TfGM shares ‘plan ahead’ message for Manchester Marathon

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is encouraging people to plan their journeys ahead of the Manchester Marathon, which is set to be the busiest day of the year for the Bee Network.

The hugely popular event will see 36,000 runners taking part and tens of thousands more spectators on Sunday 27th April. The route will begin under the Trafford Arch and take in areas such as Sale, Streford and Timperley, before this year finishing against the spectacular backdrop of Manchester University, on Oxford Road.

The transport network in Manchester and Trafford will be exceptionally busy before, during and after the race, with a significant number of road closures in place, while many bus services will be diverted around the race route from 8am until the end of service on Sunday. Routes not affected by closures directly are still likely to experience the impact of displaced traffic and congestion.

Last year’s Marathon saw Bee Network trams set a new personal best, with passengers racking up 175,000 tram journeys – the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday (14 April 2024) in the network’s 30-year history. It was also the eighth busiest day on the Metrolink network since it opened in 1992.

Trams will again be the best choice for travel on race day, with many stops located close to key spectating points along the race route, such as Sale, Timperley and Chorlton and passengers travelling from areas not served by the Metrolink network can access unlimited travel on Bee Network buses and trams from £5.40 through contactless payments.

Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Director at TfGM said:

“The Manchester Marathon is a highlight of the Manchester city centre calendar and our job is to make sure everyone can get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.

“We want everyone to have a great day – whether they are taking on the run themselves or cheering on a friend or loved one – and would urge people to plan their journey in advance, leave plenty of time and check the Bee Network app or website for the most up-to-date information.

“The start and finish lines will be especially busy so if you are coming to watch you may be better off catching the tram to Sale, Timperley or Chorlton, grabbing a coffee and claiming a front row seat to cheer runners on.

“Using public transport is the best way to avoid congestion and delays – and with Tap and Go contactless payments it’s never been easier or more seamless to get around Greater Manchester by bus and tram.”

Kirsty Wilde, Operations Director, from Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said:

“The TfGM tram service is an invaluable part of our event, which allows thousands of participants and supporters to navigate around the city. With a record-breaking 36,000 participants set to take part on Sunday 27th April – and more exciting activities taking place over the weekend as a whole – we’re anticipating a rise in tram journeys, which will subsequently bring economic benefits to local vendors, the hospitality sector, and retail businesses.

“We’d like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for its continued hard work helping to facilitate what will be the largest event yet, and would also like to say a big thank you to the residents and businesses across Greater Manchester for their understanding and support.”