The Greater Manchester town that's closer than ever to joining tram network after big hint given

Metrolink services in Stockport took a step closer to becoming reality this week after space for a future tram track was included as part of a development project in the town.

Network Rail is set to replace the deteriorating Greek Street and Stockholm Road bridges and the plans include tram-train futureproofing for one additional track through a tunnel which “ensures the bridge can be adapted when Metrolink comes to Stockport.”

The borough has been waiting for years for a tram service after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said in 2019 that he would like the service to run to Stockport, Bolton, and Wigan.

The future aim would see Stockport linked to both Manchester Airport and East Didsbury. The design proposes that a Metrolink service would travel through a new tunnel which would run under part of Mercian Way and King Street West between Booth Street and the Railway station, although the exact location has not yet been determined. The new structure at the Greek Street Bridge site could also include improved access for cyclists and pedestrains.

Councillor Grace Baynham, cabinet member for Parks, highways and transport services, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Greek Street Bridge is a key structure for the town’s transport links, in particular for rail and future Metrolink access to Stockport station, as well as being a key route for motorists accessing the town centre and Edgeley.

“The scheme would improve the current road layout, but also improve facilities for walkers and cyclists and would also create critical infrastructure to allow for any future Metrolink route to the town centre as part of our ‘Next Stop Stockport’ ambitions.

“We must recognise that Stockport now has a central role to play in connecting the Greater Manchester sub-region to national destinations through the West Coast Mainline and protecting the ability to deliver Metrolink to the town centre through these works meets that ambition.”

Speaking at the Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday October 9, Labour and Co-operative Party Coun Rachel Wise said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I’m somebody who likes to get buses and trains and would love to get a tram, I think it’s absolutely the right thing to do, to not close off any possibility of the tram coming to Stockport, coming to the right places, being functional, and getting it to the places that people need to go.”

Work to replace Greek Street Bridge is likely to begin in early 2025 and cause disruption to rail and traffic journeys in the borough while taking place. Part of the bridge development will see the Armoury roundabout impacted, creating the need for diversion routes which could see more cars travelling through residential streets, particularly in Edgeley.

Network Rail’s cost to replace the bridges is expected to be between £15 million and £20m, of which Stockport council will contribute around five per cent. Transport for Greater Manchester has secured funding from the City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement Tram-Train package to cover the costs of additional work required to future-proof for Tram-Train which will not be funded by Network Rail.

The proposal was put before Stockport’s Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday October 9 where councillors noted the designs. It is also set to face questions at the Central Stockport Area Committee on October 19.