Tram help (Manchester) please.

[ChristinaW16]

I am trying to plan a journey out to the Co-op Live this Friday and I cannot make any sense of the Manchester tram system. We will be travelling from a restaurant near the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop out to the Etihad Campus. The map shows a clear blue line between the two. The journey planner however is advising that we walk to Picadilly Gardens and get the tram from there. To confuse matters further, the planner states that this is the “yellow” line when, on the map, the yellow line goes nowhere the Etihad Campus?
I’m travelling with a child who is desperate to see this event, and I’m stressing about missing it due to my bad planning.
Thank you in advance to anyone familiar with this route who can advise!

I don't know specific but google maps is really good for public transport navigation. I use it all the time when I am in different cities/towns which is most months. If you go to the stop at the stadium and click on it you will be shown all the lines and stops/previous stops so you can work your way back.

Hi, I'm Manchester based. There are works on the line so the usual lines are all terminating in different directions. Usually the tram would run between where you're staying in Deansgate and Etihad (light blue) but the Etihad trams are now heading to Crumpsall on the Bury line (yellow).

All you need to do is go to Piccadilly Gardens, it's a really short walk down Mosley Street, follow the tram lines.

At Piccadilly Gardens jump on either the Etihad Tram or the Ashton Under Lyme Tram. Both should stop at Etihad campus and follow the same route.

Also at Piccadilly gardens you want the side of the stop that's nearest the gardens. The opposite side (near the buses) will take the you wrong way.

You’re eating on the wrong side of the city centre if there’s works on the tram line, can the restaurant be changed?

Thank you so much, it makes sense if there are engineering works. I couldn't work out why the map seemed so wrong!

Normally you can get the tram directly but there's engineering works going on at the moment.
Other options for getting from Deansgate-Castlefield to Piccadilly to pick up the tram from there
Walk, it's about 25 minutes
Taxi / Uber about a fiver
Free bus
Train from Deansgate to Piccadilly bout a 5 min journey if that

If you're getting the tram back be prepared for a very long wait to get on the tram. Last time I went we left the venue as soon as the show finished, skipped the loos, walked straight to the tram queue and then spent 40 minutes in the zigzag queue to get onto the platform, so check the weather first!

Are you staying in Manchester? If so whereabouts? As a previous poster says you might feel more comfortable changing the restaurant

Just get an Uber - similar price and no faffing. Also, depending on the time you’re going the trams will be jam packed.

Your best off getting a 216 bus from Piccadilly and getting off at Asda and walking ( my husband is a bus driver and he had this same problem the other day with people asking, he drives the 216s alllll dayyyyy long 🤣🤣)

Thank you so much, this is really helpful. I had been worried about getting a tram after the show, especially as it has sold out. I'd walk it no problem, but not sure an 11 year-old can face a 2.5 mile walk to Victoria after a long day. Hopefully cabs will be easy to get hold of around the Co-op...

The bus is 2 pound single per adult 1 pound child - you could get that the way there and then a taxi back. There's always taxis in Manchester. It keeps costs down aswell if you at least get the bus there.

If I need a cab in Manchester I'll pre book a Bolt.
Otherwise, I'll tram or bus it depending where I'm going.
PP advice about the engineering works is good.

This is 100 % correct , normally you can get the blue line but trams are terminating in different areas either deansgate or cornbrook depending on which way you are going and what exactly is going on at the time due to the work going on on mosely St.

Mostly St was shut to pedestrians last weekend but the diversion is well sign posted and only adds about 2 mins to your walk.

The tram journey is about 10 mins but when there is a event on they can get very busy so allow a bit of exta time .
I recon walking from deansgate , getting a tram and getting off can be easy done in 40 mins ( possibly quicker if you are luck with the trams )

Just looked at the app.Unfortunately you are going to have to walk to Piccadilly Gardens. Normally you wouldn't but it would be fun after the 16 March.



I have posted a photo but it hasn't uploaded. It explains everything on the app.

Thank you for all of the advice!

Download the app as well 👍 🚃