TRANSPORT | Metrolink - Future Phases & Fantasy Extensions

[Motortownman]

Originally Posted by XCH

Not been on here for a while but here's my second go at a strip plan following 3B.

Wow, 10/10 That's the best I've seen, the followers up have been fantastic too. And I quite liked the bendy bit on the Alty line. You've sorted out the bus link at Stretford so it's readable. And I like the way you bend East Didsbury Line round to the right and keep the Airport line to the left.

[VoldemortBlack]

Originally Posted by VoldemortBlack

Well XCH's map pisses all over my paint-produced one, but here's one showing Manchester's Metrolink && Metroconnect network in the year 3000



Sorry about the size and to XCH for his map

[Ashtonian]

Originally Posted by XCH

Not been on here for a while but here's my second go at a strip plan following 3B.

Excellent piece of work XCH

[Nathan Dawz]

Originally Posted by XCH

Yeh, not sure why I put that wiggle in. Changed it (below) and agree looks better.

Very impressive indeed. You should send that off to TfGM and show them how it's done!

Seriously though, I reckon there's a decent chance they'd want to work with that...and of course they'd pay you handsomely for your good work!

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by ashley b

Liking it so far! Why doies the Altricnham line wiggle after Old Trafford though, wouldn't it look neater just to keep it stright?

I've been playing with the map myself, but to see what it will look like if all the opening planned this years go ahead (and Mosley Street and Woodlands Road Close). Even though the full lines won't be open, it's starting to look like a proper network.

Originally Posted by XCH

Yeh, not sure why I put that wiggle in. Changed it (below) and agree looks better.

Wow guys! They look very good indeed. I like the idea of having a line being oranage tho have you seen what happens when you print it out?

I also have been thinking about the double line I had with the Shaw - Didsbury service. I think you need it and here's why. All the line on the map means a 12min service. To have one line that is the same as 6 and 12min service can lead to confusion. Think about the Tube and how they have added lines to make it more simple for people not familiar with the system to use the map. The introduction of the Hammersmith & City in 1990 was such an example as nothing changed expect the map.

And I think that we sometimes forget that the map isn't for the likes of us, its for people who don't know the system. The simple idea of every line means you should wait about 12mins instills confidence especially pre TMS and the boards showing actual running data. This way you attract people with a simple effective messages.

Thoughts?

[WatcherZero]

Reading through the consultation document
http://www.tfgm.com/Metrolink2cc/pdf...ure-020611.pdf

Victoria extra platforms definite and will be done at the same time as 2cc.
Deansgate-Castlefield expansion is still a possible develepment depending on development in the area.
Claims St Peters would become the busiest stop on the network with trams to all destinations.

Road alterations
• St Peter’s Square – closed to all traffic as part of MCC’s St Peter’s Square redevelopment;
• Windmill Street – possible restrictions to traffic as part of the 2CC scheme;
• Princess Street – restrictions to through traffic; two way traffic provided for buses and bus gate imposed between George Street and Cooper Street as part of the Cross City Bus Package proposed in the TSfMCC;
• Princess Street – two way traffic provided for trams as part of the 2CC scheme;
• Cross Street between Newmarket Street and Market Street – closed to through traffic, changes to servicing access and bus routes as part of the 2CC scheme; and
• Corporation Street between Market Street and Withy Grove - closed
to traffic as part of the 2CC scheme.

[Motortownman]

[QUOTE=mackenziesoley;78949602]Wow guys! They look very good indeed. I like the idea of having a line being oranage tho have you seen what happens when you print it out?

I also have been thinking about the double line I had with the Shaw - Didsbury service. I think you need it and here's why. All the line on the map means a 12min service. To have one line that is the same as 6 and 12min service can lead to confusion. Think about the Tube and how they have added lines to make it more simple for people not familiar with the system to use the map. The introduction of the Hammersmith & City in 1990 was such an example as nothing changed expect the map.

And I think that we sometimes forget that the map isn't for the likes of us, its for people who don't know the system. The simple idea of every line means you should wait about 12mins instills confidence especially pre TMS and the boards showing actual running data. This way you attract people with a simple effective messages.

Thoughts?[/QUOTEmmmm well you could say that but what about the Altrincham to Bury service which doesn't run early mornings, evenings or sundays, should that line then be dotted?

[Johnny de Rivative]

For those (including me) impatient about delays to the current Metrolink openings, the Jubilee Line was so named for its opening in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year of 1977.

When did it actually open? 1979!!!

Originally Posted by LNGCats

Do we think there is any prospect of the western side of the airport loop ever proceeding?

With the airport enterprise zone the reasons to happen have increased a little.

That's a very very interesting proposition Cats, hadn't occurred to me, but quite exciting, especially if it re-kindles the previously planned development at Davenport Green. I made some comments about the Western Loop last year :-

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...97&page=35#691

I can't remember how far West the 'Airport City' proposals extend, but perhaps the two schemes together might have a greater pull on some funding? The loop would also obvously also provide links between Airport City and the Hospital, the Quays area and the Western side of South Manchester more directly, an original raison d'etre for Metrolink in that area.

By the way, what's the betting on yet another 'City' destination - Harbour City, MediaCity, Sportcity, Airport City?

Loving the map. mack.

[loweskid]

PS, for those (including me) impatient about delays to the current Metrolink openings.....

.... be grateful we haven't had the Edinburgh fiasco.....!!

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

Motor - you have accidently deleted the final ] after the

, (before the mmmm) which is why it hasn't quoted properly!

Mackenzie, sorry not with you on that, I think the double thickness line, as well as looking inelegant, would actually add unnecessary complication for the unwary traveller. It's not really about headways, but routeing. The Metropolitan Line always contained a number of routes and short workings (eg to Baker Street off peak instead of Aldgate) and even included the District Line at one time!

So to follow your analogy with the separation of the Hammercity line in 1990, you would have to have four parallel Metropolitan lines for Amersham, Chesham, Watford and Uxbridge through to Aldgate, making it very thick indeed alongside the Hammercity and Circle Lines, and then repeat them all a second time alongside the Jubilee Line (9 in total) for when they terminate short at Baker Street!!!

But it's a fabulous map as it is, probably the best yet, so keep up the good work, loving it!

PS, for those (including me) impatient about delays to the current Metrolink openings, the Jubilee Line was so named for its opening in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year of 1977.

When did it actually open? 1979!!!

[/QUOTE]

Actually if you did that to the Met line you'd have two, as Uxbridge and Watford's are all stations and can be shown as one branch. To be honest I would change quite a few things to the maps.

Then again it may be that I'm used to multiple lines so dislike single lines.

I didn't actually know that the Altrincham to Bury directs weren't all time services. But here's a thought, you don't they? Why not have a simple services that run every 12mins all day long? 15mins on Sunday.

[Chorlton Bloke]

A simple service running every 12 minutes all day would do nothing for the morning overcrowding.

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by Chorlton Bloke

A simple service running every 12 minutes all day would do nothing for the morning overcrowding.

Sorry I missed out, I mean at times other than peak. You have 12mins service expect in peak hours you half it. Its a simple way for people to know whats going on. We all know when peak is.

[XCH]

Thanks for the great feedback on the map guys.

Liking the look of the new double stop in St. Peter's Square as part of 2CC - seems a much better location for it at the top end of the square.

[LNGCats]

Do we think there is any prospect of the western side of the airport loop ever proceeding?

With the airport enterprise zone the reasons to happen have increased a little.

[WatcherZero]

It remains an aspiration, its not been dropped altogether. The Airport City/EZ helps it immensley but they would still have to find funding from somewhere.

[Cherguevara]

Is one of the Enterprise Zone policies something to do with tax increment financing, as in that case I think it might be possible to fund it. Having said that it isn't clear that the western loop would be chosen over other airport projects.

[WatcherZero]

Not tax increment funding, basically the councils get to keep the extra business rates they generate to reinvest rather than it being clawed back by central government and redistrubeted in the national councils grant funding formula.

[LRC Lancaster]

Well done to XCH for your future map, very nice!
Also to Ashley B for the official map - hopefully it will look like this by the end of the year!
And finally to Volde for your "fantasy" map - 3000 does sound like the right time!

[mackenziesoley]

image hosted on flickr

Metrolink Network Map 2025 by Sparkyscrum, on Flickr

My map with some artistic made up stuff like the frenqencies of the lines. The main idea is for people to know what they are to expect before getting to the stop/station.

It does make the left hand side look very busy tho but then again this is a possible 2025 map so who knows?

Not sure the Port Salford Line would go via 2CC to Victoria but did it that way to do a simplier map.

I'm thinking maybe people would like MediaCityUK - Piccadilly service with a Victoria - Eccles service?

[retroscient]

Originally Posted by mackenziesoley

image hosted on flickr

Metrolink Network Map 2025 by Sparkyscrum, on Flickr

My map with some artistic made up stuff like the frenqencies of the lines. The main idea is for people to know what they are to expect before getting to the stop/station.

It does make the left hand side look very busy tho but then again this is a possible 2025 map so who knows?

Not sure the Port Salford Line would go via 2CC to Victoria but did it that way to do a simplier map.

I'm thinking maybe people would like MediaCityUK - Piccadilly service with a Victoria - Eccles service?

Absolutely gorgeous. Now throw on the Stockport, Stalybridge and Chester lines, and maybe a Salford 3CC, and we'll have a real wowser of a map! All the maps posted lately have been very impressive, actually - I haven't missed yours either Volde, liking the Metroconnect! It all makes you wish you could step forward a decade or two and see what we do actually end up with.

I suspect that the Big Bang will leave us with a map essentially identical to the ones above, posted by mackenzie, XCH and ashley, which are themselves very much iterations on the current design. However, I reckon that after a few more extensions TfGM will have no choice to produce a more substantial redesign of the map. The sides are getting cluttered with horizontally-stretched lines, whereas the vertical space is essentially empty. Obviously this horizontal sprawl is due to the space constraints on the ticket vending machines where these maps are placed, but even so, by the time the Phase 3 is done they'll be almost out of options if they want to squeeze any more new lines alongside the existing ones without affecting readability. I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing a more Tube-like design adopted (in terms of vertical rearrangement, not in terms of copying London!) purely because, by the time TfGM need to take this approach, we should have quite a pretty map to look at!