Place MediaCityUK Metrolink Zone H Opened 20 September 2010 | Grid reference SJ803973 Present status In operation | |
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Address Salford M50 2EQ, United Kingdom | ||
MediaCityUK tram stop is a stop on Greater Manchester's Metrolink light rail system. It is located in MediaCityUK, in Salford, North West England, and serves MediaCityUK, The Lowry, the Imperial War Museum North and other parts of Salford Quays. It opened on 20 September 2010, as the terminus of a specially-constructed 360-metre-long spur (0.22 mi) from the Eccles Line.
Contents
History
MediaCityUK is a development within Salford Quays, on the site of the former Manchester Docks. When an active port, the quays were served by numerous railway goods lines.
The Metrolink's extension into Salford Quays is part of a programme of urban renewal for the area around the Manchester Ship Canal. Plans for a light rail system into Salford Quays have existed since around 1987, initially as far as Broadway; the proposals evolved, with plans for a branch line to serve the Lowry arts centre. The MediaCity extension replaced that proposal.
Services to the station were suspended following an incident at the Harbour City crossover on the second day of operation. A driver reversed after only partially passing over spring-loaded points causing the tram to straddle two tracks and hit a central support column.
The station is served by a dedicated Piccadilly - MediaCityUK service. The plan is to have the station served by a short service to Cornbrook when a reversal siding has been commissioned and the tram management system (TMS) is in operation between Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar.
Vehicles
A new generation of light rail vehicles (LRVs) was ordered for Metrolink from the rail manufacturer Bombardier. Four LRVs are required to operate the MediaCity line. The Flexity Swift LRVs, designated 'M5000', are similar to the K5000 series used in Cologne and Bonn in Germany, and similar to the low-floor models used by London’s Tramlink.
The first delivery of LRVs from Bombardier arrived at Metrolink's Queens Road depot in July 2009 and was subjected to three months testing and driver training before entering service in the autumn.
Service pattern
Connecting bus routes
MediaCityUK station is served by Arriva North West's service 79 to Swinton via Ordsall and Pendleton and Stretford via Old Trafford. Stagecoach Manchester's service 50, branded City Connect, connects to Salford Shopping Centre in Pendleton, Salford Crescent railway station, Salford University, Salford Central railway station, Manchester and East Didsbury.