New tram line improves connections to the University

A new Metrolink line has opened this month that has increased sustainable travel links to the University.

Anyone travelling from the Chorlton area can now change at Cornbrook and board a service direct to the MediaCityUK tram stop which opened in 2010. The journey will only take about 25 minutes.

Staff and students wishing to travel on to the main University site on the Crescent can then board the new and free Salford QuaysLink service for the short journey across Salford.

The new line branches off from the existing Altrincham line and features three new stops at Firwood, Chorlton and St. Werburgh's Road. Further extensions to Withington and Didsbury are also ongoing.

For more information see the Metrolink website.

Greater Manchester to receive £4.9m cycle fund

Greater Manchester has secured a £4.9 million investment from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) for an array of cycling improvements across the region.

Impression of a proposed cycle
centre at Manchester Piccadilly
(from Manchester & Salford Cycle Centres report)

A large part of the fund will pay for the construction of several 'cycle centres' that will provide secure storage, lockers, showers and toilets at several key locations.  

One of the initial locations for a cycle centre is at MediaCityUK which would benefit staff and students wishing to cycle to our new campus at Salford Quays. Other proposed locations include Manchester Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens.

Other measures will be included as part of the wider 'Greater Manchester Commuter Cycle Project' that will look to increase the amount of people commuting by bicycle.

Click here for more information from the TfGM website.

Free Salford QuaysLink bus to MediaCityUK has begun

The new bus service linking the University to MediaCityUK, called 'Salford QuaysLink' has started this week.
The service operates between Salford Crescent station, Salford Shopping City and Salford Quays on a 10-minute frequency during the day Monday-Friday and every 15 minutes in the evening and on weekends.

For staff and students of the University, the service is free on production of a University ID card. All other passengers will pay a flat fare of £1 or £1.60 for a day ticket.

The service, operated under a joint funding agreement between Salford City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and the University, provides a high frequency, sustainable method of getting to and from our exciting new facility at MediaCityUK on Salford Quays - you can just 'turn-up-and-go' on weekdays due to the 10-minute frequency.

The service will provide an efficient interchange between rail at Salford Crescent, Metrolink at Salford Quays or other bus services at Salford Shopping City. It will also enhance accessibility in terms of getting to these key destinations in the area and reducing the need to use the car - particularly as it's free!!

The vehicles for the service are the same hybrid buses that are used on the Metroshuttle services in Manchester city centre and produce less emissions than standard buses. The buses are brand new, very comfortable to travel on and even have onboard flatscreens displaying useful info on the local area.

The Environment & Sustainability team will be having a trip on the new service later in the week so look out for the article!

For more info the Salford QuaysLink page at Transport for Greater Manchester.