Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station

Deansgate-Castlefield
Manchester Metrolink
Metrolink tram at Deansgate-Castlefield in 2007 (when station was known as G-Mex)
Location
Place	Castlefield, Manchester City Centre
Local authority	Manchester
Platforms	2
Fare zone information
Metrolink Zone	D (City)
History
Opened	1992-04-27 As terminus 1992-06-15 For through services
City Centre to Bury to Rochdale Victoria Second City Crossing Shudehill High Street Exchange Square Market Street Mosley Street Piccadilly Gardens Piccadilly St Peter's Square to Ashton-under-Lyne D'gate-Castlefield ( Deansgate) Cornbrook to MediaCityUK and Eccles Trafford Bar to East Didsbury and to Altrincham Manchester Airport
UK Trams portal

Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station (formerly named G-Mex Metrolink station) is a station on the Metrolink light rail system which operates in Greater Manchester, England. It is located in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre, immediately next to the former Manchester Central station, which is now the Manchester Central Conference Centre.

The Metrolink station used to take its name from the previous identity of the conference centre, which re-opened after its refurbishment in 1986 as the Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex).^[1] As the centre has since been rebranded with the name of the former railway terminus, the Metrolink station's new name reflects the actual location of the stop.^[2]

Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station serves as an interchange station with National Rail services from Deansgate railway station - the two stations are linked by a footbridge. There is another footbridge linking the Metrolink station to The Great Northern Warehouse, and staircase exits to Collier Street (Mamucium Roman Fort) and to Deansgate Lock on Whitworth Street West.

Deansgate-Castlefield station is the point where the Manchester Metrolink changes between 'tram-mode' for street-running through the city centre and 'train mode' for running on the former British Rail lines.

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.^[1]

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 refrubished as 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 beneath the station, overlooking the Rochdale Canal, has since been refurbished and converted for leisure purposes - bars, clubs.

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;^[3] by 1987, the station had acquired the name 'G-Mex' and the system was now known as 'Metrolink' .^[4]

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.

Service Pattern

Aerial shot of two trams passing at Deansgate-Castlefield, with the line through Deansgate railway station in the background.

• 10 tph to Altrincham
• 15 tph to Piccadilly
• 5 tph to Bury
• 5 tph to Victoria
• 5 tph to St Werburgh's Road
• 5 tph MediaCityUk

Future

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^[5] show 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^[6] to better integrate the tram stop and Deansgate railway station as well as creating a key interchange, which remain unaffected by the 2011 2CC proposals. At MIPIM 2010 proposals were unveiled ^[7] for a redevelopment of the area behind the conference centre. The ambitious scheme creates 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 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 scheme linked to office development of the surrounding area could be operational by 2014 ^[8] and create a principal southern rail and tram interchange for the city centre similar to Victoria and Piccadilly. The plan is continuing but remains dependent on the proposed local redevelopment proceeding.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex)". Manchester Evening News. July 18, 2003. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/days_out/s/63/63208_greater_manchester_exhibition_centre_gmex.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9004616 . Name change for GMEX Metrolink stop.
3. ^ Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (1984), Light Rapid Transit in Greater Manchester, GMPTE  - publicity brochure
4. ^ Metrolink Community Liaison (1987). "Metrolink - Light Rail in Greater Manchester". publicity brochure (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive). 
5. ^ http://www.tfgm.com/Metrolink2cc/second_city_crossing_stops.cfm?submenuheader=0
6. ^ http://www.manchester.gov.uk/download/11871/civic_quarter-manchester_central_regeneration_framework
7. ^ http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/article/20100319/FREE/100319816/-1/breaking
8. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDLGxTTxno&feature=channel

External links

• Tram times and station information for Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
• Manchester Central proposal (from roughly 5:15)

Coordinates: 53°28′29″N 2°15′01″W / 53.4747°N 2.2503°W / 53.4747; -2.2503

[v · d · e]Manchester Lines - City Centre and North, (Past, Present and Future)

Legend To Bury To Rochdale Moston To Oldham Bowker Vale Newton Heath Newton Heath and Moston Crumpsall Central Park To Tameside Abraham Moss;Monsall Clayton Bridge Woodlands Road Park Queens Road To Tameside Miles Platting Edge Lane Clayton Oldham Road Sportcity-Velodrome Manchester Victoria Holt Town/Sportcity-Stadium Exchange To Salford New Islington Ardwick Exchange Square/Shudehill Ashburys High Street; Manchester Piccadilly Mayfield;To South Manchester Market Street; Piccadilly Gardens To Belle Vue;Gorton Moseley Street;Oxford Road To Hyde Road St Peter's Square To Tameside Manchester Central/Deansgate-Castlefield Deansgate Liverpool Road To Salford;Cornbrook Cornbrook Pomona To Eccles Trafford Bar To Trafford Firswood To Trafford;To Altrincham To Chorlton

Preceding station		Manchester Metrolink		Following station
Cornbrook towards Altrincham		Altrincham - Bury Line		St Peter's Square towards Bury
		Altrincham - Piccadilly Line		St Peter's Square towards Piccadilly
Cornbrook towards Eccles		Eccles - Piccadilly Line
Cornbrook towards St Werburgh's Road		St Werburgh's Road - Victoria Line		St Peter's Square towards Victoria
		Under Construction
Cornbrook towards East Didsbury		South Manchester Line		St Peter's Square towards Victoria