Defence Online

Transport secretary Chris Grayling has granted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) legal powers to build the new 3.4-mile line under a Transport and Works Act order. That means work could start on the line this winter, and the route could be operational by 2020/2021.TfGM, which owns the Metrolink network, has developed the plans for the Trafford Park line and will shortly appoint a contractor.The new Trafford Park line, which will increase the size of the Metrolink network to more than 66 miles served by 99 stops, will branch off from the existing Pomona stop and call at six new tram stops at key destinations, including Wharfside near to Old Trafford football stadium, the Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Park and visitor destinations such as EventCity and the intu Trafford Centre.The £350m funding package to build the line has already been secured by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority through the ‘earn-back’ funding arrangement as part of the Greater Manchester devolution deal.TfGM consulted on plans for the new Trafford Park line during a 12-week public consultation in summer 2014, with 89 per cent of comments in favour. An independent inspector presided over a public inquiry into the proposals in 2015.The proposed Trafford Park line will pass under the Trafford Road Bridge and run alongside the existing promenade next to Manchester Ship Canal before joining Trafford Wharf Road.The route will turn left onto Warren Bruce Road and then bear to the right onto Village Way up to Parkway. It then crosses over the Bridgewater Ship Canal before turning right onto Barton Dock Road, terminating outside the Trafford Centre. Services will call at six stops, namely Wharfside, Imperial War Museum, Village, Parkway, EventCity and Trafford Centre. Trafford Park alone is the largest major employment zone in Greater Manchester outside the city centre and is home to over 1,300 businesses and more than 33,000 jobs.Metrolink has tripled in size in recent years as part of a £1.5bn expansion, making it the largest light rail network in the UK. Services currently run to 93 stops spanning 62 miles of track, catering for more than 35 million journeys a year.