Geograph - photograph every grid square

The rapid expansion of the Metrolink network since 2009 placed significant extra demand on the existing line through the centre of Manchester due to the additional number of tram movements as all the routes run through a single line in the city centre.

In January 2014, work began on a second Metrolink line (The Second City Crossing, 2CC) through the city centre as part of the Transport Strategy for Manchester City Centre. As well as giving extra capacity, it will also provide more flexibility to serve special events and reduce disruption caused by future maintenance and renewals in the city centre.

The route runs from the existing line at Victoria Station, through Exchange Square, Corporation Street, Cross Street and Princess Street to the existing Deansgate-Castlefield stop via an extended and enlarged stop at St Peter’s Square. A new stop was created at Exchange Square and the Victoria Station stop was improved as part of the overall refurbishment of the station. Link

The first stage of the route, between Victoria and Exchange Square, was opened in December 2015 whilst the final section, from Exchange Square to St Peter’s Square, was opened to passengers on 26 February 2017.

Link Transport for Greater Manchester

Exchange Square is a public space which was created after the IRA’s 1996 Manchester bombing. Today the square is a major shopping area including a branch of Selfridges, New Cathedral Street, The Triangle shopping Centre and an entrance to the Manchester Arndale, the most-visited shopping centre in the United Kingdom.

The square is served by Exchange Square Metrolink station on the Manchester Metrolink network. Construction on the new extension started in 2014 and the entire Second City Crossing scheme Link became operational in 2017.