaces at Parkway, The Trafford Centre and Salford Community Stadium.
- Relocation and expansion of Wharfside stop to be located closer to the new stadium potentially with turn back facilities.
- New rail station on the CLC line with turn back facilities.
- Order of Next Generation tram / tram-train units for Altrincham to Bury services (as an add on to the tram-train pathfinder units) to release M5000s for the Port Salford extension and increase capacity.

If there is to be some government funding towards the project, I can see it being directed to improvements such as the above that would have wider benefits so that it does not appear that the stadium itself is being directly funded by the government.

 

[HSTEd]

Moderator note: Split from

Football

Hi, I don't want this to turn into a platform of match analysis etc, or indeed a place for talking about how awful it is, but something that has just cropped into my mind is how many rail enthusiatsts actually like the beautiful game too? I can think of a few members on here, yet trains...

www.railforums.co.uk

So I wonder what transport infrastructure changes will be proposed to get an extra 26,000 fans in and out of Old Trafford on match day.

The layout of a station itself is interesting to me.

If we make an assumption that traffic comes mostly from central Manchester (either changing train or locals) before the game and then goes back after, would it be better to have side platforms or an absolutely enormous island?

An island would allow the maximum number of passengers to be on the platform before it becomes unsafe, and allow loading of trains rapidly through all available doors.
I'd assume that if you are going to make a big go of this you'd stop all trains on the CLC at the station during matches, and probably all but the fastest at all times.

How much would it cost for Northern to keep a handful of additional EMUs around to ensure the establishment can support matchday reinforcement?

 

[Topological]

Assuming that there is the land, I would have still gone for a 2 platform station either side of the main running lines. On the North side I would put a bay platform for EMU shuttles to Piccadilly/Stockport. Both platforms would be much wider than normal to handle crowds.

Ideally there would be more than one footbridge so that everyone could get off the platform quickly. These would be placed at about 1/4 and 3/4 along the platform. Sufficient holding areas could be built above the line. Indeed the whole area between the two bridges could be a building.

IF the infill between the two bridges was used, there may be some room for concessions / independent coffee carts etc to operate during non match-days.

 

[Bald Rick]

Whatever isdone, it will need provision for through trains from the home counties