Free city centre tram travel for Rochdale's train passengers

Date published: 28/10/2005

A new campaign is being launched by GMPTE across Rochdale to let people travelling into Manchester by train know that they can use the tram system in the city centre for free.

Posters are being put up at railway stations across the district with the slogan 'Take the train into Manchester and ride on the tram for free'.

Passengers who catch a train from a station inside Greater Manchester to Manchester city centre are able to use their ticket to travel between eight Metrolink stations - Victoria, Shudehill, Market Street, Mosley Street, St Peter's Square, G-Mex, Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly.

Anyone whose train ticket has 'Manchester CTLZ' as their destination can use the city centre tram system at no extra cost simply by showing their train ticket if they are stopped by a Metrolink Ticket Inspector.

GMPTE's Service Delivery Director, Denise Lennox, said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get around Manchester city centre without the need for a car.

"Metrolink has been a massive success for Manchester and it's important that people coming into the city centre from elsewhere in the county are able to benefit from it. That's why it is free for all Greater Manchester rail passengers to travel on the tram to any stop in the city centre zone between Victoria and G-Mex.

"Our Metroshuttle bus service is also a great way of getting around the city centre for free. Buses run at least every ten minutes from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday."

Metroshuttle recently launched a third route, with services running to Salford Central rail station and the newly developed Spinningfields area for the first time. The free city centre service links the Manchester's key public transport stations and stops as well as car parks with the main shopping, commercial, leisure and cultural areas of the city. All three routes are in operation between Monday and Saturday and routes 1 and 2 also operate on Sundays from 10am to 6pm.

Detailed information on all Greater Manchester public transport services is available by calling GMPTE Traveline on 0870 608 2608. Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Textphone users should ring 0870 241 2216.