‘Plan ahead’ message as Manchester Marathon set to bring busiest day of the year on Bee Network trams

People are being encouraged to plan their journeys ahead of the Manchester Marathon weekend, which is expected to be the busiest day of the year on Bee Network trams.

The hugely popular event – which is due to see 36,000 runners taking part and tens of thousands more cheering them on – takes place on Sunday 27 April.

The 26.2 mile route will again begin under the Trafford Arch and take in areas such as Sale, Streford and Timperley, before this year finishing against the spectacular backdrop of Manchester University, on Oxford Road.

The transport network in Manchester and Trafford will be exceptionally busy before, during and after the race, with a significant number of road closures in place. The timing of road closures vary so people are urged to check these before they travel.

Many bus services will be on diversion from 8am until the end of service on Sunday and those not directly and those not directly impacted by the marathon closures could still be affected by displaced traffic and congestion.

Last year’s Marathon saw Bee Network trams set a new personal best, with passengers racking up 175,000 tram journeys – the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday (14 April 2024) in the network’s 30-year history. It was also the eighth busiest day on the Metrolink network since it opened in 1992.

Trams will again be the best choice for travel on race day, with many stops located close to key spectating points along the race route, such as Sale, Timperley and Chorlton.  Those out and about can download the Bee Network app to plan their journey, take a look at live departures from their tram stop or visit the travel alerts hub.

Tap and go contactless payment is the easiest and quickest way to travel on Marathon day with unlimited travel on Bee Network buses and trams from just £5.40.*

Runners heading to the start line will only be able to access the athletes’ village from Old Trafford and Trafford Bar tram stops up until 9am. Participants arriving after 9am, should get off at Wharfside or Exchange Quay instead.

As many double trams as possible will run across the full network on the day with an additional service operating between Piccadilly and Timperley, to boost capacity on the Altrincham line. A 7.5-minute frequency will operate between Piccadilly and Timperley with a 15-minute double service operating to Altrincham.

People who intend to drive should check their route before travelling and may want to consider using one of the numerous park and ride locations before finishing the final leg of their journey by tram.

Those travelling on the rail line between Bolton and Manchester should also note that Salford Central will be closed on the day of the marathon for continuing upgrade works. Buses will replace trains throughout the day.

Manchester’s popular St George’s Day parade also takes place on the day of the Marathon, bringing more people into the city centre. The parade starts and ends at Varley Street with the route travelling along Oldham Road, Great Ancoats Street and Piccadilly. It is expected to take around one hour and 45 minutes.

Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Director at TfGM said: “The Manchester Marathon is a highlight of the Manchester city centre calendar and our job is to make sure everyone can get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.

“We want everyone to have a great day – whether they are taking on the run themselves or cheering on a friend or loved one – and would urge people to plan their journey in advance, leave plenty of time and check the Bee Network app or website for the most up-to-date information.

“The start and finish lines will be especially busy so if you are coming to watch you may be better off catching the tram to Sale, Timperley or Chorlton, grabbing a coffee and claiming afront row seat to cheer runners on.

“Using public transport is the best way to avoid congestion and delays – and with Tap and Go contactless payments it’s never been easier or more seamless to get around Greater Manchester by bus and tram.”

Passengers can now travel seamlessly between bus and tram and pay for their journey by tapping on when boarding a bus without the need for a ticket, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel.  

People travelling on Bee Network buses on Marathon Day can simply tap in and pay £5 for the day on as many buses as they need and just £4.90 on the tram. You can use all Bee Network buses as much as you want all day from just £5.40*.

Kirsty Wilde, Operations Director, from Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said: “The TfGM tram service is an invaluable part of our event, which allows thousands of participants and supporters to navigate around the city. With a record-breaking 36,000 participants set to take part on Sunday 27th April - and more exciting activities taking place over the weekend as a whole - we're anticipating a rise in tram journeys, which will subsequently bring economic benefits to local vendors, the hospitality sector, and retail businesses.

“We'd like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for its continued hard work helping to facilitate what will be the largest event yet, and would also like to say a big thank you to the residents and businesses across Greater Manchester for their understanding and support.”