Bury Line

Bury Line
Bury Line
	A M5000 at Radcliffe tram stop.
Overview
Locale	Manchester ; Bury
Termini	Manchester Victoria ; Bury Interchange ;
Stations	10
Service
Type	Tram/Light rail
System	Manchester Metrolink
Rolling stock	Bombardier M5000 (2009-Present); AnsaldoBreda T-68/T68A (1992-2014)
History
Opened	6 April 1992
Technical
Line length	9.9 miles (15.9 km)
Character	Converted heavy rail line
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC overhead
Operating speed	50 mph (80km/h)
Route map
	Legend
	This diagram: view ; talk ; edit ;

Last updated March 20, 2024

The Bury Line is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink running from Manchester city centre to Bury in Greater Manchester. Originally a railway line, it was, along with the Altrincham Line, converted into a tram line during 1991–92, as part of the first phase of the Metrolink system.

The line runs entirely on an old railway alignment without any street running. It runs north from Manchester Victoria and connects the suburbs of Cheetham Hill, Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe. The entire route from Victoria to Bury is roughly 10 miles (16 km) long. Two services travel along the line, both starting at Bury, and terminating at Altrincham and Piccadilly respectively.

History

Pre-Metrolink

The line was originally heavy rail. The first part of what is now the Bury Line was opened by the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) in 1846, From Manchester Victoria to Bury Bolton Street via Salford, Clifton Junction and Radcliffe, continuing north from Bury to Rawtenstall. The ELR was absorbed into the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) in 1859.^[1]

The Bury Line shortly before conversion to Metrolink, operated by a Class 504 unit. British-Rail-Class-504.jpg — The Bury Line shortly before conversion to Metrolink, operated by a Class 504 unit.

The second part was opened in 1879. In order to connect the growing suburbs of Cheetham Hill, Prestwich and Whitefield, the L&YR obtained an act to construct a new line from Manchester in 1872 to the original ELR line at Radcliffe. Construction began in 1876 and was completed in 1879. Originally the line had only five intermediate stations at Crumpsall, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe. Three more stations were added later: Woodlands Road, Bowker Vale and Besses o' th' Barn.^[1]

In response to competition from trams, the line was electrified in 1916 using a unique 1200V DC side-contact third rail system, which remained in operation until the line was converted to Metrolink operation in 1991.^[1] From 1959 until 1991, the line was operated by Class 504 EMUs. In 1961 they were scheduled to cover the 9.75 mi (15.69 km) from Bolton Street to Victoria in 23 minutes and take 24 minutes in the other direction, running at 20 minute intervals for most of the day, but half-hourly on Sundays.^[2] With an extra stop, the trams take 23 minutes uphill and 24 minutes downhill.^[3]

In August 1953, the Irk Valley Junction rail crash occurred on the line near Manchester Victoria, resulting in ten deaths and 58 injuries. It was caused by an electric train overrunning a danger signal which collided with a steam train, resulting in the front carriage of the electric train crashing into the River Irk.^[4]

The original Bury Bolton Street station was closed in 1980 and replaced by the new, more conveniently located Bury Interchange. The original Bolton Street station is now part of the East Lancashire Railway heritage railway.^[1]

Conversion to Metrolink

The Bury line was identified by transport planners in the 1980s as one of the local railway lines in the Greater Manchester area which was used mostly for local traffic, and could therefore be split off from the main line network and converted to light-rail operation. It was chosen for conversion as part of the first phase of the Metrolink, along with the Manchester Piccadilly to Altrincham Line to the south of Manchester: The two previously unconnected lines were to be linked together by a new street-running line across Manchester city-centre, which included a branch to Manchester Piccadilly railway station. Trams on the Bury Line would thus continue from Victoria station into the city-centre, to either Altrincham or Piccadilly via a new exit into the streets to the south.^[5]

Railway operations ended on 17 August 1991, in order for the line to be converted to Metrolink operation.^[1] This mostly entailed removing the old third rail system and replacing it with a 750 volt DC overhead line system. Available funding only allowed for minimum upgrades to be made, and so most of the infrastructure such as the stations and track were changed little.^[6]

The line became the first Metrolink line to open for business on 6 April 1992, initially between Bury and Victoria. On 27 April 1992 the city centre section opened, and trams then ran from Bury to Deansgate-Castlefield, the first station on the soon to be opened Altrincham leg of the network. The rest of the line to Altrincham opened on 15 June 1992, and the branch to Piccadilly opened on 20 July 1992.^[7]

One of the original stations Woodlands Road was closed in 2013, after two new stations, (Abraham Moss and Queens Road) were opened nearby.^[8]

Services

As of February 2017, trams between Bury and Manchester run as follows:^[9]

A 12-minute interval service from Bury to Altrincham. Running during Monday to Saturday daytimes and early evenings only.
A 12-minute interval service from Bury to Piccadilly. Running during all operating hours.

These two services combined mean that trams between Bury and Manchester operate every six minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes, and every 12 minutes during evenings and Sundays. During evenings, trams run to Piccadilly only, so journeys to Altrincham require a change of tram at Piccadilly Gardens.

Rolling stock

All services are operated by M5000 trams. Between 1992 and 2009, the line was operated by the original fleet of 26 T-68 trams. From 2009 the new fleet of M5000 trams was introduced, and these replaced the original T-68 trams. which were withdrawn from service during 2012–14.^[10]

Route

The Bury Line was converted from a railway line beginning at Manchester Victoria station, and historically begins for the Metrolink at Victoria tram stop. The Bury Line was the first line to operate on the Metrolink system.

After Victoria, the line runs along Manchester Victoria East Junction with the railway lines, then passes underneath the main line via Collyhurst Tunnel. After leaving the tunnel, it travels on a viaduct, keeps left at the Irk Valley Junction (right for the Oldham and Rochdale Line) and passes by Queens Road depot, and serves its first stop at Queens Road, new for the Bury Line. It travels past the tram entrance to the depot, then serves a stop at Abraham Moss, also a new station that has not been converted from train operation. Woodlands Road tram stop, which was located between the two, was closed in 2013 to make way for the new stops serving more areas of North Manchester.

The route then runs past a redeveloped station: Crumpsall, and Bowker Vale, then travels underneath Heaton Park through a like-named tunnel, to reach Heaton Park stop. It then serves Prestwich, and travels on a bridge over both the M60 and Bury New Road to get to Besses o' th' Barn. It serves more stops at Whitefield and Radcliffe, and gets to a level crossing, before passing by the junction for the former Bury railway terminus at Bolton Street, and bears right to reach Bury Interchange at Bury tram stop. Bury Interchange railway station was opened in 1980 to replace Bury Bolton Street, providing easier access, as this site was much closer to the centre of the town.

Related Research Articles

Manchester Piccadilly is the main railway station of the city of Manchester, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, England. Opened originally as Store Street in 1842, it was renamed Manchester London Road in 1847 and became Manchester Piccadilly in 1960. Located to the south-east of the city centre, it hosts long-distance intercity and cross-country services to national destinations including London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton and Bournemouth; regional services to destinations in Northern England including Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and York; and local commuter services around Greater Manchester. It is one of 19 major stations managed by Network Rail. The station has 14 platforms: 12 terminal and two through platforms. Piccadilly is also a major interchange with the Metrolink light rail system with two tram platforms in its undercroft.

Manchester Victoria station in Manchester, England, is a combined mainline railway station and Metrolink tram stop. Situated to the north of the city centre on Hunts Bank, close to Manchester Cathedral, it adjoins Manchester Arena which was constructed on part of the former station site in the 1990s. Opened in 1844 and part of the Manchester station group, Victoria is Manchester's third busiest railway station after Piccadilly and Oxford Road and the second busiest station managed by Northern after Oxford Road.

Bury Bolton Street railway station is a heritage railway station in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Located on the East Lancashire Railway.

Bury Interchange is a transport hub in the town of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Opened in 1980, it is the northern terminus of the Manchester Metrolink's Bury Line, which prior to 1992 was a heavy-rail line. It also incorporates a bus station.

Altrincham Interchange is a transport hub in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It consists of a bus station on Stamford New Road, a Northern Trains-operated heavy rail station on the Mid-Cheshire Line, and a light rail stop which forms the terminus of Manchester Metrolink's Altrincham line. The original heavy rail element of the station was opened by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway as Altrincham and Bowdon railway station in April 1881, changing to Altrincham railway station in May 1974. The Metrolink element opened in June 1992. The Interchange underwent a complete redevelopment, at a cost of £19 million, starting in mid-July 2013. The new bus station opened officially on 7 December 2014.

Navigation Road is a station that serves both Northern Trains and Manchester Metrolink located in the east of Altrincham, in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of a Northern Trains-operated heavy rail station on the Mid-Cheshire Line, and an adjoining light rail stop on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's Metrolink network. The original heavy rail element of the station was opened by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway in 1931, and the Metrolink element opened in 1992. A level crossing operates at the southern end of the station.

Timperley is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's light-rail Metrolink system. In western Timperley about a mile west of the village centre, it opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion.

The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR) was a suburban railway which operated an 8+1⁄2-mile (14 km) route between Altrincham in Cheshire and Manchester London Road railway station in Manchester.

Brooklands is a tram stop and park and ride site on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's light-rail Metrolink system in the Brooklands area of Sale. It opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion.

Sale is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of the Metrolink light-rail system in Sale, Greater Manchester, England. It opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion. Prior to this, it was a railway station on the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) line. It was built by John Brogden, who was a local builder in the Sale area.

Dane Road is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's Metrolink light rail system. It is located on Dane Road in northern Sale, Greater Manchester, England. It opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion.

Stretford is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's light-rail Metrolink system. It is located in Stretford, on the corner of Chester Road and Edge Lane. It opened on 15 June 1992 as part of Phase 1 of Metrolink's expansion.

Old Trafford is a tram stop on the Altrincham Line of the Metrolink light rail system in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England.

Cornbrook tram stop is a tram stop on Greater Manchester's light rail Metrolink system in the Cornbrook area of Manchester, England. It is an interchange station, allowing passenger transfer between the network's Altrincham, Eccles, Airport, Trafford Park and South Manchester lines. The station opened on 6 December 1999 for line transfers and allowed street-level entry and exit to the public from 3 September 2005. It takes its name from Cornbrook Road, between the A56 and Pomona Docks on the Manchester Ship Canal, and was built on what was a Cheshire Lines Committee route to Manchester Central railway station. The stop is one of the most used on the Metrolink network.

Prestwich is a tram stop in the town of Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England. It is on the Bury Line of Greater Manchester's light rail Metrolink system.

Whitefield tram stop is in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, England, on the Bury Line of Greater Manchester's light rail Metrolink system.

The transport infrastructure of Greater Manchester is built up of numerous transport modes and forms an integral part of the structure of Greater Manchester and North West England – the most populated region outside of South East England which had approximately 301 million annual passenger journeys using either buses, planes, trains or trams in 2014. Its position as a national city of commerce, education and cultural importance means the city has one of the largest and most thorough transport infrastructures which is heavily relied upon by its 2.8 million inhabitants in the Greater Manchester conurbation and further afield in the North West region. Public transport comes under the jurisdiction of Transport for Greater Manchester.

The Altrincham Line is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink running from Manchester to Altrincham in Greater Manchester. Originally a railway line, it was, along with the Bury Line, converted into a tramway during 1991–92, as part of the first phase of the Metrolink system.

The Oldham and Rochdale Line (ORL) is a tram line of the Manchester Metrolink in Greater Manchester running from Manchester city centre to Rochdale town centre via Oldham, using most of the trackbed of the former Oldham Loop Line which closed in 2009. The line was re-opened in a modified form as a tramway between 2012 and 2014, as part of phase three of the system's expansion.

Zone 1 of the Manchester Metrolink light rail network is the heart of the system where all of the other lines converge. Its boundaries are broadly equivalent to those of Manchester city centre, and approximately mirror the city's Inner Ring Road. Within Zone 1, first opened in 1992 as the City Zone, trams largely run along semi-pedestrianised streets rather than on their own separate alignment. The original route between the Altrincham and Bury lines ran to Victoria station via Market Street and High Street, and was soon joined by a branch to Piccadilly station by a three-way delta junction. A second route between the South-West and North-Eastern parts of the network was built to ease congestion on the original line. Opened in 2017, the Second City Crossing (2CC) added one additional stop to the network.

References

1 2 3 4 5 Hindle, Paul. "Manchester Victoria to Bury: an historical trip on Metrolink" (PDF). Manchester Geographical Society. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
↑ Passenger Services Timetable. British Railways. 1961. pp. 561–568.
↑ "Yellow Line - Piccadilly - Bury – Metrolink – bustimes.org". bustimes.org. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
↑ "Timeline: Fatal UK rail crashes". BBc News. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
↑ "Metrolink History 1". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
↑ "Metrolink History 1". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
↑ "An Introduction to Metrolink". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
↑ "New Queens Road Metrolink stop to open". Transport for Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
↑ "Metrolink – Tram Times – Abraham Moss". Metrolink. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
↑ "T68 and T68a — Metrolink phase 1 and 2". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.

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[mangesoc-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Hindle, Paul. "Manchester Victoria to Bury: an historical trip on Metrolink" (PDF). Manchester Geographical Society. Retrieved 10 January 2015.

[2] Passenger Services Timetable. British Railways. 1961. pp. 561–568.

[3] "Yellow Line - Piccadilly - Bury – Metrolink – bustimes.org". bustimes.org. Retrieved 22 May 2020.

[4] "Timeline: Fatal UK rail crashes". BBc News. Retrieved 5 February 2016.

[lrtamethist1-5] "Metrolink History 1". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2016.

[lrtamet1-6] "Metrolink History 1". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2015.

[lrtaintro-7] "An Introduction to Metrolink". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2015.

[8] "New Queens Road Metrolink stop to open". Transport for Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2015.

[9] "Metrolink – Tram Times – Abraham Moss". Metrolink. Retrieved 30 August 2016.

[lrtat68-10] "T68 and T68a — Metrolink phase 1 and 2". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.

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