Queens Road tram stop

Queens Road is a Manchester Metrolink tram stop in Smedley, Manchester, close to the border with Cheetham Hill, another suburb. It is on the Bury Line and in fare zone 2.^[1] This stop is connected to Queens Road Depot, the original depot for the Metrolink. It is also near to the Museum of Transport on Boyle Street, Manchester Fort retail park, and is adjacent to the Irish World Heritage Centre.^[2] This station was constructed and opened on 16 December 2013 to replace Woodlands Road, which had ceased operations at the end of service the previous day. This station has step-free access.^[3]

Queens Road
Manchester Metrolink tram stop
View of Queens Road tram stop in May 2025.
General information
Location	Smedley, Manchester England
Coordinates	53.50167°N 2.22664°W / 53.50167; -2.22664
Grid reference	SD850005
Operated by	KeolisAmey Metrolink
Line(s)	Bury Line
Platforms	2
Construction
Structure type	Below-grade
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	In service
Station code	QRD
Fare zone	2
Website	Queens Road tram stop
History
Opened	16 December 2013; 11 years ago (2013-12-16)
Previous names	Queens Road Halt
Passengers
2019/20	0.357 million
2020/21	65,000
2021/22	0.142 million
2022/23	0.234 million
2023/24	0.257 million
Route map Legend 0:00 Bury Bolton Street East Lancashire Railway River Irwell 0:05 Radcliffe River Irwell 0:07 Whitefield 0:09 Besses o' th' Barn  M60  0:11 Prestwich 0:12 Heaton Park 0:14 Bowker Vale 0:15 Crumpsall 0:17 Abraham Moss to Queens Road Depot 0:19 Queens Road to Monsall River Irk Calder Valley Line 0:23 Victoria  to Exchange Square to Shudehill This diagram: view talk edit
Location

History

Site of Queens Road tram stop when it was a staff halt.

Beginning 6 April 1992, when the Bury Line was first opened to Metrolink, Queens Road was a staff halt and was not open to the public.^[4] Its only features were two approximately 5-metre long platforms with a shelter, stairs to each for access, and a pedestrian crossing.^[5] Flexibility may have been given in the schedule to allow for trams to stop at the halt.^{[citation needed]}

Over time, there was a need to upgrade local access. A GMITA report from May 2010 discussed the idea to close Woodlands Road stop and open replacements at Queens Road and Abraham Moss.^[6] In October 2010, Abraham Moss would begin construction,^[7] and two months later a public consultation was held on the subject of closing Woodlands Road.^[2]

In February 2013, after confirmation of planning permission for Queens Road, it was confirmed that Woodlands Road would close.^[2] In September 2013, works began at the site to transform Queens Road staff halt to a tram stop for passenger service.^[8] In December 2013, works were finished. Queens Road opened to passengers on 16 December 2013, and Woodlands Road had ceased operations by the beginning of service on this day.^[9]

Layout

The steps down to Smeaton Street are seen on the right, and the ramp up to the inbound platform on the left.

Queens Road tram stop was constructed with accessibility in mind. A lift is located at the northern end of the Bury (outbound) platform, and sets of stairs. The only direct entrance to the inbound platform is via a short ramp on Smeaton Street, but it can also be reached using the pedestrian crossing at track level to the south of the platforms. There are steps down to Smeaton Street from the A6010 (road) but they are not part of the Metrolink's infrastructure.

Two dot matrix passenger information displays stand serving one platform each, and show estimated arrival times for trams in minutes up to 30 minutes prior (up to three at a time) and number of carriages.

Services

Further information on service frequencies: Manchester Metrolink

Every route across the Manchester Metrolink network operates to a 12-minute headway (5 tph) Monday–Saturday, and to a 15-minute headway (4 tph) on Sundays and bank holidays. Sections served by a second "peak only" route (like this stop) will have a combined headway of 6 minutes during peak times.

Queens Road is located in Zone 2, and the stop itself has two platforms which aren't named. Trams towards Piccadilly depart from the inbound platform (easternmost) and an extra service runs direct to Altrincham via Market Street during peak times. Trams to Bury stop at the outbound platform (westernmost).

Preceding station	Manchester Metrolink			Following station
Victoria towards Altrincham		Altrincham–Bury (peak only)		Abraham Moss towards Bury
Victoria towards Piccadilly		Piccadilly–Bury
Proposed
Sandhills towards Altrincham		Altrincham–Bury (peak only)		Abraham Moss towards Bury
Sandhills towards Piccadilly		Piccadilly–Bury

Transport connections

A double tram departing the outbound platform heading for Bury.

Bus

Queens Road tram stop is served closest by bus route 151 (Ashton-under-Lyne–Higher Crumpsall) on Queens Road, and 156 (Manchester–Middleton) on Smedley Road.

Train

This tram stop is not connected to or near to any railway stations, but the nearest is Manchester Victoria, approximately 1.5 miles away walking.

See also

• Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester