Altrincham Interchange

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Railway, bus and tram interchange in Greater Manchester, England

Altrincham

Altrincham Interchange building, opened 2015

General information
Location| Altrincham, Trafford
England
Coordinates| 53°23′15″N 2°20′50″W﻿ / ﻿53.3875°N 2.3472°W﻿ / 53.3875; -2.3472
Grid reference| SJ770879
Managed by| Northern Trains
Transit authority| Transport for Greater Manchester
Platforms| 4 (2 National Rail, 2 Metrolink)
Other information
Station code| ALT
Fare zone| G
Classification| DfT category C2
Key dates
20 July 1849| Original MSJA railway station opens
3 April 1881| MSJA station replaced on current site
6 May 1974| Name changed from Altrincham and Bowdon to Altrincham
15 June 1992| Metrolink service starts
Passengers
2019/20|  0.373 million
2020/21|  69,168
2021/22|  0.222 million
2022/23|  0.248 million
2023/24|  0.273 million

Notes

Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Altrincham Interchange is a transport hub in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It consists of a bus station on Stamford New Road, a Northern Trains-operated heavy rail station on the Mid-Cheshire Line, and a light rail stop which forms the terminus of Manchester Metrolink's Altrincham line. The original heavy rail element of the station was opened by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway as Altrincham and Bowdon railway station in April 1881, changing to Altrincham railway station in May 1974. The Metrolink element opened in June 1992. The Interchange underwent a complete redevelopment, at a cost of £19 million, starting in mid-July 2013. The new bus station opened officially on 7 December 2014.

## History

[edit]

Altrincham Station entrance in 1975, before the introduction of a bus station A British Rail Class 304 at Altrincham in 1990 Altrincham Station clock tower

The station was opened on 3 April 1881 as Altrincham & Bowdon by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) to replace Altrincham (1st) railway station on Stockport Road and Bowdon station on Lloyd Street/Railway Street which both closed that day. All platforms were through, with Nos. 1 and 2 (nearest to the town) being used by the MSJAR.[citation needed]

The Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) trains from Manchester Central to Northwich and Chester Northgate used platforms 3 and 4. The CLC also operated a service from Stockport Tiviot Dale via Northenden to Altrincham, latterly using Sentinel steam railcars, but this service ceased in late 1939.[citation needed]

The station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.[citation needed]

Since 6 May 1974, the station has been named Altrincham.[1] In 1975 a new booking office was opened on platform 4 to serve the car park on the site of the former goods yard. Also in 1975, work began to convert the former station forecourt on Stamford New Road into a bus station, and the Victorian glass-covered canopy over the station entrance was demolished. The new combined Altrincham Interchange bus/rail station was opened in November 1976.[citation needed]

When Sectorisation was introduced in the 1980s, the station was served by Regional Railways under arrangement with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive until the privatisation of British Rail.[citation needed]

Regional Railways electric trains between Manchester and Altrincham ceased serving the station on 24 December 1991.[2] The former electric train platforms (1 and 2) reopened for use by Metrolink on 15 June 1992.[3]

A new roof for platform 1 costing £180,000 was installed in 2006. This platform had been uncovered since glazed panels were removed in 2003 due to safety concerns. The new roof is made of coated steel with clear panels to let in the light.[4]

The station clock tower on Stamford New Road, erected in 1880, is a Grade II listed structure.[5][6]

### Redevelopment

[edit]

The Interchange was redeveloped in 2013-15 by Laing O'Rourke. The project was partly funded by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.[7]

The interchange reopened on 7 December 2014, integrating Bus, Rail and Metrolink services again, although the lifts and some roofing in the railway station was not completed until 2015.[8][9]

## Services

[edit]

Looking south to Altrincham Station; the terminating Metrolink tram tracks are to the right, and mainline railway through tracks to the left

Altrincham Interchange has four rail platforms. Two bay platforms are used for Metrolink services. Two further through platforms accommodate train services on the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester via Stockport.[10]

### Rail

[edit]

There is a basic hourly service in each direction on the Mid-Cheshire line on Mondays to Saturdays with two peak extras to/from Stockport. The through service to Blackpool North ceased to run from 15 December 2008.

On Sundays there were five trains to and from Chester but these all terminated here prior to the timetable change, there being no service onwards to Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly. Through passengers had to use the Metrolink service to continue their journey (connections were advertised in the 2007-8 timetable and National Rail tickets were valid for through trips). From December 2008 however, the service frequency has been improved (to two-hourly each way) and through running to Stockport & Manchester Piccadilly reinstated for the first time since the early nineties. These services continued to Wigan Wallgate and Southport until May 2018; they now all terminate at Manchester Piccadilly.[11]

Metrolink Stop Entrance

### Metrolink

[edit]

Altrincham

Metrolink station

A M5000 at Altrincham Interchange on Platform 1

General information
Location| Altrincham, Trafford
England
Coordinates| 53°23′15″N 2°20′50″W﻿ / ﻿53.38752°N 2.34734°W﻿ / 53.38752; -2.34734
Line(s)| Altrincham Line
Platforms| 2
Other information
Status| In operation
Fare zone| 4
History
Original company| Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Pre-grouping| Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Post-grouping| Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Key dates
1992| Conversion to Metrolink operation

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |

to St Peter's Square

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |
|  |

0:21

|  | Deansgate-Castlefield

( Deansgate)
|  |

|  |

Bridgewater Canal

|  |

0:18

| Cornbrook
|  |

|  |

to Pomona

|  |

|  |

CLC Liverpool–Manchester line

|  |

0:15

| Trafford Bar
|  |

|  |

to Firswood

|  |

0:13

| Old Trafford
|  |

0:11

| Stretford
|  |

|  |

River Mersey

|  |

|  |

M60

|  |

0:08

| Dane Road
|  |

0:07

| Sale
|  |

0:06

| Brooklands
|  |

0:04

| Timperley
|  |

0:02

| Navigation Road
|  |

0:00

| Altrincham
|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

Location

There is a frequent Metrolink service to Manchester and Bury, with a tram every six minutes to Manchester for most of the day (alternate trams running to Bury, avoiding Piccadilly). Monday-Saturday evening and Sunday journeys run every 12 minutes to Piccadilly, with journeys to Bury requiring a change of trams at Piccadilly Gardens.[12]

Altrincham is in Metrolink fare zone 4.[13]

### Service pattern

[edit]

* 5 trams per hour to Piccadilly
* 5 trams per hour to Bury (peak only)

* 1 train per hour to Manchester Piccadilly via Stockport
* 1 train per hour to Chester

Preceding station  |  Manchester Metrolink | Following station

|
|

Terminus |  | Altrincham–Bury (peak only)  |  | Navigation Road

towards Bury

| Altrincham–Piccadilly  |  | Navigation Road

towards Piccadilly

Preceding station  |  National Rail | Following station
Hale |  | Northern Trains
Mid-Cheshire Line |  | Navigation Road
Historical railways
Hale
Line and station open |  | Cheshire Lines Committee
Mid-Cheshire Line |  | Sale
Line and station open
Disused railways
Baguley |  | Cheshire Lines Committee
Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway |  | Terminus

### Bus services

[edit]

The former station forecourt now serves as a Transport for Greater Manchester bus station, providing interchange with local bus services to locations within Trafford. Buses also operate to Stockport, Wythenshawe, Macclesfield, The Trafford Centre, Sale, Hale, Timperley, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport, Bowdon and Warrington. The main bus operator is Arriva North West but other significant operators include Stagecoach Manchester, Warrington's Own Buses, Warrington Coachways and Vale Travel.[14]

There is also a taxi rank.[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Slater, J.N., ed. (July 1974). "Notes and News: Stations renamed by LMR". Railway Magazine. 120 (879). London: IPC Transport Press Ltd: 363. ISSN 0033-8923.
2. ^ Dixon 1994, p. 119.
3. ^ "Altrincham Metrolink stop : Metrolink". TheTrams.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
4. ^ "Station roof" Archived 16 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, This is Trafford - Retrieved 28 November 2006
5. ^ Historic England. "CLOCK TOWER ON STATION FORECOURT (1067962)". National Heritage List for England.
6. ^ Dickens, Steven (15 August 2018). Altrincham in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-7459-9. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. ^ "Pages - Altrincham Interchange". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
9. ^ "Confirmed: Altrincham Interchange to open on Sunday | Altrincham Today". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
10. ^ "Altincham-layout". tfgm.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
11. ^ GB National Rail Timetable 2013-14, Table 88
12. ^ "Metrolink - Tram Times - Altrincham". Metrolink / Transport for Greater Manchester. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
13. ^ "Metrolink ticket zones map". TfGM. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
14. ^ "Altrincham Interchange". Transport for Greater Manchester. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
15. ^ "Altrincham [ALT]". nationalrail.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2016.

* Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
* Dixon, Frank (1994). The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway. Headington: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-454-7.
* Jowett, Alan (2000). Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas (1st ed.). Penryn, Cornwall: Atlantic Transport Publishers. ISBN 978-0-906899-99-1. OCLC 228266687.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2013). Chester Northgate to Manchester. Middleton Press. figs. 77-85. ISBN 9781908174512. OCLC 892704846.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Altrincham Interchange.

* Train times and station information for Altrincham Interchange from National Rail
* Metrolink Times and Stop Information
* Altrincham Metrolink area map
* Bus information for Altrincham Interchange from Transport for Greater Manchester
* Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership
* Altrincham Interchange updates

* v
* t
* e

Bus stations in Greater Manchester

Bus stations|

* Airport
* Altrincham Interchange
* Ashton
* Bolton Moor Lane
* Bolton Interchange
* Bury Interchange
* Chorlton
* Eccles Interchange
* Hyde
* Leigh
* Manchester Piccadilly
* Manchester Shudehill
* Middleton
* Oldham
* Pendleton
* Radcliffe
* Rochdale
* Stalybridge
* Stockport
* Trafford Centre
* Wigan
* Wythenshawe

* v
* t
* e

Railway stations in Greater Manchester

Bolton|

* Blackrod
* Bolton
* Bromley Cross
* Daisy Hill
* Farnworth
* Hall i' th' Wood
* Horwich Parkway
* Kearsley
* Lostock
* Moses Gate
* Westhoughton

Bury|

* Bury Bolton Street †( Bury)
* Ramsbottom †
* Summerseat †

Manchester
(Manchester station group in italics)|

* Ardwick
* Ashburys
* Belle Vue
* Burnage
* Deansgate ( Deansgate-Castlefield)
* East Didsbury
* Gorton
* Levenshulme
* Manchester Airport
* Manchester Oxford Road
* Manchester Piccadilly
* Manchester Victoria
* Mauldeth Road
* Moston
* Ryder Brow

Oldham|

* Greenfield

Rochdale|

* Castleton
* Heywood †
* Littleborough
* Mills Hill
* Rochdale
* Smithy Bridge

Salford|

* Clifton
* Eccles ( Eccles)
* Irlam
* Moorside
* Patricroft
* Salford Central
* Salford Crescent
* Swinton
* Walkden

Stockport|

* Bramhall
* Bredbury
* Brinnington
* Cheadle Hulme
* Davenport
* Gatley
* Hazel Grove
* Heald Green
* Heaton Chapel
* Marple
* Middlewood
* Reddish North
* Reddish South
* Romiley
* Rose Hill Marple
* Stockport ( Stockport)
* Strines
* Woodley
* Woodsmoor

Tameside|

* Ashton-under-Lyne ( Ashton)( Ashton)
* Broadbottom
* Denton
* Fairfield
* Flowery Field
* Godley
* Guide Bridge
* Hattersley
* Hyde Central
* Hyde North
* Mossley
* Newton for Hyde
* Stalybridge

Trafford|

* Altrincham
* Chassen Road
* Flixton
* Hale
* Humphrey Park
* Manchester United Football Ground
* Navigation Road
* Trafford Park
* Urmston

Wigan|

* Atherton
* Bryn
* Gathurst
* Hag Fold
* Hindley
* Ince
* Orrell
* Pemberton
* Wigan North Western
* Wigan Wallgate ( Wigan)

† stations on the East Lancashire Railway (heritage)

* List of open stations
* List of closed stations
* TfGM
* Transport

* v
* t
* e

Manchester Metrolink

Tram stops|

| Zone 1|

* Cornbrook
* Deansgate-Castlefield ( Deansgate)
* Exchange Square
* Market Street
* New Islington
* Piccadilly
* Piccadilly Gardens
* Shudehill
* St Peter's Square

|

Airport Line (2014)|

* Baguley
* Barlow Moor Road
* Benchill
* Crossacres
* Manchester Airport
* Martinscroft
* Moor Road
* Northern Moor
* Peel Hall
* Robinswood Road
* Roundthorn
* Sale Water Park
* Shadowmoss
* Wythenshawe Town Centre
* Wythenshawe Park

Altrincham Line (1992)|

* Altrincham
* Brooklands
* Cornbrook
* Dane Road
* Navigation Road
* Old Trafford
* Sale
* Stretford
* Timperley
* Trafford Bar

Bury Line (1992)|

* Abraham Moss
* Besses o' th' Barn
* Bowker Vale
* Bury ( Bolton Street)
* Crumpsall
* Heaton Park ( Heaton Park Tramway)
* Prestwich
* Queens Road
* Radcliffe
* Victoria
* Whitefield

East Manchester Line (2013)|

* Ashton Moss
* Ashton-under-Lyne
* Ashton West
* Audenshaw
* Cemetery Road
* Clayton Hall
* Droylsden
* Edge Lane
* Etihad Campus
* Holt Town
* New Islington
* Velopark

Eccles Line (1999-00)|

* Anchorage
* Broadway
* Eccles
* Exchange Quay
* Harbour City
* Ladywell
* Langworthy
* MediaCityUK
* Pomona
* Salford Quays
* Weaste

First City Crossing (1992)|

* Deansgate-Castlefield ( Deansgate)
* Market Street
* Shudehill
* St Peter's Square

Oldham & Rochdale Line (2012-14)|

* Central Park
* Derker
* Failsworth
* Freehold
* Hollinwood
* Kingsway Business Park
* Milnrow
* Monsall
* Newbold
* Newhey
* Newton Heath and Moston
* Oldham Central
* Oldham King Street
* Oldham Mumps
* Rochdale Railway Station
* Rochdale Town Centre
* Shaw and Crompton
* South Chadderton
* Westwood

Piccadilly Spur (1992)|

* Piccadilly
* Piccadilly Gardens

Second City Crossing (2015-17)|

* Exchange Square

South Manchester Line (2011-13)|

* Burton Road
* Chorlton
* Didsbury Village
* East Didsbury
* Firswood
* St Werburgh's Road
* West Didsbury
* Withington

Trafford Park Line (2020)|

* Barton Dock Road
* Imperial War Museum
* Parkway
* The Trafford Centre
* Village
* Wharfside

Operations|

| Operators|

* Amey
* Keolis
* Transport for Greater Manchester

|

Vehicles|

* Current: M5000
* Former: (T-68
* T-68A)

History
(Timeline)|

| Former operators|

* GMML
* Altram (Ansaldo Transporti, Serco, Laing, 3i)
* RATP Group
* Stagecoach Group

|

Transferred lines|

* Altrincham Line
* Bury Line
* Oldham Loop Line

Closed stops|

* High Street
* Mosley Street
* Woodlands Road

Abandoned plans|

* Drake Street
* Glossop line
* Hardy Farm
* Haveley
* Hope Valley line
* Hough End
* Oldham Werneth
* Picc-Vic tunnel
* Woodhouse Park

Proposed
developments|

| Bury Line|

* Elton Reservoir
* Sandhills

|

Oldham & Rochdale Line|

* Cop Road

Stockport Line|

* Gorsey Bank
* Heaton Mersey
* Kings Reach
* Stockport Interchange

Trafford Park Line|

* Port Salford
* Salford Reds
* Trafford Quays

Wythenshawe Loop|

* Davenport Green
* Manchester Airport High Speed (HS2)
* Newall Green
* Terminal 2
* Wythenshawe Hospital

* Transport for Greater Manchester
* UK light rail systems

* v
* t
* e

Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, England

Buildings|

* Altrincham Town Hall
* Bent Farmhouse, Warburton
* Church House, Warburton
* Dunham Massey
* Flixton House
* Halecroft
* Old Town Hall, Altrincham
* Railway Inn, Altrincham
* Royd House
* Sale Town Hall
* Trafford General Hospital
* Trafford Town Hall
* Warburton School

Places of worship|

* All Saints' Church, Urmston
* St Alban's Church, Broadheath
* St Ann's Church, Stretford
* St George's Church, Altrincham
* St George's Church, Carrington
* Hale Chapel
* St John's Church, Brooklands
* St Martin's Church, Ashton upon Mersey
* St Mary's Church, Bowdon
* St Werburgh's Church, Warburton

Education|

* Altrincham College
* Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
* Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
* Ashton-on-Mersey School
* Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
* Broadoak School
* Flixton Girls' School
* Loreto Grammar School
* Lostock High School
* Manor Academy
* North Cestrian School
* St Antony's Catholic School
* Sale Grammar School
* Sale High School
* St Ambrose College
* Stretford Grammar School
* Stretford High School
* Trafford College
* Urmston Grammar School
* Wellacre Academy
* Wellington School

Transportation|

* Altrincham Interchange
* Brooklands tram stop
* Chassen Road railway station
* Flixton railway station
* Hale railway station
* Humphrey Park railway station
* Manchester United Football Ground railway station
* Navigation Road station
* Trafford Park railway station
* Urmston railway station

Shopping complexes|

* Trafford Centre
* White City

Sport and entertainment|

* Altrincham Ice Dome
* Chill Factor
* Heywood Road
* Hotel Football
* Imperial War Museum North
* Old Trafford
* Old Trafford Cricket Ground
* Urmston Musical Theatre

Bridges|

* Barton Road Swing Bridge

Others|

* EventCity

Demolished|

* Dunham Castle
* Ford Trafford Park Factory
* Trafford Park Railway
* Ullerwood Castle
* Watch Hill Castle

Lists|

* List of schools in Trafford

Listed buildings in|

* Altrincham
* Bowdon
* Carrington
* Dunham Massey
* Hale
* Partington
* Sale
* Stretford
* Urmston
* Warburton

* Greater Manchester portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template