AECOM’s work allowed the Manchester Metrolink system to expand safely and efficiently into the most admired LRT network in the United Kingdom.
Over the past 16 years, AECOM has played an integral role in the expansion of Manchester Metrolink, a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in northern England. Our work has facilitated the system’s growth into the largest LRT network in the United Kingdom, comprised of eight lines, 65 miles of track and 99 tram stops. AECOM was responsible for multidisciplinary design of Phase Three, and later the Trafford Park Line extension.
Substantial network expansion
Our participation in Manchester Metrolink began in 2008 with Phase Three of the network’s expansion – dubbed ‘The Big Bang’ for the substantial growth that it brought to the system. Phase Three added 40 miles of new LRT routes and 55 new stops, solidifying the Metrolink’s status as the UK’s largest LRT network. Completed in 2016, this phase added four new lines serving Oldham & Rochdale, Ashton under Lyne, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport.
This work allowed us to showcase how we address the challenges of integrating light rail into a public highway environment. We provided track alignment and formation design for several operating environments including on-street, segregated and re-use of former heavy rail corridors. Our design team also aided in the conversion of the existing Oldham Loop heavy rail line into an LRT tramway.
Connecting Greater Manchester to key destinations
The Trafford Park Line (TPL) is a four-mile extension with six additional stops branching off the Eccles Line and includes a mix of segregated and shared on-street LRT operation. The TPL provides a sustainable transport link to some of Greater Manchester’s busiest visitor destinations including the Imperial War Museum North, Old Trafford Stadium (home to Manchester United Football Club), the Trafford Centre and Europe’s largest industrial park – Trafford Park.
The Trafford Park industrial complex employs more than 35,000 people and is home to one of the largest shopping and leisure complexes in the UK, The Trafford Centre. The TPL is a reliable and affordable connector aiding sustainable economic growth and improving employment opportunities while tackling congestion.
Our work on the TPL spanned 2014 to 2020 and included the preliminary and accepted-for-construction designs, as well as continued design input for third-party works and structures. We also provided information management and site engineering support throughout the construction process.
Construction involved complex multidisciplinary works and the need to minimize disruption to businesses, requiring a greater level of coordination between design and construction than was necessary on previous extensions. We spearheaded the reconfiguration of 14 signal-controlled junctions and the comprehensive redesign of public highways. This work created a safe and efficient environment for all road users – particularly pedestrians and cyclists.
Altogether, our teams spent 500,000 hours of effort producing over 12,000 2D and 3D design deliverables for TPL. This work was coordinated between 16 disciplines and 18 AECOM offices, demonstrating our ability to organize massive multidisciplinary projects at scale.
Delivering award-winning work ahead of schedule
We used Building Information Modeling (BIM) to generate a full 3D federated model for the TPL – viewable by all key stakeholders – enabling effective design coordination across disciplines. As a result of our emphasis on efficient workflows, the TPL was completed seven months ahead of schedule, with service beginning in March 2020. Our work on the TPL has won multiple awards including the 2017 Building Awards-BIM Initiative of the Year and the UK Tram Global Light Rail Awards 2017-Technical Innovation Award for BIM model.
The design team adopted Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), an engineering-led approach to construction used during earlier stages of Metrolink. This process allowed for many parts to be fabricated off-site, so they were ready for installation as soon as they reach the project site. Historically, tram stop platforms have taken up to six weeks to install — the DfMA solution reduced this timeline to only three days for the TPL stops.
In addition to accelerated timelines, our use of DfMA improved quality control and reduced waste due to the fabrication of materials under controlled factory conditions. It also limited the need for construction and manpower on-site – mitigating impact on local communities – and resulted in a safer build process with a higher quality end-product.
Our future with Manchester Metrolink
Following the completion of the Trafford Park Line, we continue our involvement in asset renewals and the development of business cases for future Metrolink extensions. We have proven to be a trusted design partner, providing works ranging from structural inspections and refurbishments to highway, traffic, civil and systems engineering and the preparation of environmental management plans.
Our involvement with Manchester Metrolink from 2008 until today underscores our track record of forming long-lasting collaborations with clients and contractors. This work highlights our multidisciplinary capability of delivering challenging LRT operations and infrastructure throughout the project lifecycle.