We've been left out - finally getting the Metrolink in Stockport would be huge for our town and businesses

In its current form, the tram system has eight lines and 99 stops across the region. The 100th Metrolink stop could be in a number of places, but one in particular has people in the town hoping it is them.

Several factors point to Stockport being a place on the up and getting the Metrolink would see the town connected with the wider Greater Manchester area in the strongest way to date. 

The brand new transport interchange opened its doors earlier this year. The building is a hub for buses, and also has a safe walking route to Stockport train station, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham believes it is “Metrolink ready”. 

Maps of what the Greater Manchester transport network could look like have been released by TfGM. One of several Metrolink extensions was to Stockport, with the line from East Didsbury being built upon to reach the town centre. A tram or train option also considered for the borough would see a network extended to Hazel Grove or Cheadle. 

The calls for this to happen have been ongoing for some time now, and people in Stockport are keen to see it happen with business owners no different.

Bask on Railway Road has become a go-to spot in Stockport. For two years now, it's been a bar and live music venue with DJ sets every weekend. There are also comedy nights, quiz nights, bingo nights and a variety of showcase events with local musicians and open mic nights.

Bands including Lottery Winners, The Lathums and The Lightning Seeds have taken to the stage in recent months. Open until 3am on a Friday and Saturday night, co-owner Lewis James has no doubts about what impact the Metrolink could have on the town.

“Being right next to the train station, we get a lot of people popping in who have been travelling to Stockport,” Lewis said.  “They come in for a coffee or a bite to eat, and then we also get our evening crowd who like to come in for a dance from around 9pm or 10pm, we cover a lot of bases.

“The transport links from Manchester to Stockport are pretty good, but I feel that they can be unreliable and there can be train cancellations late on. The last train back from Manchester to Stockport is before midnight, hopefully the Metrolink would run later than that, especially on a weekend.” 

Lewis has first hand experience as a commuter into Stockport, and believes the Metrolink would benefit workers and party people alike. 

“It would benefit Stockport from a tourist standpoint, but also improve reliability,” he said. “I live in Manchester city centre and work in Stockport. I’ll get the Metrolink because it's a reliable system and it’s a lot quicker and regular. 

“I feel like it’s a necessity to give people who work in Stockport or who are coming for a night out that option and flexibility with travel arrangements. They won’t need to worry so much about missing a bus or the last train home being cancelled as there would be the option of the Metrolink.”

The wait for the Metrolink to reach Stockport has been a frustrating one for many, and Lewis says plans to bring it to the town are not before time. 

“It’s crazy that it feels like you can get everywhere on the Metrolink apart from Stockport,” he said. “If it’s going as far as Didsbury and across the region, why can’t it go to Stockport? It feels like we’re being a bit left out. 

“They’ve spent a lot of money renovating Stockport bus station, but I just think they could have implemented some of that into getting the Metrolink sorted sooner. I first heard about the possibility of the Metrolink coming to Stockport years ago. It’s taken a long time to come to fruition. I think it would only bring more trade and more people into the town. I can only see it having a positive impact.”

David Bailey is the Director of Titan Pops shop, located a stone's throw from Stockport’s new transport interchange.

“Our business sells what are predominantly known as funko pops, collectable toy figures, for children and adults,” he said. “We have some offshoot products as well. We predominantly offer pop culture products. 

“The Metrolink is something that Stockport needs. We’ve seen the impact already that the new bus station has made. We are on the doorstep of the interchange and we’ve seen people coming from further afield as a result of this. We effectively opened the week after the bus interchange opened. We need something more to connect people and give it more connectivity. Trams make life so much easier and quicker.”

The accessibility of the shop and other businesses in town would increase if the Metrolink was to come to Stockport, according to David. 

“I think it would have a massive impact on the business,” he said. “If it ends up being around the interchange, that leads people into the heart of Stockport. We’re about a 30-second walk from the interchange but for any business in Stockport they will be so much more accessible to the whole of Greater Manchester. People will be able to just hop on a tram and come to us, so from our point of view it’s going to increase traffic.

“Since we’ve been open, we’ve had people come from all over, out from Preston and Altrincham and these people came here by car. There are people who don’t drive and who want to get out and about to potentially see us, the tram opens a new possibility for them to come.”