Trafford Park Line

Trafford Park Line
Where the new line will start. Provision was made for a future junction with the Trafford Park Line at the end of Pomona tram stop, branching away from the Eccles Line.
Overview
Type	Tram/Light rail
System	Manchester Metrolink
Status	Under construction
Locale	Manchester Trafford
Termini	Pomona Trafford Centre
Stations	6
Website	Transport for Greater Manchester
Operation
Opened	scheduled 2021
Character	Reserved track & street running
Rolling stock	M5000
Technical
Line length	5.5 km (3.4 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 volts DC overhead
Route map to Crumpsall Deansgate-Castlefield Deansgate Bridgewater Canal Cornbrook to Altrincham, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport Bridgewater Canal Pomona to Eccles, MediaCityUK Wharfside Imperial War Museum Village Parkway Bridgewater Canal EventCity Trafford Centre Trafford Quays Manchester Ship Canal Salford Reds Port Salford

The Trafford Park Line is a tram line under construction on the Manchester Metrolink network in Greater Manchester, running from Pomona to the Trafford Centre. Its name derives from Trafford Park, an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford and the first planned industrial estate in the world, which the line will eventually run through.

Between July and September 2014, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) conducted a public consultation to build the line. In November 2014, TfGM applied for power under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to build and operate the line. In October 2016, power to build the line was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport. Construction commenced in January 2017 and it is expected to be open in 2020/21.

The line will branch off from the Eccles Line immediately beyond Pomona, where provision was made for a future junction at the south–western end when the viaduct on which it sits was built in the late 1990s. Stops will be built at Wharfside, Imperial War Museum, Village, Parkway, EventCity and the Trafford Centre. Future provision will be made to extend the line to Port Salford.

No new rolling stock will be required to operate the line, as it will absorb capacity within the existing M5000 fleet, with provision for the line's operation having been made when finalising the number ordered.