Eccles Line
| Eccles Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A M5000 tram at Exchange Quay tram stop.
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| Overview | |||
| Type | Tram/Light rail | ||
| System | Manchester Metrolink | ||
| Locale |
Manchester Eccles |
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| Termini |
Cornbrook MediaCityUK, Eccles Interchange |
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| Stations | 11 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Opened | 6 December 1999 (Cornbrook to Broadway) 21 July 2000 (Broadway to Eccles) 20 September 2010 (spur to MediaCityUK) |
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| Character |
Reserved track and street running |
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| Rolling stock | M5000 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 4 miles (6.4 km) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 volts DC overhead | ||
| Operating speed | 50 mph (80km/h) | ||
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The Eccles Line is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink in Greater Manchester running from Manchester to Eccles via Salford Quays, with a short spur to MediaCityUK. It was opened in phases during 1999–2000 as part of the second phase of the system's development. The spur to MediaCityUK was opened in 2010. The line contains a mixture of reserved track beds and a street running section.
The line physically starts at a junction with the Altrincham Line, just west of Cornbrook tram stop, which itself was opened with the line, initially as an interchange between the Eccles and Altrincham lines. It then runs over the 650 metre long Pomona Viaduct which carries the line over both the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal: Pomona tram stop is located upon this viaduct south of the ship canal, and will be the interchange with the future Trafford Park Line when this is completed. The line then weaves through the Salford Quays area on a reserved trackbed, which is segregated from other traffic (except pedestrians in some places). This section serves stops at Exchange Quay, Salford Quays, Anchorage, Harbour City, MediaCityUK (at the end of a short spur) and Broadway.
The line then leaves the Salford Quays area and runs on-street towards the terminus at Eccles Interchange along the South Langworthy Road and then the Eccles New Road (the A57), serving stops at Langworthy, Weaste and Ladywell.
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