Most UK cities have direct rail links from Manchester including London which is just over two-hours away. Manchester is at the heart of the Northern Hub, a major railway investment scheme that will see a series of improvements across the North of England rail network that will mean faster and more frequent services with 700 additional trains per day. New investment in regional rail routes means that Liverpool will be reached in just 30 minutes and Leeds in 45 minutes.
Every urban centre in the city region is connected to the city centre by rail or Metrolink. Manchester’s Piccadilly is at the heart of Manchester’s rail network. All journeys from the West Coast of England to London take an average of 2 hours. Virgin Train’s half hourly service from Manchester to London Euston use tilting Pendolino trains which achieve a top speed of 140m.p.h. thus help to cut the journey time and increase freight capacity on the West Coast by 70%.
Metrolink
Metrolink is Manchester’s on-street, light rail transport system offering fast and frequent, fully accessible connections across the city region, 7 days a week, 364 days per year.
Metrolink, being a pioneer for comparable transport schemes around the UK, combines the benefits of traditional tram systems and rail characteristics to provide an effective alternative to getting around for residents, commuters and visitors. Research has suggested that at least 2 million car journeys have been taken off the road each year along the Metrolink corridor.
Around 20 million journeys are made on Metrolink each year.
The network serves 50 stops in and around the city centre, southwards to Altrincham and Chorlton, northwards to Bury and Oldham and westwards to Eccles via Salford Quays and MediaCityUK.
More lines are currently under construction to Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport, almost trebling the size of the network by 2016. A second route across Manchester city centre, known as the Second City Crossing or 2CC, is also proposed.
For more information about Manchester’s rail or Metrolink network, please contact MIDAS.