Mayor’s hint over in-demand tram link to Stockport

The tram network covers much of the city but does not currently reach Stockport

A "detailed update" on the case for linking Greater Manchester's Metrolink tram network to Stockport will be shared before 2024, mayor Andy Burnham has said.

Mr Burnham said the ongoing work at the town's new transport interchange will soon be "Metrolink ready".

He added the combined authority was looking at "precise schemes" to extend the network.

Residents in Stockport have long wanted a tram connection.

Recent plans shared to replace two bridges in the town included tram and train futureproofing for one additional track.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Burnham also said the region has more funding from the government as a result of changes to national transport projects such as HS2, which was axed in the North.

The mayor said: "Transport for Greater Manchester have been doing a detailed assessment of all of our ambitions for Metrolink, and the Metrolink to Stockport is a big part of that.

"The new interchange that links to new infrastructure is going to be Metrolink ready, so it's being built with that capability.

"What we're doing now is looking at the precise schemes that we've got to expand Metrolink and looking at the cost of them and we're going to publish that work later this year.

"We've got a big ambition to take Metrolink to Stockport but we've also got one to take it north up through close to Middleton, Heywood and up to Bury through the Atom Valley site.

"We've got a bit more capital funding from the government. We didn't agree with their decision around high-speed rail, and east-west rail across the North, but as a result of that they've increased some of our local capital so we've got some extra ability to do more.

"The long and short of it is that it's a really important ambition for the city region, we're going to give a really detailed update later this year on the business case for bringing Metrolink to Stockport so look out for that."

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