 G-Mex |
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| A tram approaches the G-Mex station | |||
| Location | |||
| Place | Castlefield, Manchester City Centre | ||
| Local authority | Manchester | ||
| Fare zone information | |||
| Metrolink Zone | D (City) | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 1992-04-27 As terminus 1992-06-15 For through services |
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G-Mex Metrolink station is a station on the Manchester Metrolink light rail system which operates in Greater Manchester, England, UK. It is located in the Castlefield area of Manchester city centre, immediately next to the former Manchester Central station, which is now the Manchester Central Conference Centre.
The Metrolink station takes its name from the previous identity of the conference centre, which re-opened after its refurbishment in 1986 as the Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex).[1] Although the centre has since been rebranded with the name of the former railway terminus, the Metrolink station has retained the G-Mex name.
G-Mex station serves as an interchange station with National Rail services from Deansgate railway station - the two stations are linked by a footbridge. There is another footbridge linking the Metrolink station to the The Great Northern Warehouse, and staircase exits to Collier Street (Mamucium Roman Fort) and to Deansgate Lock on Whitworth Street West.
G-Mex station is the point where the Manchester Metrolink changes between 'tram-mode' for street-running through the city centre and 'train mode' for running on the former British Rail lines.
History
Manchester Central railway station, one of the city's main railway terminals, was built between 1875–80 by the Cheshire Lines Committee railway company and served as the terminus for Midland Railway express services to London. The station was notable as an engineering feat - its huge wrought-iron single-span arched roof, spanning 210 feet (64 m), 550 feet (168 m) long and 90 feet (27 m) high is claimed to be the widest unsupported iron arch in Britain after London St. Pancras.[1]
Following the Beeching cuts, the station was deemed surplus to requirements and closed to passengers on 5 May 1969. The listed building survived as a local landmark, and after serving as a car park, the old station was refrubished as re-opened as an exhibition and conference centre.
Central Station featured in early proposals to build a light rail system in Manchester; the station featured in 1984 publicity with an interchange to Deansgate;[2] by 1987, the station had acquired the name 'G-Mex' and the system was now known as 'Metrolink' .[3]
With the opening of the Metrolink system, rail services were able to operate once more from south Manchester to Central Station; however, instead of trains running into the Central Station arch, light rail vehicles now run alongside the south-eastern side of the former train shed, down a ramp which runs parallel to Lower Mosley Street, before reaching street level where they operate as trams and head towards St Peter's Square.
References
- ^ a b "Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre (G-Mex)". Manchester Evening News. July 18, 2003. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/days_out/s/63/63208_greater_manchester_exhibition_centre_gmex.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (1984), Light Rapid Transit in Greater Manchester, GMPTE - publicity brochure
- ^ Metrolink Community Liaison (1987). "Metrolink - Light Rail in Greater Manchester". publicity brochure (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive).
External links
- Tram times and station information for G-Mex Metrolink station from Manchester Metrolink
Coordinates: 53°28′29″N 2°15′01″W / 53.4747°N 2.2503°W
| Preceding station | Manchester Metrolink | Following station | ||
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toward Bury or Piccadilly
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Bury-Altrincham line |
toward Altrincham
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toward Piccadilly
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Eccles line |
toward Eccles
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