Two new Manchester tram links could connect north and south - mayor

A new £140m transport hub with the potential for tram links has opened in Stockport

A city region's tram network could be extended to two new areas in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has said.

Space for a Metrolink connection has been built into a new £140m interchange at Stockport, which opened on Sunday.

Mr Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said a new tram line will be developed to link into the new transport hub.

Funds were also available to build another new route to the north of the city region, he added.

"We may be able to bring two together in tandem, one going north, one going south, we're just looking at that at the moment, and we will make a decision at the middle of this year", he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"We will bring Metrolink to Stockport, the question is how quickly can we do that."

Stockport's new interchange has been built to accomodate a tram link

Stockport Council has been pushing for the connection, with a proposal on the table to link the town to the Manchester Airport and East Didsbury.

Tram links have been mooted for Bolton and to the Atom Valley industrial zone in Rochdale, Oldham and Bury.

Mr Burnham said all of those areas "are priorities", adding "it's not about favouring one of the other, we want to take Metrolink to as many places as possible".

His comments came at the opening of Stockport's new interchange, which connects local bus services to the town's railway station via a new walkway, and features a new public park on its roof.

The two-acre Viaduct Park sits next to Stockport's 1840 viaduct

Vernon Everitt, transport commissioner for Greater Manchester, said the interchange was "absolutely fantastic", and would become a "great central focal point for town centre".

Mr Burnham said the project, along with residential development in Stockport town centre, showed the way to "regenerate a proud old English town".

"Get more people living in the heart of a place like Stockport, as we're seeing, and then that footfall brings new life to the place."

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