This weekend will kickstart a summer of music and sport with events taking place across Greater Manchester.
People looking to get to events over the coming months are encouraged to plan their travel in advance and consider using public transport to make the most of their visit.
Coldplay at Etihad and UNICEF Soccer Aid at Old Trafford
If it’s music you’re after then one of the world’s biggest stadium bands, Coldplay, are playing the Etihad on Saturday and Sunday evening (4 & 5 June) with increased demand expected on the Ashton Metrolink line and its park and ride sites.
Additional buses will be operating from Piccadilly Gardens stands D and E for people travelling out to the Etihad. After the concert there will be shuttle buses available from Ashton New Road to take people back to Piccadilly Gardens.
Concluding the weekend, the now-annual UNICEF Soccer Aid event takes place on Sunday (5 June) with a full house expected at Old Trafford football ground as celebrities from around the world compete in the charity football match. People travelling to the match by Metrolink should expect Altrincham, East Didsbury and Eccles line services to be in high demand.
Extra trams will be running for both Coldplay and Soccer Aid and there are fast and frequent services direct to the Etihad Campus and Old Trafford.
There are also free Park & Ride sites near both grounds. Parking at these sites is free for Metrolink customers during hours of service.
Not everything taking place this weekend is related to sport or music, however, as essential Metrolink engineering work is due to take place on the Bury line this coming Sunday (5 June) as well as weekend work on some local rail lines. There’s also the Ideal Homes Exhibition taking place at EventCity.
Ideal Homes Exhibition – EventCity Manchester
This year’s Ideal Homes Exhibition is taking place at EventCity, next to the Trafford Centre. It starts on Thursday 2 June and finishes on Sunday 5 June so local roads and the M60 around the Trafford Centre will be busier than usual. Drivers are being advised to allow more time to travel and to use public transport wherever possible.
Metrolink engineering work – Bury Line
Metrolink services will be affected by engineering work” target=”_blank”>engineering work due to take place on the Bury line on Sunday (5 June). Bus replacement services will be operating between Bury to Queens Road, calling at all stops.
Rail engineering works
Due to rail there will be changes to some local train services. People planning to travel by rail over the weekend are advised to check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk or follow @nationalrailenq on Twitter.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Events Manager, John Fryer, said: “There’s a lot going on this weekend and with Parklife set to follow the weekend after, it’s going to be a busy few weeks ahead.
“As always, we’d advise people to plan their journeys before setting off and if possible, purchase travel tickets in advance. If travelling to or during any major event then please allow extra time for your journey.
“The work taking place on the Bury Metrolink line on Sunday is essential in enabling us to offer even more reliable services in the future. Each stop will have replacement bus services running to it so people will still be able to get around.
“TfGM will be monitoring roads and making any changes needed to traffic signals to support traffic flow. Diversions will be signposted and messages will be displayed on variable messaging signs.”
For information on public transport across Greater Manchester visit www.tfgm.com or call 0161 244 1000 (7am-8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am-8pm at weekends and bank holidays).
For more information on Metrolink services visit www.metrolink.co.uk, call Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000 or follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for live travel updates.
