Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station

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. 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.

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.

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.

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; - publicity brochure by 1987, the station had acquired the name 'G-Mex' and the system was now known as 'Metrolink'.

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 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 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 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 and additional green themed modifications (such as a living wall) were added in 2015.

Services

Service pattern

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 Etihad Campus
*5 trams per hour to Manchester Airport
*5 trams per hour to MediaCityUK
*5 trams per hour to Piccadilly
*5 trams per hour to Rochdale Town Centre
*5 trams per hour to Shaw and Crompton
*5 trams per hour to Victoria

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 Manchester Airport
*5 trams per hour to Piccadilly
*5 trams per hour to Rochdale Town Centre
*5 trams per hour to Victoria

References

External links

Tram times station information
for Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
City centre Metrolink mapManchester Central proposal
(from roughly 5:15)

{{Greater Manchester Metrolink stations

Tram stops in Manchester
Tram stops on the Eccles to Piccadilly line
Tram stops on the Altrincham to Bury line
Tram stops on the East Didsbury to Rochdale line
Tram stops on the Altrincham to Piccadilly line
Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1992