St Peter's Square tram stop

{{Infobox station

| style = Manchester Metrolink

| name = St Peter's Square

| type = Manchester Metrolink tram stop

| image = St Peter's Square tram stop, Feb 18 (3).jpg

| borough = {{Comma separated entries|St Peter's Square|Manchester}}

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|53.4782|-2.2430|type:railwaystation_region:GB-MAN|display=inline,title}}

| map_caption = Location in Greater Manchester, England

| grid_name = Grid reference

| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SJ839979|25|SJ839979}}

| line = First City Crossing
Second City Crossing

| status = In operation

| zone = 1

| original = Manchester Metrolink

| years = 27 April 1992

| events = Opened

| years1 = 2015-2016

| events1 = Rebuilt

| platforms = 4

| mpassengers =

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2017/18 |passengers={{increase}} 7.010 million}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2018/19 |passengers={{increase}} 8.711 million}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 7.480 million}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 1.307 million}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 4.930 million}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-custom = {{maplink|from=Manchester Metrolink.map|zoom=13|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=300|type2=point|marker2=rail-light|marker-color2={{rcr|Manchester Metrolink}}}}

| map_state = collapsed

| route_map = {{Manchester Central Metrolink lines}}

}}

St Peter's Square is a tram stop in St Peter's Square in Manchester city centre, England. It opened on 27 April 1992 and is in Zone 1 of Greater Manchester's Metrolink light rail system.

The stop's platforms were extended in 2009, but later redevelopment in 2015–16 demolished the original two side platforms and replaced them with a twin-island platform layout, which allows for limited cross-platform interchange. The stop is the most used on the Metrolink network.{{cite web|url=http://www.gmtu.gov.uk/reports/transport2017.htm|title=Transport Statistics Greater Manchester 2017 Public Transport Section|work=TfGM|date=5 December 2019|access-date=14 December 2019}}

History

Plans for a rapid transit station in St Peter's Square were made in the 1970s; proposals for the abandoned Picc-Vic tunnel envisaged the construction of an underground station to serve both St Peter's and the neighbouring Albert Square.{{citation |date=October 1971|title=SELNEC Picc-Vic Line|author=SELNEC PTE|publisher=SELNEC PTE|author-link=Transport for Greater Manchester}} publicity brochure The early proposals for an on-street light rail system in Manchester revived the idea of a station in the square. St. Peter's Square was one of the original city-centre stops to open when Metrolink started operations in 1992, when it consisted of two side {{Cite web |last=International2016-09-02T11:07:00+01:00 |first=Railway Gazette |title=Manchester Metrolink opens expanded St Peter's Square stop |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/manchester-metrolink-opens-expanded-st-peters-square-stop/43097.article |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}} platforms and basic shelters. In common with most newly built Metrolink stops at the time, St. Peter's Square had two-level platforms, meaning only a short section of the platforms offered level boarding.

The stop was demolished and rebuilt with a full length platform and improved passenger facilities in November 2009. When a building called Elisabeth House, which had stood between Dickinson Street and Oxford Street since the 1970s, was demolished for redevelopment in 2011 as One St Peter's Square,{{cite web|url=http://www.coolmanchester.com/index.php/CM/manchester-buildings/elizabeth-house |title=Elizabeth House |publisher=Cool Manchester |access-date=2012-03-24}} architects' plans were entered in a competition, which was modified in 2011 to incorporate proposals to improve the Metrolink station. In March 2012 a shortlist of two submissions was made.[http://www.e-architect.co.uk/manchester/one_st_peters_square.htm One St Peter's Square]; E-architect

The stop closed after end of service on 25 June 2015 for 14 months to allow for a total redevelopment of St Peter's Square, to incorporate trams on the new Second City Crossing.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-37197200|publisher=BBC News|title=St Peter's Square Metrolink stop to reopen after a year|date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828134733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-37197200|archive-date=28 August 2016|access-date=14 March 2020}} During the redevelopment works, a reduced service ran through the square on a single track{{cite web|url=http://transformationinformation.co.uk/media/18982/St-Peters-Platform-build.pdf|title=Next stop, St. Peter's Square|date=8 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804000811/http://transformationinformation.co.uk/media/18982/St-Peters-Platform-build.pdf|archive-date=4 August 2016|access-date=15 March 2020}} from Nicholas Street to Windmill Street.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6cLcs-CPPI |title=Metrolink Driver's Eye View - Market Street to Deansgate-Castlefield |date=2016-06-26 |last=GM Trainspotting |access-date=2024-05-18 |via=YouTube}} At the beginning and end of the project, there were two full closures lasting two months, during which no Metrolink services ran through the square.{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=191|date=29 June 2015 |website=Transport for Greater Manchester |title=St Peter's Square stop closure: Metrolink and shuttle bus services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808020458/http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=191|archive-date=8 August 2015|publisher=TfGM}}

The project involved a complete re-ordering of St Peter's Square, and the Cenotaph was re-sited to accommodate the expanded tram interchange.{{cite news|last1=Linton|first1=Deborah|title=Workmen start on cenotaph relocation|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchesters-cenotaph-move-side-st-6559512|access-date=28 February 2017|work=Manchester Evening News|date=25 January 2014}} The realigned tram tracks were laid over the site of a former church, St Peter's Church, which had been demolished in 1907. To protect the remaining underground burial vaults of the church, concrete slabs were put in place below street level before the tram tracks were laid.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Charlotte |title=Experts uncover 270 bodies as part of Cross Street Metrolink works |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-cross-street-270-bodies-9670347 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=16 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522052454/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-cross-street-270-bodies-9670347 |access-date=10 November 2024 |archive-date=22 May 2022 |language=en|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Unearthing Manchester's hidden crypt and secret cemetery |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-30779807 |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2015 |access-date=10 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621232735/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-30779807 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Greater Manchester's Past Revealed Life and Death in Manchester - Excavations along the Second City Crossing |url=https://diggreatermanchester.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/gmpr29-life-and-death-in-manchester.pdf |publisher=Greater Manchester Archaeology Federation |access-date=12 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112232705/https://diggreatermanchester.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/gmpr29-life-and-death-in-manchester.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2024 |pages=7–15 |url-status=live}} The stone cross marking the location of the former church was restored and re-instated close to its original location, in between the tracks.{{cite news |last1=Heath |first1=Helen |title=Bishop of Manchester rededicates cross in St Peter's square - The Northern Quota |url=https://thenorthernquota.org/bishop-manchester-rededicates-cross-st-peters-square/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=The Northern Quota - Latest news from Manchester |date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518060622/https://thenorthernquota.org/bishop-manchester-rededicates-cross-st-peters-square/ |archive-date=18 May 2024 |language=en|url-status=live}}

The tram stop re-opened on 28 August 2016 as a four-platform interchange, comprising two island platforms, one for inbound services and the other for outbound. This offers same-direction cross-platform interchange. The stop was moved slightly north towards Princess Street from that of its old location, which was in front of Manchester Central Library. A number of trees were planted within the structure of the platforms to improve the look and feel of the space.{{cite web|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/one-month-to-go-for-st-peters-square-tram-works/|title=One month to go for St Peter's Square tram works|publisher=Place North West|date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728145722/https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/one-month-to-go-for-st-peters-square-tram-works/|archive-date=28 July 2016}}

File:Metrolink artists impression 1987.jpg|An artist's impression of light rail in St Peter's Square (1987)

File:St. Peter's Square Metrolink station, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 763766.jpg|T-68 Tram at the old St Peter's Square tram stop in 1992.

File:St Peter's Square tram stop, Feb 18.jpg|The rebuilt four platform stop, 2018

Services

Services run every 12 minutes on each route.{{Adjacent stations|noclear=yes|system=Manchester Metrolink

|line1=grey|left1=Deansgate-Castlefield|right1=Exchange Square

|line2=pink|left2=Deansgate-Castlefield|right2=Exchange Square

|line3=Manchester Airport – Victoria|left3=Deansgate-Castlefield|right3=Market Street

|line4=Altrincham – Bury|left4=Deansgate-Castlefield|right4=Market Street

|line5=Altrincham – Piccadilly|left5=Deansgate-Castlefield|right5=Piccadilly Gardens

|line6=Altrincham – Etihad Campus|left6=Deansgate-Castlefield|right6=Piccadilly Gardens

|line7=blue|left7=Deansgate-Castlefield|right7=Piccadilly Gardens

|line8=blue2|left8=Deansgate-Castlefield|right8=Piccadilly Gardens

|line9=MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus|left9=Deansgate-Castlefield|right9=Piccadilly Gardens

}}

References

External links

[https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram/stops/st-peters-square-tram Tram times and station information] for St Peter's Square Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
[https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram/stops/st-peters-square-tram/local-map St Peter's Square area map]

Category:Tram stops in Manchester

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1992

Category:Tram stops on the Eccles – Ashton route

Category:Tram stops on the East Didsbury – Shaw route

Category:Tram stops on the East Didsbury – Rochdale route

Category:Tram stops on the Altrincham – Bury route

Category:Tram stops on the Altrincham – Piccadilly/Etihad Campus route

Category:Tram stops on the Manchester Airport – Victoria route

Category:Tram stops on the MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus route

Category:St Peter's Square, Manchester