Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop

Deansgate-Castlefield
Metrolink
Tram at Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop in 2015
Deansgate-Castlefield Location of Deansgate-Castlefield in Greater Manchester
Location
Place	Castlefield
Local authority	Manchester
Coordinates	53°28′29″N 2°15′01″W / 53.4747°N 2.2503°WCoordinates: 53°28′29″N 2°15′01″W / 53.4747°N 2.2503°W
Grid reference	SJ834975
Platforms	3
Fare zone information
Metrolink Zone	D (City)
Present status	In operation
Operations
Original operator	Manchester Metrolink
History
Opened	27 April 1992 As terminus 15 June 1992 For through services
Former name	G-Mex
Renamed	20 September 2010
City Centre Legend to Bury to Rochdale City Zone Victoria Exchange Square Shudehill Market Street Second City Crossing Piccadilly Gardens St Peter's Square Piccadilly Deansgate-Castlefield ( Deansgate) New Islington Cornbrook to Ashton- under-Lyne to MediaCityUK and Eccles Trafford Bar to Altrincham to East Didsbury and Manchester Airport
UK Trams portal

Deansgate-Castlefield is a tram stop on Greater Manchester's Metrolink light rail system, on Deansgate in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre. It opened on 27 April 1992 as G-Mex tram stop, taking its name from the adjacent G-Mex Centre, a concert, conference and exhibition venue; the G-Mex Centre was rebranded as Manchester Central in 2007, prompting the Metrolink stop to be renamed on 20 September 2010.^[1] The station underwent redevelopment in 2014–15 to add an extra platform in preparation for the completion of the Second City Crossing in 2016–17.

Deansgate-Castlefield serves as a transport hub by integrating with National Rail services from Deansgate railway station by a footbridge. Exits from the station lead to the Great Northern Warehouse, the reconstructed Mamucium Roman Fort, the Beetham Tower, and Deansgate Locks. Part of the City Zone, the stop is one of the most used on the Metrolink network.^[2]

History

Manchester Central railway station, one of the city's main railway terminals, was built between 1875–80 by the Cheshire Lines Committee railway company and served as the terminus for Midland Railway express services to London. The station was notable as an engineering feat - its huge wrought-iron single-span arched roof, spanning 210 feet (64 m), 550 feet (168 m) long and 90 feet (27 m) high is claimed to be the widest unsupported iron arch in Britain after London St. Pancras.^[3]

Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station in 2007, then known as G-Mex Metrolink station, prior to redesign

Following the Beeching cuts, the station was deemed surplus to requirements and closed to passengers on 5 May 1969. The listed building survived as a local landmark, and after serving as a car park, the old station was refurbished and re-opened as an exhibition and conference centre.

With the opening of the Metrolink system, rail services were able to operate once more from south Manchester to Central Station; however, instead of trains running into the Central Station arch, light rail vehicles now run alongside the south-eastern side of the former train shed, down a ramp which runs parallel to Lower Mosley Street, before reaching street level where they operate as trams and head towards St Peter's Square. The viaduct arches beneath the station, overlooking the Rochdale Canal, have since been refurbished and converted into the Deansgate Locks development comprising bars, restaurants and a comedy club.^[4]

Deansgate Locks underneath the station.

Central Station featured in early proposals to build a light rail system in Manchester; the station featured in 1984 publicity with an interchange to Deansgate;^[5] by 1987, the station had acquired the name 'G-Mex' and the system was now known as 'Metrolink'.^[6]

Renaming

In August 2010 Metrolink announced it would be changing the name of the stop from 'G-Mex' to 'Deansgate-Castlefield'. On 2 September 2010, signs at the stop were changed to 'Deansgate-Castlefield'; a couple of days later temporary vinyl GMEX stickers were placed on top which were removed on 20 September 2010 when the name change was made.

2015 redevelopment

It had been thought for some time that the second city crossing (2CC) expansion would require a third platform at the stop. However, 2011 proposals^[7] showed St Peter's Square as a major 4-platform interchange, putting the third platform at Deansgate-Castlefield into doubt. Manchester City Council was also known to be working on a proposal^[8] to better integrate the tram stop and Deansgate railway station as well as creating a key interchange, which remained unaffected by the 2011 2CC proposals. At MIPIM 2010 proposals were unveiled^[9] for a redevelopment of the area behind the conference centre. The ambitious scheme envisioned a pedestrian skypark walkway along the side of the conference centre to ground level creating better pedestrian access to both the conference centre and the city centre itself; a new bridge to link to Deansgate railway station, replacing the tired and unappealing original; and the creation of a new train shed on the viaduct for the tram stop's three platforms including access to ground level. The new island platform opened in December 2014^[10] and additional green themed modifications (such as a living wall) were added in 2015.^[11]

Services

Service pattern

Aerial shot of two trams passing at Deansgate-Castlefield, with the line through Deansgate railway station in the background. The A56 road passes under both lines.

Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station in 2013

At peak times (07:15 – 19:30 Monday to Friday, 09:30 – 18:30 Saturday):

• 10 trams per hour to Altrincham
• 5 trams per hour to Ashton-under-Lyne
• 5 trams per hour to Bury
• 10 trams per hour to East Didsbury
• 5 trams per hour to Eccles
• 5 trams per hour to Manchester Airport
• 5 trams per hour to MediaCityUK
• 10 trams per hour to Piccadilly
• 5 trams per hour to Shaw and Crompton

Offpeak (all other times during operational hours):

• 5 trams per hour to Altrincham
• 5 trams per hour to Ashton-under-Lyne
• 5 trams per hour to East Didsbury
• 5 trams per hour to Eccles via MediaCityUK
• 5 trams per hour to Piccadilly
• 5 trams per hour to Victoria

References

1. http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9004616 . Name change for GMEX Metrolink stop.
2. "Transport Statistics Greater Manchester 2015 Public Transport Section". TfGM. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
3. "Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex)". Manchester Evening News. July 18, 2003. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
4. "Deansgate Locks bars". Pride of Manchester.
5. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (1984), Light Rapid Transit in Greater Manchester, GMPTE - publicity brochure
6. Metrolink Community Liaison (1987). "Metrolink - Light Rail in Greater Manchester". publicity brochure. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive.
7. "Second City Crossing Stops". TfGM. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
8. "Civic Quarter – Manchester Central – Regereneration Framework". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
9. "Sky park for Manchester Central". Crains Manchester Business. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010.
10. Charlotte Cox (17 December 2014). "Deansgate and Castlefield Metrolink stop reopens as renovation works reach halfway mark". Manchester Evening News.
11. Alex Hibbert (25 July 2015). "It's alive! New 'Living Wall' planted as finishing touches put on Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop". Manchester Evening News.

External links

• Tram times and station information for Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
• Manchester Central proposal (from roughly 5:15)
• More photos of this station

Manchester Lines
Legend
City Centre and North: Past, Present and Future  Manchester Metrolink Main Line services   to Rochdale to Oldham Moston Newton Heath Newton Heath and Moston to Bury Bowker Vale Crumpsall to Tameside Abraham Moss Clayton Bridge Woodlands Road Park Queens Road Central Park Monsall to Tameside Miles Platting Edge Lane Clayton Hall Oldham Road Velopark Manchester Victoria Holt Town Exchange to Salford Etihad Campus New Islington Ardwick Shudehill Ashburys High Street; Manchester Piccadilly Mayfield Market Street; Piccadilly Gardens to South Manchester Exchange Square Gorton Mosley Street Oxford Road St Peter's Square to Belle Vue Manchester Central ; Deansgate- Castlefield Deansgate Liverpool Road to Hyde Road to Tameside Cornbrook Cornbrook to Salford Pomona to Eccles Trafford Bar to Trafford to Trafford Firswood to Altrincham to Chorlton