Trafford

How the public transport investment would affect Trafford

A new state-of-the art interchange would be built in Altrincham town centre for quick and simple connections between tram, train and bus services.

Trafford will be connected to even more stops across the Metrolink network. New lines to Manchester Airport, Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton town centres and to East Didsbury. There will be funding for an extension to Trafford Park and the Trafford Centre.

Many more seats on existing tram lines every day to ease overcrowding with double trams between Altrincham and Manchester in each of the morning and evening peaks.

For employees in Trafford Park there would be a 100% congestion charge discount for crossing the outer ring only until the proposed Metrolink network to the Trafford Centre - or an alternative public transport package is in place.

Until the optimum transport solution is in place, there will only be modest public transport improvements in Trafford Park.

Links: Metrolink | Rail | Bus | Park and Ride | Cycling | Improvements for Passengers

Metrolink

Double-length trams would run on Greater Manchester peak-time services with the capacity to carry 30,000 extra passengers in each of the morning and evening peak periods. The network would be three times larger than it is currently, taking passengers to an extra 41 new stops and an additional 20 miles of additional track.

Overcrowding would be further reduced by providing longer trams and more seats.

Rail improvements

A new station to be developed at White City and improvements made to Hale and Flixton stations.

Commuter trains running through the district would have extra seats to reduce overcrowding. There would be additional rail carriages for services across Greater Manchester with capacity for an additional 2,950 passengers in the three hour morning peak period. This is as well as the additional capacity for 4,100 passengers in the three hour morning peak, which would be funded by the Government without TIF.

Bus improvements

Proposed enhancements to bus services and facilities in Trafford include:

• faster journeys from Flixton and Lostock to the city centre via Trafford Park and Bridgewater Way running every 15 minutes throughout the day
• an improved package of bus services to Trafford Park and the Trafford Centre
• daytime services every five minutes between the city centre and Stretford, along Chester Road with nine buses an hour to Sale
• a more direct service from Ashton-upon-Mersey to the city centre every 20 minutes in the day
• the Altrincham – Sale – Urmston – Trafford General Hospital (TGH) service would be increased to operate every 20 minutes in the day
• the TGH – Stretford – Chorlton – Northenden – Wythenshawe service would run via Humphrey Park, Gorse Hill and Firswood at an increased frequency of every 30 minutes
• additional circular (orbital) bus services would be introduced to connect areas outside the city centre

180 Yellow School Buses would be introduced across Greater Manchester providing customised services to schools, with seats allocated to pupils and drivers dedicated to the service.

These are some examples of proposed bus service improvements, with Greater Manchester seeing an overall increase of 10% to bus services with more services starting earlier, running later in the evening and at weekends.

Park and Ride

The TIF proposals would double the existing number of Park and Ride spaces serving Greater Manchester. Money has already been dedicated to this and positive feedback in the recent consultations has resulted in additional funds being set aside in re-allocated Local Transport Plan budgets for further sites across the region – funds that might have been invested elsewhere without TIF.

Park and Ride facilities would be created at Sale Water Park and close to the Trafford Centre.

Cycling

Improvements for cyclists with 125 miles of cycle routes and cycle parking across Greater Manchester and cycle hire schemes in Manchester and Stockport. Cycle routes planned for Trafford include:

• new cycle route alongside the Bridgewater Canal between Sale and the city centre
• secure parking at Altrincham Interchange and Brooklands and Sale Metrolink stations
• extra cycle parking at Streford shopping centre

Improvements for passengers

Further passenger improvements would include:

• a 20% reduction on public transport fares at peak times for low paid workers (statutory minimum wage)
• better and more timely travel information via real-time electronic displays and improved safety and security with CCTV, help points and better lighting at stops and stations
• an integrated ticketing and simplified fare structure using a new ‘Smartcard ticket’ would allow prepayment of fares for travel on trains, trams and buses

80% of the public transport improvements would be in place across Greater Manchester with a significant improvement in public transport in Trafford, before the peak-time congestion charge would begin in summer 2013.