Central Park Metrolink station
Encyclopedia
Central Park Metrolink Station is a future station on the Metrolink
light rail
network in the Newton Heath
area of the City of Manchester
, in Greater Manchester
, England
. The station was constructed in 2005 but is currently unused. It is estimated to become operational in 2011 and provide rail services between Rochdale
and Manchester Victoria and beyond.
The station will serve the Central Park area, an urban renewal
development project in north-east Manchester
which will include the new headquarters of Greater Manchester Police
.
The station forms part of The Gateway, a £36.5 million transport interchange which will include local bus services as well as the Metrolink tram stop.
and glass
canopy
suspended by a cable-tensioned steel structure. It was designed by architects Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, whose work has included a number of projects for London Underground
(including Clapham Common tube station
, and the reconstruction of Farringdon and Blackfriars stations). It was completed in 2005 in readiness for the Metrolink extension through Oldham
to Rochdale
as part of Phase 3A the "Big Bang" network expansion project. However, due to funding problems and repeated project cancellations, the line extension has not yet gone ahead and the station remains unused. Although the station lies next to the Caldervale railway line
between Victoria and Rochdale, there is no interchange with National Rail
services. However, it is possible that railway platforms may be added in future.
Construction on the Metrolink line began in October 2009. It is projected that the station will open to trams from Manchester in November/December 2011 and a full service from Manchester to Rochdale will commence in Spring 2012, almost 7 years after the station was built.
A bridge across the Caldervale Line was also built in 2005 to the north of the station, this will form the continuation of the Metrolink route when the extension eventually opens.
Manchester Metrolink
Metrolink is a light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of four lines which converge in Manchester city centre and terminate in Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The system is owned by Transport for Greater Manchester and operated under contract by RATP Group...
light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
network in the Newton Heath
Newton Heath
Newton Heath is an urban area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is east north east of Manchester city centre and has a population of 9,883....
area of the City of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The station was constructed in 2005 but is currently unused. It is estimated to become operational in 2011 and provide rail services between Rochdale
Rochdale railway station
Rochdale railway station serves the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station serving the town in the 19th century...
and Manchester Victoria and beyond.
The station will serve the Central Park area, an urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
development project in north-east Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
which will include the new headquarters of Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
.
The station forms part of The Gateway, a £36.5 million transport interchange which will include local bus services as well as the Metrolink tram stop.
Construction
The station building features a striking curved copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and glass
Architectural glass
Architectural glass is glass that is used as a building material. It is most typically used as transparent glazing material in the building envelope, including windows in the external walls. Glass is also used for internal partitions and as an architectural feature...
canopy
Metal roof
A metal roof, often referred to as a tin roof, is a roofing system made from metal pieces or tiles. It is a component of the building envelope.-History:...
suspended by a cable-tensioned steel structure. It was designed by architects Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, whose work has included a number of projects for London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
(including Clapham Common tube station
Clapham Common tube station
Clapham Common tube station is a station on London Underground's Northern Line. It lies between Clapham North and Clapham South stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
, and the reconstruction of Farringdon and Blackfriars stations). It was completed in 2005 in readiness for the Metrolink extension through Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
to Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
as part of Phase 3A the "Big Bang" network expansion project. However, due to funding problems and repeated project cancellations, the line extension has not yet gone ahead and the station remains unused. Although the station lies next to the Caldervale railway line
Caldervale Line
The Caldervale Line is a railway route in Northern England between the cities of Leeds and Manchester as well as the seaside resort of Blackpool...
between Victoria and Rochdale, there is no interchange with National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services. However, it is possible that railway platforms may be added in future.
Construction on the Metrolink line began in October 2009. It is projected that the station will open to trams from Manchester in November/December 2011 and a full service from Manchester to Rochdale will commence in Spring 2012, almost 7 years after the station was built.
A bridge across the Caldervale Line was also built in 2005 to the north of the station, this will form the continuation of the Metrolink route when the extension eventually opens.