{"id":600437,"date":"2025-11-29T02:48:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T02:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/600437\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T02:48:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T02:48:38","slug":"tram-train-vision-for-underused-greater-manchester-railway-line-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/600437\/","title":{"rendered":"Tram-train vision for underused Greater Manchester railway line unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"

The vision forms part of a long-term strategy for Greater Manchester’s future transport system\"ManchesterMetrolink tram emerging from Manchester Victoria Station (Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

A vision for new tram-trains connecting thousands of residents Stockport, Tameside<\/a> and Manchester could soon be run a disused railway line.<\/p>\n

For years the railway line through Denton<\/a> has gone underused, only offering a \u2018ghost train\u2019 service<\/a>. But exciting new plans could see Metrolink<\/a> trams rattling along the lonely train tracks.<\/p>\n

Currently Denton and Reddish<\/a> South train stations see two trains weekly, coming through every Saturday \u2013 one to Stalybridge<\/a>, the other to Stockport<\/a>. This is a minimum service simply to keep the line open.<\/p>\n

The line is strategically important to the wider rail network, providing options for freight trains as well as an alternative route in case of a blockage between Stockport and Manchester.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe steps leading down to Denton station on a cold winter’s day(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has now devised a further purpose for the line \u2013 to run tram-trains. Tram-train technology would see services run on both tram and train tracks.<\/p>\n

This scheme, if signed off by transport bosses, would see the tram-trains run beyond Stockport town centre, along the Denton rail line, connecting the area firmly into the wider Metrolink network.<\/p>\n

This vision would include links to Ashton-under-lyne and Manchester Airport<\/a>. If the idea were brought to life, it could connect thousands more residents to the Bee Network.<\/p>\n

TfGM is already working with Stockport council<\/a> to develop a business case for bringing trams to Stockport, exploring a \u2018core\u2019 extension from the existing Metrolink stop at East Didsbury<\/a> to Stockport town centre. As part of the work on the business case strategy, TfGM is also considering how this may unlock future extensions, such as tram-trains through Denton.<\/p>\n

\"SignageSignage at Denton station in Denton, Tameside(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

The line that runs through Denton features in TfGM\u2019s 2040 strategy for tram-trains, with the original plan to connect Stockport to Oldham<\/a> and then onto Victoria. But this idea of linking the disused train line to the Stockport tram service business case is the first sign of progress on the scheme to date.<\/p>\n

\"GreaterGreater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham(Image: Joel Goodman)<\/p>\n

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham<\/a>, said: \u201cWe\u2019ve a bold plan to deliver a decade of good growth for Greater Manchester, one that benefits every part of the city region. Developing the Bee Network and delivering better bus, tram and train connections will be fundamental to our growth story.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, Denton has been overlooked and by working up the tram-train option to connect Denton and the wider area to the Metrolink is a big step toward unlocking opportunities for local residents and businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re committed to extending Metrolink to Stockport and beyond as part of our efforts to connect all our districts to the tram network and delivering a truly integrated transport network for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Significant progress has already been made on the first stage of the Stockport Metrolink extension business case. TfGM is working hard to complete the required technical work this year, ahead of submission to the Department for Transport in early 2026.<\/p>\n

Construction of the \u2018core\u2019 scheme between East Didsbury and Stockport could begin by the end of the decade, subject to approvals and funding.<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Gwynne, MP for Gorton and Denton(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Gorton<\/a> & Denton, said: \u201cFor years I\u2019ve campaigned, alongside the local community, for improved transport links to Denton and across the constituency. I\u2019m delighted that as part of the Metrolink extension plans, TfGM are looking seriously at using the rail line as an option for tram-train services.<\/p>\n

\u201cImproved connectivity is key to opening up opportunities for our people and communities, and supporting the growth ambitions across the city region.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve long campaigned for better transport links for Denton, and I\u2019m delighted TfGM is looking seriously at this rail line as part of the Metrolink extension plans. This could be transformative for our community, improving connectivity and supporting growth across the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the government awarded Greater Manchester \u00a32.5bn through Transport for the City Regions funding for a pipeline of projects including a tram line to Stockport and tram-train services connecting Oldham, Rochdale<\/a>, Heywood<\/a> and Bury<\/a>, new Metrolink stops and modern new interchanges.<\/p>\n

Leader of Stockport council, Coun Mark Roberts, added: \u201cI\u2019ve always said when it comes to MetroLink that it should be \u2018Next Stop Stockport not Last Stop Stockport\u2019 to the help deliver the ambition we have. The delivery of Metrolink and improving public transport connectivity across the borough and Greater Manchester is something we can all get behind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The vision forms part of a long-term strategy for Greater Manchester’s future transport systemMetrolink tram emerging from Manchester…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":577442,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[51,1025,104653,2465,285,1288,2622,1026,16499,1263,8825,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-600437","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-denton-and-audenshaw","10":"tag-greater-manchester-mayor","11":"tag-manchester","12":"tag-politics","13":"tag-stockport","14":"tag-stockport-council","15":"tag-tameside","16":"tag-tameside-council","17":"tag-transport","18":"tag-transport-for-greater-manchester","19":"tag-uk","20":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115630711092753968","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=600437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600437\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/577442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=600437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=600437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}