As thousands of runners took to the streets for the Manchester Marathon earlier this month, Metrolink was able to record a new personal best for passengers served on a single day.
On 14 April passengers made 175,000 journeys, the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday in Metrolink’s 30-year history. It was also the busiest Sunday ever recorded, and the eighth busiest day on the network since it opened in 1992.
This year’s milestone was also 20% higher than the second highest number of journeys ever recorded on a Sunday – 145,000 – which was also hit during the Manchester Marathon in 2023.
Similarly to the last year’s race the network was busiest in the morning ahead of the start of the event, and in the early afternoon once the race was run. The Altrincham, Bury, East Didsbury, and Manchester Airport lines were among the busiest on the day.
Ahead of the marathon Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) issued travel advice for runners, spectators and residents travelling into the regional centre, with many roads closed and bus services diverted, while also putting in place robust plans to provide capacity on Metrolink.
Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s head of Metrolink, said: “As always we are delighted to support the Marathon, which is one of the highlights of our events calendar here in Greater Manchester.
“To have smashed our record for the number of passenger journeys made on a Sunday for a second year in a row, and with it being during the Marathon again, is truly special. I think this shows just how important Metrolink is for people living in our region, but also those visiting too.
“I want to thank everyone who chose to travel on Metrolink on race day, as well as the race organisers and partners who helped deliver another fantastic event.
“But I also want to say a huge thanks to our staff behind the scenes and on the frontline, and in particular the two Metrolink employees who looked after a runner who was taken ill onboard a tram on the day and helped him get home safely.”
Image: TfGM
