Queens Road Tram Stop

Queens Road is a Manchester Metrolink tram stop in Smedley, Manchester, close to the border with Cheetham Hill, another suburb. It is on the Bury Line and in fare zone 2. This stop is connected to Queens Road Depot, the original depot for the Metrolink. It is also near to the Museum of Transport on Boyle Street, Manchester Fort retail park, and is adjacent to the Irish World Heritage Centre. This station was constructed and opened on 16 December 2013 to replace Woodlands Road, which had ceased operations at the end of service the previous day. This station has step-free access.

History

Beginning 6 April 1992, when the Bury Line was first opened to Metrolink, Queens Road was a staff halt and was not open to the public. Its only features were two approximately 5-metre long platforms with a shelter, stairs to each for access, and a pedestrian crossing. Flexibility may have been given in the schedule to allow for trams to stop at the halt.

Over time, there was a need to upgrade local access. A GMITA report from May 2010 discussed the idea to close Woodlands Road stop and open replacements at Queens Road and Abraham Moss. In October 2010, Abraham Moss would begin construction, and two months later a public consultation was held on the subject of closing Woodlands Road.

In February 2013, after confirmation of planning permission for Queens Road, it was confirmed that Woodlands Road would close. In September 2013, works began at the site to transform Queens Road staff halt to a tram stop for passenger service. In December 2013, works were finished. Queens Road opened to passengers on 16 December 2013, and Woodlands Road had ceased operations by the beginning of service on this day.

Layout

Queens Road tram stop was constructed with accessibility in mind. A lift is located at the northern end of the Bury (outbound) platform, and sets of stairs. The only direct entrance to the inbound platform is via a short ramp on Smeaton Street, but it can also be reached using the pedestrian crossing at track level to the south of the platforms. There are steps down to Smeaton Street from the A6010 (road) but they are not part of the Metrolink's infrastructure.

Two dot matrix passenger information displays stand serving one platform each, and show estimated arrival times for trams in minutes up to 30 minutes prior (up to three at a time) and number of carriages.

Services

Every route across the Manchester Metrolink network operates to a 12-minute headway (5 ) Monday–Saturday, and to a 15-minute headway (4 ) on Sundays and bank holidays. Sections served by a second "peak only" route (like this stop) will have a combined headway of 6 minutes during peak times.

Queens Road is located in Zone 2, and the stop itself has two platforms which aren't named. Trams towards Piccadilly depart from the inbound platform (easternmost) and an extra service runs direct to Altrincham via Market Street during peak times. Trams to Bury stop at the outbound platform (westernmost).

Transport connections

Bus

Queens Road tram stop is served closest by bus route 151 (Ashton-under-Lyne– Higher Crumpsall) on Queens Road, and 156 (Manchester– Middleton) on Smedley Road.

Train

This tram stop is not connected to or near to any railway stations, but the nearest is Manchester Victoria, approximately 1.5 miles away walking.

See also

* Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester

References

External links

Queens Road tram stop - Live departuresQueens Road tram stop - Area map

{{Greater Manchester Metrolink stations

Tram stops in Manchester
Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 2013
Tram stops on the Altrincham – Bury route
Tram stops on the Bury – Piccadilly route