Manchester Metrolink to reintroduce peak service between MediaCity and Etihad Campus this month

Manchester Metrolink’s peak service between MediaCity and Etihad Campus is to return later this month. The route will be reinstated on Monday September 25. 

The route will be reopened following the completion of engineering works between Eccles and Weaste. Trams will run every 12 minutes between 7am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am until 6.30pm on Saturdays.

It comes after passenger numbers showed demand between Etihad Campus and MediaCityUK had recently returned to pre-pandemic levels. The return of the service provides more capacity between Manchester city centre and the Etihad Stadium during the busiest times, although Metrolink will continue to use special services to add more capacity for football matches or events outside of the peak when needed.

The Ashton-under-Lyne to Eccles service will continue to operate as normal but will not call at MediaCityUK during peak times. Customers travelling to MediaCityUK can use Broadway or Harbour City stops or can change onto MediaCityUK services from Deansgate Castlefield. Core service hours remain unaffected, with trams operating from 6am until midnight Monday to Thursday, and 6am until 1am (the following day) on Fridays and Saturdays.

Danny Vaughan, head of Metrolink in Manchester on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester, said the move was a welcome boost to services in one of the busiest parts of the network.

He said: “We have seen a return in demand focused between Etihad Campus, Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK. This peak service will be a real benefit to our customers, with more frequent trams meaning less time waiting and more pleasant journeys on trams that aren’t too crowded.

“The Salford Quays area is one of the best served parts of our network and passengers changing at Deansgate also have the option of a Trafford Centre service, which stops at the Imperial War Museum, right across from Media City.”