Where does Manchester Metrolink actually go?
This is a Google Map, overlaying the routes and station locations of Manchester’s Metrolink tram system on an actual map, rather than the rather random schematic diagrams regularly used by TfGM. The point being that if you know where a place is, and want to know how close the Metrolink goes, the diagram is not very helpful since it gives no clue as to the directions the lines take in reality. For a better designed graphic style Metrolink map I would suggest the far clearer one here, which also has the decency to give some consideration to the points of the compass.
The overlay below shows the current lines and the lines due to open in the future. You can click on the lines or stations for further details. Please note that not all lines are current – several are still in the proposal or development stages – click the line to check its status!
Please leave any comments or questions below, and if you wish to see the map directly in Google Maps it can be found here (the linked version also includes a complete alphabetic list of stations linked to the map).
19 comments
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Thomas says:
October 25, 2011 at 10:17 pm (UTC 0)
This is incredibly useful, thankyou.
Obviously it would be far too helpful for TFGM to provide a geographic map.
Good work.
admin says:
October 25, 2011 at 11:38 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks for the compliment Thomas. I’ve just updated the dates for the Oldham line, since it was orignally due to open Spring 2011, and it clearly isn’t open yet!
Bill Bowdren says:
March 26, 2013 at 9:22 pm (UTC 0)
Very useful for planning a future group walk along Clayton Vale, as I can now see where the stops are.
Tony says:
October 28, 2011 at 10:12 am (UTC 0)
Great stuff, thanks for publishing this.
I’ll be visiting Manchester for two days, arriving on Sunday night.
I looked on the Metrolink website which to be fair was excellent at providing me with a journey planner from Manchester Piccadilly to Salford Quays. So far so good!
Then I noticed that link to engineering works taking place this weekend 29/30 October.
Looking in there it is telling me which lines are subject to closures, but it is not apparent to a non-local visitor which lines are which!
As for the TGM map layout I think you get what you pay for in this world and if you give the job to the Saturday boy then you should not be surprised if you get a result which lacks real world usefulness……
Maybe someone thought they should make it look something like the London Underground map which although a design icon (Apparently!) is about as much use as a chocolate teapot to visitors when it comes to geographically locating underground stations in relation to real world locations.
admin says:
October 28, 2011 at 10:47 am (UTC 0)
Thanks Tony, glad it was useful and I hope you enjoy your visit to Manchester. I was in Salford Quays on Wednesday, and it’s looking pretty impressive with the new developments (plus I’ve been a fan of Booths supermarkets for a while and now we have the Manchester branch over there!).
To be fair, I quite like the tube map, and I feel that if a system has reached that level of complexity then a simplified, easy to use schematic diagram is of great value. But the Metrolink is far less complicated than the tube, and anyway, if you do want a schematic diagram it’s possible to make a far clearer one, like the project mapping one I’ve linked to above.
admin says:
April 7, 2012 at 3:26 pm (UTC 0)
It appears that rather late in the day the Manchester Evening News has discovered Andrew Smithers’ map diagram (as linked to in the main post)
admin says:
July 10, 2012 at 4:05 pm (UTC 0)
It has been pointed out that the tram lines and stations can also be viewed on the Open Street Map here:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/
Nina says:
July 12, 2012 at 10:02 am (UTC 0)
Thank you so very much for this, it has made my househunting a lot easier :)
Stephen Patterson says:
June 23, 2013 at 8:17 am (UTC 0)
This is much more useful than he official map, thanks :)
Couple of corrections:
* Mosley Street closed early 2013
* The current (June 2013) metrolink map doesn’t show Trafford Park, though this may be a matchdays only stop.
admin says:
June 26, 2013 at 11:39 am (UTC 0)
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the comment. I’ve removed Mosley as you suggest. Slightly confused about your mention of Trafford Park, which is a railway station and not on the metrolink network?
sam says:
July 18, 2014 at 9:48 pm (UTC 0)
I just thought i’d let you know that the extension to manchester airport is 1yr ahead of schedule and will be open by the end of the year now :)
Source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/video-manchester-airport-metrolink-line-7300833
The second city link schedule hasn’t changed though.
admin says:
July 20, 2014 at 10:37 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks for the heads-up Sam. I’ve updated the map accordingly.
Adie says:
November 19, 2014 at 9:54 am (UTC 0)
can you send me the kmz file?
admin says:
November 20, 2014 at 10:35 am (UTC 0)
Hi Adie,
You’re very welcome to the KML file. First, link through to the version on Google Maps itself, which has now been “upgraded” to the new maps engine format (which I am not a fan of). In the info-panel you should see some share icons. Presently the right-most one is the three linked dots (“ShareThis” icon) and clicking it will give you a download kml option. Of course the KML can easily be converted to KMZ.
Diane says:
June 4, 2015 at 8:32 am (UTC 0)
Very useful, just what I was looking for to plan health walks around Manchester.
s manthravadi says:
July 27, 2015 at 3:01 pm (UTC 0)
Very useful and the one I am looking for. Should be available more widely.
thanks
Jane McCulloch says:
August 8, 2015 at 4:39 pm (UTC 0)
Just to reiterate what others have said, very useful and informative. The GMT schematic is not very helpful but this is great.
Thanks
Rita Stubbersfield says:
March 8, 2016 at 5:33 pm (UTC 0)
I agree with the others. This is exactly the way GMPTE should have done it. Many thanks to you, I’m so glad I found it here!
Richard says:
May 6, 2016 at 11:02 pm (UTC 0)
Hi Tim,
Thank you soooOOOooo much for your map! I’ve just got a job in Manchester, your map is so useful when I search for a suitable place to stay.
Thanks & all the best!