In this first post documenting my mission to visit all 99 tram stops on the Manchester Metrolink, I’m kicking off the adventure right in the heart of the network at Manchester Victoria. As one of the system’s key interchange stations, it feels like the perfect place to begin surrounded by the buzz of trams arriving from every direction and passengers heading out across Greater Manchester. From here, I’ll be working my way across the entire network, exploring each stop one by one and capturing the character, variety, and stories that make the Metrolink such an integral part of the region.

Leaving Manchester Victoria, I took the quick ride over to Shudehill, where the feel of the network shifts noticeably. Victoria’s historic bustle gives way to Shudehill’s modern interchange, with trams and buses weaving together and people heading in every direction. It’s a small hop, but a clear reminder of how connected the city truly is.

From there, I continued on to Market Street, stepping straight into the busiest part of Manchester’s centre. Trams glide past shoppers and street performers, creating that familiar mix of movement and noise that defines the area. It’s only a short journey, but it captures the energy that makes travelling on the Metrolink so fun to document.

From Market Street, I continued on foot, walking alongside the tram tracks as they curved through the city towards St Peter’s Square. It’s a short but lively walk, with trams gliding past every couple of minutes and the buzz of the city all around. Following the line at street level gives you a different perspective on the Metrolink—seeing the stops, the tracks, and the flow of people up close as you make your way toward one of the network’s most iconic squares.

From St Peter’s Square, I boarded my next tram and headed towards Deansgate-Castlefield, one of the Metrolink’s major interchanges. With its open-air platforms and sweeping views of the surrounding railway arches, it’s a stop that really shows off the character of the network. After a brief pause there, I continued onward to Cornbrook, another key interchange where lines split off towards MediaCityUK, the Trafford Centre, and Eccles.

Cornbrook might not be the most glamorous stop, but it’s one of the most important, acting as a crossroads for so many different routes. Stopping here gives you a real sense of how the entire system connects and how passengers move between some of Greater Manchester’s busiest destinations.

From Cornbrook, I continued to what would be my final stop on the joint tram lines before moving onto the section of track that once formed part of the original railway between Chester and Manchester Victoria. This stretch has a fascinating history before the Metrolink took it over in the 1990s, it was a heavy rail line serving trains from Altrincham into the city. Riding the tram along it today, you can still sense that older railway heritage, even as the Metrolink has transformed it into a fast, modern light-rail route.

You can really tell you’re travelling along an old railway line here, especially when you spot the former station buildings that have long since fallen out of rail use but now serve as part of the Metrolink stops. Many of these structures date back to the heavy-rail era before the network was converted in the early 1990s, and even though trams have replaced trains, the heritage is still obvious. It gives this section of the route a unique feel—like the past and present are running side by side as you head further along the old Altrincham line.

Once I reached the main section of the line towards Altrincham, I decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of stopping at Stretford straight away, I stayed on the tram and carried on to Dane Road. It felt like a good point to break up the journey, especially with the line settling into that classic former-railway feel as it heads further out of the city. Dane Road has that quieter suburban atmosphere, which made it a nice contrast to the busier interchanges earlier in the trip.

After exploring Dane Road, I doubled back on myself and returned to Stretford, where I planned to take an hour’s break before continuing. Stretford sits right in the middle of the line and has a steady flow of passengers, so it made sense as a good stopping point to reset before heading further down the route. Once the break was over, I hopped back on the tram and continued my journey towards Brooklands, ready to tick off the next stop on the Altrincham line.

From Stretford, I continued my journey along the line and made my way to Timperley, another stop that really shows the suburban side of the Metrolink. The line feels calmer out here, with trams running through leafy streets and quieter neighbourhoods, giving the route a completely different atmosphere compared to the busy city-centre sections. After a quick look around Timperley, I carried on towards Sale, one of the more prominent stops on the Altrincham line and a busy point for commuters and shoppers alike.

After leaving Sale, it was time to wrap up the final stretch of the route. I made my way to Navigation Road, a unique stop where trams run alongside the heavy-rail line that still links Chester and Manchester. From there, it was just one last short hop to Altrincham, the terminus of the line and a major interchange linking trams, trains, and buses. Reaching the end of the route felt like the perfect conclusion to the first section of my Metrolink adventure.

All in all, this first run on the Metrolink has been a really fun mix of city buzz, old railway heritage, and quieter suburban stops. One of my favourite parts was travelling along the old line with the canal right beside the tracks, it gives this section such a nice bit of character and makes the journey feel a bit different from the rest of the network.

Before I wrap up, I’d love to know what you want to see next. Which tram line should I cover in the next post? Bury, Rochdale, the Airport line or something totally different? Let me know, and I’ll head there next!