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‘Salford Quays is expanding rapidly – but the trams are full’

By Declan Carey

Salford Quays
Salford Quays

Packed trams in Salford Quays are “often at or very near capacity”, a councillor has claimed – calling for better bus routes to the area.

The Metrolink is one of the main ways in and out of the Quays from Manchester city centre, providing a vital link for residents and workers between the cities.

But with big plans to build more homes and offices in the Quays, calls are growing to make extra transport options available.

Lib Dem Coun Jonathan Moore said transport bosses have to start looking at ways to boost travel options in the neighbourhood.

“Given that the Metrolink system is already often at or very near capacity, we do need to find ways of bringing in more bus capacity,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“The Quays is being developed as a place where cars are unwelcome and are deliberately planned out of new developments, so buses are going to need to be a key part of the solution – the population of the Quays is expanding rapidly and will continue to do so.

“Coun Paul Heilbron and I are very focussed on this as part of our work to develop sustainable communities – it’s of no use building homes if the people who live in those homes are unable to move around easily.”

Salford Quays has been earmarked for massive growth in the next few years as the city tries to keep up with huge demand for housing and jobs.

Changes include the next phase of MediaCity, which is set to bring a total of 3,200 new homes to the Quays, as well as more hotel beds and offices.

Just outside the ward, there are plans to build more than 500 homes at Salford’s £200m Soapworks site by the Manchester Ship Canal, and a £1bn scheme at part of Regent Retail Park to build 3,300 new homes spread across ten new tower blocks, the tallest up to 273m in height.

New bus schemes planned

Salford council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are working on improving transport links to the Quays.

The number 50 bus, which runs from Didsbury to the Quays, is set to benefit from plans for improved bus stops with real-time information, upgrades to roads and junction layouts, and a new bus gate on South Langworthy Road.

The project to improve journeys along the route has been supported with an £800,000 grant from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Fund (CRSTS) for the initial development costs.

An extra £1m from the CRSTS is on its way to the scheme after approval from the Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee on February 27.

In November, plans were shared for a ‘new and improved’ bus service which could link Salford Quays and Manchester city centre.

This would see the X50, which runs between Manchester and the Trafford Centre, diverted to include stops along Ordsall Lane and a loop to Salford Quays, under plans by Salford council and TfGM.

The council agreed in November to pump £2m to help get the extended bus service up and running, with the money gathered from agreements with developers working around Salford.

Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council, said:

“Working in collaboration with TfGM, a new bus service will be provided that connects the Quays and Manchester city centre via Ordsall Lane.

“The new service will improve accessibility for residents to key employment and leisure destinations in the area that are currently difficult to access. The significant levels of development along Ordsall Lane means we have the opportunity to make long-term public transport improvements directly benefiting residents.

“Officers are currently working with TfGM and the operator to implement the service later this year. Franchising also offers the opportunity for flexibility in the future to adapt to changing needs which will be explored as part of a review planned for two years post implementation.

“We are also investing in improving bus routes from and to Salford Quays through the Better Bus funding and advancing a tram line expansion from Salford Crescent, and made significant investment in the area to improve infrastructure for active travel and this month increased the availability of E-bike hire in the Quays.

“Whilst trams are operating at 80 per cent capacity at peak times, options around the improvement of capacity around the network are being investigated by TfGM, including changes to service patterns and better utilising the existing fleet whilst the business case for increasing tram lengths is being developed.”

TfGM was approached for comment.

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‘Salford Quays is expanding rapidly – but the trams are full’ | Salford Media