Stockport’s £1bn Metrolink expansion could see tram extend to Hazel Grove and Marple in future

Plans to bring the Metrolink to Stockport could see tram services going to other areas in the borough as part of a phased expansion.

An update to Next Stop Stockport – the campaign to bring the tram to the town – shared that linking Stockport to East Didsbury is just “phase one” of the aim. The line could be extended in future to other areas including Hazel Grove and Marple.

Part of the work has seen Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) review potential routes between Stockport and East Didsbury which could be protected for future tram tracks. TfGM has also identified a potential tram-train route to Marple from Manchester city centre.

A Stockport council report stated that construction work to bring the tram to the town centre could cost up to £1 billion.

Mark Glynn, director of place management at the town hall, said: “While the ambition for the borough is for the Metrolink from East Didsbury to the town centre first, we also want to make sure that we’re linked up to the airport, through Reddish into Ashton, as part of an integrated network. It’s absolutely vital that Stockport’s part of the integrated Metrolink network, and East Didsbury to Stockport is phase one.”

Councillor Grace Baynham said: “You only have to look at somewhere like Trafford which started off with the tram line 30 years ago to Altrincham and now the tram goes all over Trafford, to the Trafford Centre and various other locations. It’s happened in every borough, once they get the Metrolink it has the opportunity to move outwards in various directions.”

Stockport has been trying to secure a tram extension to the town for years. In December, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham pledged to publish a business case for the tram coming to Stockport within 12 months. He said the potential expansion of the network would bring “huge social and economic benefits” to the town.

That work will be a vital part of the potential Metrolink extension, as funding is sought for the construction work. However, even if the business case is positive, it’s still expected to take years before tram services are running to Stockport.

Other projects taking place in the town are supporting the future expansion of the Metrolink. Space for tram tracks has been reserved as part of work by Network Rail to replace the Greek Street and Stockholm Road bridges. The new transport interchange, which is due to open in March, has also been designed to accommodate tram services.