Metrolink achieves record passenger journeys

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has revealed the Metrolink tram network recorded its highest ever Sunday passenger journeys on 14th April, boosted by runners and spectators attending the Manchester Marathon.

14th April 2024 saw 175,000 journeys made on the Metrolink, the highest ever total for a Sunday in the tram network’s history. It was also the 8th busiest day for the trams since services began in 1992. Passenger journeys exceeded the previous busiest Sunday by more than 20%, set on the day of the 2023 Manchester Marathon.

The network was busiest in the morning ahead of the start of the event, and in the early afternoon once the race was run, with the Altrincham, Bury, East Didsbury (set to be extended into Stockport) and Manchester Airport lines seeing the most passengers journeys.

Ahead of the marathon Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) issued travel advice for runners, spectators and residents travelling into the regional centre, with many roads closed and bus services diverted, while also putting in place robust plans to provide capacity on Metrolink.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said:

“As always we are delighted to support the Marathon, which is one of the highlights of our events calendar here in Greater Manchester.

“To have smashed our record for the number of passenger journeys made on a Sunday for a second year in a row, and with it being during the Marathon again, is truly special. I think this shows just how important Metrolink is for people living in our region, but also those visiting too.

“I want to thank everyone who chose to travel on Metrolink on race day, as well as the race organisers and partners who helped deliver another fantastic event.

“But I also want to say a huge thanks to our staff behind the scenes and on the frontline, and in particular the two Metrolink employees who looked after a runner who was taken ill onboard a tram on the day and helped him get home safely.”

Metrolink passenger numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels during the weekday peak times and even busier on weekends, further strengthening calls for expansion of the network to other boroughs of Greater Manchester, such as Stockport where work to prepare the business case for extension of the East Didsbury line into the town centre is already underway.