By Ethan Davies

The headline 'Stockport to get Metrolink' is one that's been written plenty of times, with the proposals being announced and reannounced by politicians of all colours for years. 

But there is reason to believe that, within a month, it will finally be confirmed that Stockport will get the tram.

Newly re-elected mayor Andy Burnham said on Thursday (May 9) morning that "we are about to say more" on Metrolink expansion plans, adding: "What we have is an appraisal.

"There are a lot more places saying 'we need it'. The bottom line is a new extension in the south and one to the north of the city-region."

Under further questioning on BBC Radio Manchester, the mayor said he "would like to see them built in the decade" and also said "the new Stockport Interchange has been built with tram capability". His comments follow a suggestion in 2019 that tram-trains could serve Wigan, Bolton, and Stockport by as soon as 2022.

Furthermore, Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM's) own 2021-26 delivery plan says it will 'develop options' for a 'metro/tram-train East Didsbury to Stockport/Hazel Grove'. TfGM has also committed to a Stockport-Manchester Airport tram option, a Cornbrook to Airport via Timperley tram option, and an Airport Western leg extension on the same document.

Stockport's new travel interchange has been built with Metrolink integration in mind (Image - Alasdair Perry)

If the chosen 'south option' referred to by Mr Burnham is an extension of the Rochdale-East Didsbury line to Stockport, as alluded to by the delivery plan, the LDRS has examined where the tram might go.

Publicly available maps of railway lines show that there is the dormant Manchester South District Railway which runs from the end of the in-use East Didsbury tram line.

That runs through Heaton Mersey, before splitting in two. The northern section, known as the Heaton Mersey Station to Heaton Mersey East junction, connects up with the Stockport, Timperley, and Altrincham railway near the M60 motorway, which then runs towards the in-use West Coast Mainline and on towards Brinnington.

This section of track is the closest to the 'tram capable' Stockport Interchange in the town centre, but finishing the line there would require a new spur crossing the motorway and West Coast Mainline.

The southern section of the aforementioned line, called the New Mills and Heaton Mersey Railway, crosses the river and M60 before connecting up at Cheadle Heath, with the line ultimately heading to Hazel Grove on in-use track.

Depending on the route chosen, it means Metrolink stations could be opened in Heaton Mersey, Stockport town centre, or even Hazel Grove. However, this has all yet to be confirmed — so for the time being, Stopfordians are playing the waiting game again.

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