Staff and jobseekers will soon be able to take off with Metrolink’s new early morning service to Manchester Airport.
From Monday 21 March 2016, trams will run from Firswood to Manchester Airport from 3am every day.
The new service will see the first tram arrive at approximately 3.40am – in advance of 4am shift starts, which generally sees a large number of employees starting work.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has worked closely with Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to extend Metrolink’s operating hours to meet the ever increasing demand of the UK’s third biggest airport.
And by improving accessibility to one of the region’s biggest employers – with 21,500 people currently working across the site – Metrolink’s new operating hours will increase access to job opportunities for the local community.
As well as delivering much needed connectivity and travel choices, the Airport Line service will reduce the number of car journeys on our roads by encouraging some of the 71%* of MAG staff who opt to drive to work to use Metrolink instead.
With almost a third* of airport staff travelling to work from Manchester, Sale Water Park, just off the M60, offers 300 free spaces at its park and ride car park, for those who don’t live in close proximity to the Airport Line.
The multi-award winning, £400 million line, which included a £50 million funding contribution from MAG, opened more than a year ahead of schedule in November 2014 and carried 1.88 million passengers in its first year. The service will extend to Deansgate-Castlefield later in the year once a programme of improvement works has been completed.
Trams will run every 20 minutes until 6am, when services will revert to a 12 minute frequency** from Cornbrook.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “Manchester Airports Group and its partners are a major employer – arguably the biggest in the north west – and are absolutely dedicated to recruiting from the local area, as highlighted in the recent jobs fair that sought to fill a further 2,500 vacancies and offered Wythenshawe residents entrance in advance of other jobseekers.
“So not only will this change have a direct and beneficial impact on current employees who live in close proximity to the line, it will open up job opportunities for many others in a way they’ve never experienced before, thus acting as a driver for further economic growth.
“It is therefore absolutely essential that they have an accessible and frequent form of transport that they can rely on to get them to and from work – something Metrolink will undoubtedly offer with this extended service along its multi-award winning Airport Line.
“As a sustainable alternative to the car, I hope the move will reduce the number of journeys on our roads, which will in turn help to reduce congestion and improve air quality.”
Ken O’Toole, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “There are 21,500 people employed at Manchester Airport, with thousands more jobs being created in the months and years to come so this increase in operating hours is really positive news.
“We are committed to ensuring local people have access to those jobs and this new service allows people the opportunity to take jobs with shifts starting at all times of the day. Being a 24/7 business, with upwards of 23 million passengers a year, having effective ground transport connections is paramount to the efficient running of the airport.
“We have worked closely with TfGM to maximise the benefits of the Metrolink line, and as we grow and develop we will continue to invest in public transport options to ensure employees can easily access the site. The service will also be pleasing to passengers looking to access the 210 plus destinations here, with many flights going out early in a morning.”
Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said: “This is great news for those who work unsocial hours and shifts as it can be difficult to find accessible public transport options to get to work. As our largest local employer this will also open up more opportunities for local residents who want to work at the airport but currently don’t have transport options to get there.”
Scott Harvey is a Customer Services Officer from Manchester Airport. He welcomed the news, saying: “The earlier opening hours is excellent news for me. I often have early starting shifts at the airport and using the tram is the ideal way to get there. I am sure many of my colleagues will also see the benefits of the line starting earlier and am sure it will prove popular with the thousands of people who work on site and commute in on the Metrolink.”
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