East Manchester Line

The East Manchester Line runs on a mixture of reserved tracks and on-street sections with other traffic. Between Piccadilly and Clayton Hall stop, the line runs mostly along a reserved trackbed, it then runs on-street from Clayton Hall to Audenshaw, before running on a reserved route to Ashton.{{cite web|title=Metrolink expansion takes trams to Droylsden|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/metrolink-expansion-takes-trams-to-droylsden.html|publisher=Railway Gazette|access-date=11 January 2016}}{{cite web|title=Manchester to Droylsden and Ashton–under–Lyne|url=http://lrta.org/Manchester/ashton.html|publisher=LRTA|access-date=11 January 2016}}

File:Ashton New Road, geograph-3592912-by-Alan-Murray-Rust.jpg

From Piccadilly station, the line runs east, emerging from the station's undercroft, passing the reversing sidings, where trams terminating at Piccadilly reverse. Between Piccadilly and the first stop {{tram|New Islington}}, the line runs on a reserved trackbed, running under a purpose built underpass under Great Ancoats Street. After New Islington, the line merges onto Merrill Street with other traffic for 250 metres, then diverges left to get to {{tram|Holt Town}} stop which is also off street. The line then runs along a reserved track along the valley of the River Medlock before serving two sporting venues; {{tram|Etihad Campus}} stop alongside City of Manchester Stadium, the home of Manchester City FC, and then, after running through a short tunnel under Alan Turing Way; {{tram|Velopark}} stop, which serves the Manchester Velodrome.

The line then runs along Ashton New Road for 250 metres before crossing it, and after a short reserved track section, it serves {{tram|Clayton Hall}} stop, before merging onto Ashton New Road, which it shares with other traffic for the next few miles, serving stops at {{tram|Edge Lane}}, {{tram|Cemetery Road}}, {{tram|Droylsden}} and {{tram|Audenshaw}}.

After this the line crosses onto a reserved track section, which runs alongside Lord Sheldon Way – the Ashton Northern Bypass for the run into Ashton – serving {{tram|Ashton Moss}} stop. It then crosses part of Lord Sheldon Way to get to the central reservation section, running up to {{tram|Ashton West}} stop. It then runs into Ashton town centre on a reserved track alongside the road, crossing several roads before reaching the terminus at {{tram|Ashton-under-Lyne}} stop, which is located next to Ashton-under-Lyne bus station, and a short walk from Ashton-under-Lyne railway station.

File:East Manchester Line.png

The route was constructed as part of the third phase of the Metrolink expansion, which included new lines to Ashton, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and Oldham and Rochdale.

The line was opened in two parts; during Phase 3a, the 3.9 mile (6.3 km) section from Piccadilly to Droylsden was opened for a three-day free trial for local residents on 8 February 2013, it then opened to the general public on 11 February 2013.{{cite web|title=An Introduction to Metrolink|url=http://lrta.org/Manchester/index.html|publisher=LRTA|access-date=11 January 2016}}

During Phase 3b, the 2.1 miles (3.4 km) from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne, was opened on 9 October 2013.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council have stated their aspiration for the East Manchester Line to be extended from Ashton-under-Lyne to Stalybridge.{{cite web|title=Greater Manchester's third Local Transport Plan 2011/12 – 2015/16|url=http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/LTP3/Documents/Greater_Manchester_Local_Transport_Plan_Core_Strategy.pdf|publisher=Transport for Greater Manchester|access-date=11 January 2016|page=85|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233802/http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/LTP3/Documents/Greater_Manchester_Local_Transport_Plan_Core_Strategy.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2019 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority confirmed that the Stalybridge extension was being considered as part of their transport strategy through to 2040.{{cite web |title=Metrolink heads to Stalybridge and Middleton in 2040 expansion |url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/metrolink-heads-to-stalybridge-and-middleton-in-2040-expansion/ |publisher=Place North West |access-date=8 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Greater Manchester: New homes plan to tackle 'housing crisis' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-46776473 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=8 January 2019 |date=6 January 2019}}

As of January 2019:{{cite web|title=Transport for Greater Manchester tram times.|url=http://www.metrolink.co.uk/tramtimes/Pages/Ashton-Under-Lyne.aspx|publisher=TfGM|access-date=30 August 2016}}

• During all operating hours a service from {{tram|Ashton-under-Lyne}} runs at 12-minute intervals to {{tram|Eccles}} via Manchester city centre. This service additionally stops at {{tram|MediaCityUK}} during early mornings, evenings, and Sundays.

In Early 2024, TfGM extended the off-peak Altrincham - Piccadilly Service to terminate at Etihad Campus instead, providing extra services the nearby Co-op Live Arena.{{Cite web|url=https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works/january-service-changes|title=Tram service changes|website=Tram service changes | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM}}

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{{commonscat|Manchester Metrolink East Manchester line}}

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• [http://lrta.org/Manchester/ashton.html LRTA entry on this line]

{{Manchester Metrolink stations}}

Category:2013 establishments in England

Category:Ashton-under-Lyne

Category:Manchester Metrolink lines

Category:Railway lines opened in 2013