(United Kingdom )MANCHESTER

Images kindly supplied by GMPTE. (Thanks)
Salford Quays	Shudehill	platform (1)
platform (2) elevated section line terminal

Manchester
Manchester (the third most populated town in England) launched in 1992 the first section of Metrolink line, with Altrincham-Bury route (north-south, 30 km long), constituted by the so-called "Altrincham Line" (from Manchester G-Mex to Altrincham, 12.9 km, partly on viaduct and partly on elder railway alignements ), "Delta Junction" (new urban tram tracks in the city center from G-Mex to Victoria and Piccadilly; this 4 km section connects the external segments -on elder railway alignements- to the city center) and "Bury Line" (Victoria-Bury, 15.9 km on former railway tracks). New extensions towards Eccles and Salford Quays ("Eccles Line", 7 Km partly on segregated lanes -viaduct and gallery-) have been opened in 1999-2000, completely on new tracks.
The third phase extensions (to the Airport, Ashton-under-Lyne and Rochdale via Oldham) are in advanced planning state. A third phase is expected; it will be articultated in 2 sub-phases (ph. 3a, ph. 3b), for further 59 km of network. Phase 3a (under construction) consists in: an intermediate stretch along Eccles Line towards Mediacity UK (serving BBC, an exhibition center, museum and cultural centers) opened in 2010, a branchs from Trafford to Chorlton (St. Wersburgh Road) opened in 2011, a branch from Victoria to Oldham (by the renewal and reuse of the former Rochdale railway alignement) opened in 2012, another branch from Piccadilly to Droylsden to be completed. Phase 3b will bring these further extensions: horlton (St. Wersburgh Road)-Manchester Airport, horlton (St. Wersburgh Road)-East Didsbury, Droylsden-Ashton, Oldahm-Rochdale.
Metrolink (official site)

CHRONOLOGY
06-04-1992	Bury–Victoria
27-04-1992	Victoria–G Mex
15-06-1992	G Mex–Altrincham
20-07-1992	Market St./Mosley St.–Piccadilly
06-12-1999	Cornbrook–Broadway
21-07-2000	Broadway–Eccles
31-03-2003	Shudehill stop
20-09-2010	diramazione per MediaCityUK
18-04-2011	Abraham Moss stop
07-07-2011	Trafford Bar- St. Werburgh's Road
13-06-2012	Victoria - Oldham Mumps

Country	United Kingdom
Line	Metrolink
Inhabitants	City 2.250.000
Date opening	1992
Future development:	Phase 3a: Piccadilly-Droylsden; Phase 3b: Chorlton (St. Wersburgh Road)-Manchester Airport; Chorlton (St. Wersburgh Road)-East Didsbury; Droylsden-Ashton; Oldham-Rochdale
Length (km)	51
Track sections	partly on dismissed BR tracks
Stops	50, average distance 1000 m
Platforms	--
Platform doors	--
General characteristics	--
n. of vehicles	32
n. of cars per vehicle	2 (plans for 3 cars configuration)
Type	steel wheels bi-directional
Vehicle dimensions (m)	length 29
Vehicle capacity (pax)	200 (82 seated)
Frequency	6'/12'
Current/Voltage	750 V DC overhead
Type of guide/gauge	rails
Speed Km/h	Comm. 20, Max 48 (on street)/80 (on rails)
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	--
System capacity	--
Ridership	52.000 pax/day; 18.8 million pax/year
Total cost	6 M£/km
Staff	--
System builder	ANSALDO
Model	T68, T68a
NOTE	phase 3 (59 km) predicted cost: 1200 M£