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Bury Line

Bury Line
Geograph-2206116-by-David-Dixon.jpg
Overview
Type Tram/Light rail
System Manchester Metrolink
Locale Manchester
Bury
Termini Manchester Piccadilly
Bury Interchange
Stations 10
Operation
Opened 6 April 1992
Character Converted railway track
Rolling stock M5000
Technical
Line length 9.9 miles (15.9 km)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 volts DC overhead
Operating speed 50 mph (80km/h)
Route map
Bury Parking BSicon BUS.svg http://cycling.tfgm.com/Pages/join-a-hub.aspx Heritage railwayBolton Street
East Lancashire Railway
River Irwell
Radcliffe Parking
River Irwell
Whitefield Parking
Besses o' th' Barn
UK-Motorway-M60.svg
Prestwich
Heaton Park
Bowker Vale
Crumpsall
Abraham Moss
to Queens Road Depot
Queens Road
to Rochdale
River Irk
Manchester Victoria National Rail
to Altrincham and Piccadilly

The Bury Line is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink running from Manchester city centre to Bury in Greater Manchester. Originally a railway line, it was, along with the Altrincham Line, converted into a tram line during 1991–92, as part of the first phase of the Metrolink system.

The line runs entirely on an old railway alignment without any street running. It runs north from Manchester Victoria and connects the suburbs of Cheetham Hill, Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe. The entire route from Victoria to Bury is roughly 10 miles (16 km) long. Two services travel along the line, both starting at Bury, and terminating at Altrincham and Etihad Campus respectively.

The line was originally a railway. The first part of what is now the Bury Line was opened by the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) in 1846, From Manchester Victoria to Bury Bolton Street via Salford, Clifton Junction and Radcliffe, continuing north from Bury to Rawtenstall. The ELR was absorbed into the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) in 1859.

The second part was opened in 1879: In order to connect the growing suburbs of Cheetham Hill, Prestwich and Whitefield, in 1872 the L&YR obtained an act to construct a new line from Manchester to the original ELR line at Radcliffe. Construction began in 1876 and was completed in 1879. Originally the line had only five intermediate stations at Crumpsall, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe. Three more stations; Woodlands Road, Bowker Vale and Besses o' th' Barn were added later.


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Wikipedia

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