Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop
Deansgate-Castlefield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Metrolink station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Castlefield, Manchester England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 53°28′29″N 2°15′01″W / 53.47473°N 2.25032°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grid reference | SJ834975 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | First City Crossing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | In operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fare zone | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original company | Manchester Metrolink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key dates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 April 1992 | Opened as G-Mex (as terminus) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 June 1992 | Opened (for through services) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 September 2010 | Renamed Deansgate-Castlefield | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 December 2014 | Third platform opened | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Zone 1, the stop is one of the most used on the Metrolink network.[2]
History
[edit]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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/G-Mex_station%2C_Manchester_Metrolink_-_geograph.org.uk_-_360043.jpg/220px-G-Mex_station%2C_Manchester_Metrolink_-_geograph.org.uk_-_360043.jpg)
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]
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
[edit]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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Trams_crossing_at_gmex.jpg/220px-Trams_crossing_at_gmex.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Trams_at_Deansgate-Castlefield_2016.jpg/220px-Trams_at_Deansgate-Castlefield_2016.jpg)
2015 redevelopment
[edit]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 on 17 December 2014[10] and additional green themed modifications (such as a living wall) were added in 2015.[11]
Services
[edit]Services run every 12 minutes on all routes. Some routes (as indicated) only operate during peak times.
Deansgate-Castlefield – St Peter's Square | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preceding station | Following station | |||
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Cornbrook towards East Didsbury
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East Didsbury–Shaw (peak only) | St Peter's Square towards Shaw and Crompton
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East Didsbury–Rochdale | St Peter's Square towards Rochdale Town Centre
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Cornbrook towards Manchester Airport
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Manchester Airport–Victoria | St Peter's Square towards Victoria
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Cornbrook towards Altrincham
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Altrincham–Bury (peak only) | St Peter's Square towards Bury
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Altrincham–Piccadilly | St Peter's Square towards Piccadilly
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Altrincham–Etihad Campus (evenings and Sundays only) | St Peter's Square towards Etihad Campus
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Cornbrook towards Eccles
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Eccles–Ashton (peak only) | St Peter's Square towards Ashton-under-Lyne
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Eccles–Ashton via MediaCityUK (off-peak only) | ||||
Cornbrook towards MediaCityUK
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MediaCityUK–Etihad Campus (peak only) | St Peter's Square towards Etihad Campus
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Cornbrook towards The Trafford Centre
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The Trafford Centre–Deansgate | Terminus |
References
[edit]- ^ http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9004616[permanent dead link] . Name change for GMEX Metrolink stop.
- ^ "Transport Statistics Greater Manchester 2017 Public Transport Section". TfGM. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex)". Manchester Evening News. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 7 July 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Deansgate Locks bars". Pride of Manchester. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ^ Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (1984), Light Rapid Transit in Greater Manchester, GMPTE - publicity brochure
- ^ Metrolink Community Liaison (1987). "Metrolink - Light Rail in Greater Manchester". Publicity Brochure. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive.
- ^ "Second City Crossing Stops". TfGM. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
- ^ "Civic Quarter – Manchester Central – Regereneration Framework". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Sky park for Manchester Central". Crains Manchester Business. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010.
- ^ Charlotte Cox (17 December 2014). "Deansgate and Castlefield Metrolink stop reopens as renovation works reach halfway mark". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016.
- ^ Alex Hibbert (25 July 2015). "It's alive! New 'Living Wall' planted as finishing touches put on Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Tram times station information for Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
- City centre Metrolink map
- Manchester Central proposal (from roughly 5:15)
Manchester railways |
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City Centre and North
Past, present and future |
- Tram stops in Manchester
- Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1992
- Tram stops on the Trafford Centre – Deansgate route
- Tram stops on the Eccles – Ashton route
- Tram stops on the East Didsbury – Rochdale route
- Tram stops on the East Didsbury – Shaw route
- Tram stops on the Altrincham – Bury route
- Tram stops on the Altrincham – Piccadilly/Etihad Campus route
- Tram stops on the Manchester Airport – Victoria route
- Tram stops on the MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus route