METROLINK TO MEDIA CITY
20th September 2010

The Metrolink branch from Harbour City to Media City (the new BBC broadcasting centre) will open on Monday 20th September. Initially the branch will be served by the existing Manchester Piccadilly-Eccles tram service (every 12 minutes) which will reverse at Media City in both directions (there is a triangular junction). The new station is nearer to the Lowry Centre than existing stations.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE's Metrolink director, said in a statement: "Trams will start to call at the new Media City UK stop from Monday as an additional stop on the existing Eccles line service.

"This will allow the new service to 'bed in' before the next phase of service is introduced at a later date. We'll be putting on extra trams to make sure trams still run every 12 minutes, and journey times between Media City UK and Eccles will take a few minutes longer.

"The new service will run to Media City UK for set periods of the day. We'll monitor services and use and will introduce the next phase of service when it's appropriate."

Purdy added that six trams an hour will be calling at the new stop based at Peel's Salford Quays destination from Monday to Friday, which amounts to 78 trams a day.

GMPTE said services will initially call at Media City UK between 7am and 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 6.30pm on Saturdays.

The Metrolink stop is located by the public square in front of the studio blocks and BBC offices at Media City UK.

The BBC is moving 2,500 staff from London to Media City UK from 2011 onwards and the University of Salford has committed to a new campus at site, which will accommodate more than 1,500 students and staff.