The East Manchester Metrolink extension opened from Piccadilly to Droylsden in Tameside on 11th February 2013 and will be further extended to Ashton-under-Lyne by winter 2013/14.

Manchester to Droylsden - now open

The 3.9 mile (6.3km) section to Droylsden runs from the existing Metrolink stop at Manchester Piccadilly through the key regeneration areas of Ancoats, New Islington and Beswick and the heart of East Manchester. The line runs under Great Ancoats Street, through Holt Town towards Etihad Campus (Manchester City football stadium) and the Velodrome. From here, between Clayton and Droylsden the line runs on-street along Ashton New Road and Manchester Road.

The new line has eight new stops at New Islington, Holt Town, Etihad Campus, Velopark, Clayton Hall, Edge Lane, Cemetery Road and Droylsden.

Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne

In May 2009, a special fund of £1.5 billion was agreed for 15 transport schemes in Greater Manchester. These included a further 2.1 miles (3.4km) extension to the East Manchester line from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne. Plans for the extension from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne were fully approved by the Department for Transport in March 2010 whereupon MPact-Thales was appointed as the main contractor.

Four additional stops will be located at Audenshaw, Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Ashton-under-Lyne with Park & Ride sites planned at Ashton Moss and Ashton West.

From Droylsden, the line will continue to run on street to Audenshaw serving the local residents and businesses along Ashton Road and Droylsden Road.

From Audenshaw to Ashton-under-Lyne Metrolink will operate along the side and central reservations of Lord Sheldon Way serving The Snipe Retail Park and Ashton Leisure Park in Ashton Moss and businesses in Ashton-under-Lyne town centre. The final stop on the line will also form an interchange with Ashton bus station and will be in close proximity to Ashton rail station.

Trams will run every six minutes to Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne at peak times and every 12 minutes off peak with a 15 minute service on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Maps of the new East Manchester line

View an overview map of the new East Manchester line.

For a more detailed area map:

View the East Manchester line from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne