30 November 2015
Opening date revealed for new Exchange Square Metrolink stop
The new city centre Exchange Square tram stop is set to open on Sunday 6 December,
transport leaders announced today.
The opening date – subject to successful completion of testing and commissioning work
in the coming days – is a boost for the busy city centre shopping and leisure district in
the run up to Christmas.
It will also mark a major milestone for the transformational Second City Crossing, a new
tram line through the heart of the city due to fully open in 2017.
The striking island-style Exchange Square stop is in the heart of the busy shopping and
leisure district, right outside the Manchester Arndale and near the Corn Exchange,
Printworks and – during December – the Christmas Markets.
Services will initially run between Shaw and Crompton and Exchange Square via the
brand new outbound Platform D, opening the same day at Victoria Station’s new-look
Metrolink stop. Inbound trams from Oldham will continue to use Victoria stop Platform
A.
Combined with the Rochdale via Oldham line service, the new line means a six-minute
daytime service between Shaw and Crompton, Oldham and the city centre from Monday
to Saturday, with a less frequent service on Sundays.
There are more than 800 FREE car parking spaces combined at Shaw & Crompton,
Derker, Oldham Mumps and Hollinwood stops, giving Metrolink customers the chance
to park and ride into the heart of the city to enjoy all the Christmas fun on offer.
There will be some changes to other Metrolink services from 6 December, although
most are unaffected. Full service details are available online now at
www.metrolink.co.uk or by calling Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said:
“We’ve pulled out all the stops to get the new line to Exchange Square up and running
before Christmas, which will be great news for the city and particularly Rochdale via
Oldham line customers.
“In the days ahead we’ll be in the last stages of an extensive testing and commissioning
process to get the stop, surrounding roads and Metrolink drivers ready for services going
live.
“Services to Exchange Square will also see us open a new platform at Victoria stop,
meaning some changes for passengers and trams.
“Our customers’ safety is a priority and we’ll have staff at both stops in the first weeks of
service to make sure that people are taking extra care and looking out for trams running
in different areas than people are used to.
“While most Metrolink services will remain the same from 6 December, I’d advise all
passengers to visit our website to see what the new Exchange Square stop opening will
mean for them.”
The brand new Exchange Square stop and Second City Crossing is being delivered by
TfGM and its delivery partners, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff. The principal contractor is MPact Thales (MPT), a consortium consisting of Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales,
with RATP Dev Ltd responsible for operating the Metrolink network.
Like all Metrolink stops, Exchange Square will be fully accessible with ramped access,
ticket machines, smart card readers, passenger emergency facilities and a PA system.
A clean, uncluttered design sees passenger information displays and seating integrated
into polished concrete columns to give the stop a sleek look.
The stylish stop also boasts a striking coloured steel and glass canopy – with four
‘floating’ overlapping glazed roof panels.
TfGM and Manchester City Council worked with architects to ensure that the tram stop
makes the most of limited space in Exchange Square while keeping plenty of room for
pedestrians.
The new Second City Crossing line will start at St Peter’s Square and run down Princess
Street, along Cross Street and Corporation Street, Exchange Square and into Manchester
Victoria station.
As part of the Second City Crossing project the Deansgate-Castlefield stop has been
completely transformed, and work is under way to build a brand new tram stop in St
Peter’s Square, which is being relocated and expanded from two platforms to four.
The stop improvements at Exchange Square, Deansgate-Castlefield and Victoria have
been made possible by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
The Second City Crossing is part of a co-ordinated three-year programme of works,
known collectively as Grow, which will enable Manchester city centre to flourish for
years to come.
Between now and 2017, the city centre will see more than £1bn of investment in
projects to lay the foundations for continuing success by ‘future proofing’ the city’s
transport infrastructure.
Also under the Grow umbrella are a series of major regeneration projects. Together they
add up to a wave of investment unprecedented since the mid-1990s.
For information and regular updates on the transformational Second City Crossing
programme, visit www.transformationinformation.co.uk.
ENDS
Media contact: 0161 244 1055 or email mediarelations@tfgm.com
Notes to Editors
1. The Deansgate-Castlefield, Exchange Square and Manchester Victoria elements of
Metrolink’s Second City Crossing programme are part-financed by the North West
England European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The
Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the
European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds
established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic
development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs.
For more information visit www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/europeanregional-development-funding
2. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the transport delivery arm for Greater
Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and its Transport for Greater Manchester
Committee (TfGMC).
3. TfGM oversees transport and travel across Greater Manchester, home of the UK’s
largest regional economy outside London and a diverse population of over 2.7 million
people.
4. TfGM:

is responsible for delivering the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, a £1.5bn
transport investment package which will drive economic growth and create
21,000 new jobs.

owns and manages the Metrolink network, which currently covers 57.5 miles and
92 stops across seven lines – hosting 32 million passenger journeys every year.

is delivering the Second City Metrolink Crossing – which is currently under
construction in Manchester city centre – and is working on preparations for the
new Trafford Park line.

is responsible for the bus priority package which is improving bus links between
Leigh, Atherton, Salford, Middleton and Parrs Wood and Manchester city centre.

builds, maintains and staffs bus stations and interchanges, and installs and
maintains 12,000 bus stops and 4,000 shelters in partnership with JCDecaux.

works closely with 30+ bus operators to ensure high quality services in the right
places.

is a key partner in Rail North – calling for increased rail devolution for the north
of England, and is working to prepare for HS2 and in the £580m Northern Hub
project.

manages the road network and co-ordinates maintenance, investment and
strategic modelling to keep traffic flowing, as well as installing and maintaining
traffic signals.

is overseeing a £45m investment into cycle routes and facilities, alongside a
programme of cycling information, education and training.

works with Job Centres, job-seekers and local businesses to encourage
sustainable commuting.
5. For more information, visit www.tfgm.com.