Benchill tram stop

Last updated

Benchill
Tram 3073 approaches Benchill.jpg
A view of Benchill tram stop from the Manchester platform.
General information
Location Wythenshawe, City of Manchester
England
Coordinates 53°23′14″N2°15′22″W / 53.38716°N 2.25621°W / 53.38716; -2.25621
System Manchester Metrolink
Operated by Keolis Amey
Transit authority Transport for Greater Manchester
Line Airport Line
Platforms2
Tram routes   
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusIn operation
Station code-
Fare zone4
Website Benchill tram stop
History
Opened3 November 2014;11 years ago (2014-11-03)
Location
Benchill tram stop

Benchill is a Manchester Metrolink tram stop in Wythenshawe, Manchester. [1] It is on the Airport Line and in fare zone 4. [2] This stop was opened on 3 November 2014 as part of Phase 3b of the network's expansion and has step-free access. [3]

Contents

The stop is located at street-level with the platforms parallel to Brownley Road and the tracks running alongside the road as far south as Crossacres, the next stop. It is also near to the Benchill Medical Practice (Brownley Green Medical Centre) and the Wythenshawe campus for The Manchester College.

History

Disabled access ramp at the south end of Benchill's platforms. Tramlines to the airport - geograph.org.uk - 4550873.jpg
Disabled access ramp at the south end of Benchill's platforms.

Phase 3b involved the construction of a new 9-mile (14 km) Airport Line to Manchester Airport, plus other extensions across the Metrolink network. Construction work for all Phase 3b lines began in March 2011. [4] Some infrastructure of Benchill tram stop including step-free access ramps were seen in October 2012 whilst the tram stop was being constructed. The Airport Line opened on 3 November 2014, [5] when the first in-service tram ran through the stop heading towards Manchester Airport.

Layout

Benchill tram stop was constructed with accessibility in mind. There are two step-free access ramps up to each platform and a set of stairs at the northern end of each platform. Two dot matrix passenger information displays stand one on each platform, 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 tph) Monday–Saturday, and to a 15-minute headway (4 tph) on Sundays and bank holidays. Sections served by a second "peak only" route (unlike this stop) will have a combined headway of 6 minutes during peak times.

Benchill is located in Zone 4 and the stop itself has two platforms. Trams towards Victoria via Market Street depart from the inbound platform (west), and trams to Manchester Airport stop at the outbound platform (east).

Preceding station Manchester metrolink logo.PNG Manchester Metrolink Following station
Crossacres
towards Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport–Victoria Martinscroft
towards Victoria

Journey time to Crossacres

The distance between Benchill and the next stop south, Crossacres, is about 430 metres. [6] Though it is not the shortest distance between any two stops on the Metrolink system (that is Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens in Zone 1 at about 200 metres) it is the shortest timed journey across the network, at an average of 53 seconds. [7] [8] The fastest recorded time was 50 seconds in 2024. [6]

The journey time is sometimes affected by the signals at the Woodend Road crossing between the two stops which sometimes take a few seconds to switch to proceed, limiting the driver's speed. [9]

Transport connections

Bus

This tram stop is served closest by bus route 11 (Altrincham–Stockport) on Hollyhedge Road, and 43 (Manchester Piccadilly Gardens–Manchester Airport) on Brownley Road.

Train

This tram stop is not connected to or near to any railway stations, but the nearest is Gatley, approximately 1.3 miles (2.1 km) away walking.

References

  1. ↑ "Benchill tram stop". Benchill tram stop | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Tram Map". Tram Map | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM. Archived from the original on 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Accessible public transport | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM". 18 May 2025. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. ↑ DVV Media Group GmbH. "Manchester Metrolink starts Phase 3b". dvz (in German). Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "BBC News – Metrolink line to Manchester Airport opens a year early". BBC News. 3 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 "The fastest Manchester Metrolink journey is 50 seconds". Metrolink Insights. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Holt, James; Wilkinson, Damon (10 August 2025). "480 metres in 50 seconds - the fastest journey between two Metrolink stops". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  8. ↑ Metrolink Insights (29 December 2024). What's the fastest Manchester Metrolink journey? . Retrieved 28 December 2025– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ The 50-second Manchester Metrolink tram journey . Retrieved 17 December 2025– via www.youtube.com.
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