Market Street Metrolink

I called at this metrolink stop while in Manchester today and I was extremley dissapointed.
Despite being in a very nice central posision they is many things wrong with this stop, I didn’t notice any signs to say how long the next train would take, they was no shelter which is a nightmare for when visiting in the rain, as I did today, even other outside stations have shelter and I didn’t really notice any here.
I feel they could of signposted maps more and which platform goes where, I had to guess the stop I waited at simply because of a lack of signage.
I don’t know if it was because it was dark or because it just wasn’t in the area of the platform I seen but still if I can’t notice them, others wouldn’t do as well so they should really be more, you should be able to see it in the dark anyway as well.
With all the confusion, if it isn’t too far, it is actually easier just to walk to your destination.
They is CCTV for this station, and toliets are nearby in Starbucks and probably many other coffee stores across the way but honestly you can’t just go in to the toliet so then they is the short 5 or so minute walk to the Arndale toilets.
Ticket machines are here too but because of the lack of signs for what part of the platform was going there and the times and they being no shelter, I feel this station is defnitley among the poorest of stations, so deserves the single one star.

A quick and easy way of travelling around most of the Greater Manchester area with trams to Altrincham, Eccles, MediaCity UK and St Wedburgh Road are all readily available from the number of tram stations available. The most busy are normally those in the heart of the city centre at St Peters Square and Piccadilly Gardens. Pretty average pricewise but definitely an alternative from the buses available which may only turn up every half an hour whereas you can guarantee a tram every 12 minutes.
The trams themselves are comfortable and big enough to cope with the rush hours of the workers in the morning and evening and the widescreen windows allow a good view throughout your trip at the city landscape at times.
Maps and tram boards are easy to follow giving tourists/​first-​time Manchester visitors and the regular users, ample information to get the correct tram at the correct time.

Our two kids (aged 3 and 5) really enjoy the tram rides, and happily we can get on for free — if you buy a train ticket with MANCHESTER CTLZ on it you can ride round the central zone without paying. This is great as all the central tourist attractions our kids love (the Art Gallery, the Museum of Science and Industry, etc) are easily walkable from a central zone tram stop. From our experience of going into the City on a weekend or during the holidays we’ve no complaints about frequency, cleanliness or overcrowding; all in all, therefore, Metrolink gets a thumbs-​up from us and we can’t wait to see it extended (plans are for a modest expansion if the congestion charge is rejected and a seriously ambitious expansion if it goes through).

Designed as a quick easy public transport route to connect the city to outlying towns, there are things the Metrolink has done well at, but sadly the aim of being cheap has fallen by the wayside, with an off peak return from Radcliffe to city centre costing £3.50. Also the trams are these days looking to be slightly passed their hey day. As with all other forms of transport at peak times there is limited capacity with the trams being a max of two carriages long. But in off peak times it is generally not too bad. Trams are advertised as running every 6 minutes through the day but there are fairly frequent delays caused in part one must assume by traffic in city centre as the tram lines share the road in many areas. In the evenings trams run later than the trains so it should be a good route home after an evening out, sadly the fact the tramstops are unmanned, and the trams themselves rarely have staff on board has made them and the carparks surrounding them somewhat unpleasant for the lone female traveller.
One thing I do tend to find as a problem is that due to the stops being unmanned in order to buy a ticket you have to ensure you have a fairly large quantity of change with you and woe betide anyone who doesnt have spare as the machines are extremely finicky in which coins they will accept.

The Metrolink has been going for years and was meant to be a qhick and cheap alternative to the bus for gettin

Manchester’s very own tram network can take you from Bury in the north of the city to Altrincham in the south, and also through Salford Quays to Eccles in the west. All trams run through/​to the city centre, with all the Eccles trams and half the others running through to Piccadilly train station.
Riding the Metrolink can be a pleasant experience — there’s some great views along the route, especially travelling over the bridge from the Eccles/​Altrincham lines towards Manchester, you can see all the fancy new apartment blocks and developments as well as the remnants of some of Manchester’s rich industrial heritage.
However, there are some quite obvious problems with Metrolink — both the Eccles and Altrincham lines share Mosley Street in the city centre with other transport, any problem on that stretch cripples the network (and it does happen from time to time).
Ticketing is also a problem, Metrolink has always used ticket machines at the stations (which are somewhat tempremental) as opposed to conductors — they do have ticket inspectors on the network occasionally but many choose to take their chances and not pay.
The trams themselves are not particularly pleasing on the eye either — whoever thought grey and turquoise was a nice colour scheme? They’re not always particularly clean either
I’m all in favour of trams as a ‘green’ alternative to buses but having seen similar schemes in Sheffield and Nottingham and over in Europe and Canada, Manchester’s Metrolink looks like the poor relation. To be fair, it’s suffered from a complete lack of investment since the Eccles line opened 10 years ago, and any more money is reliant on the controversial congestion charge being put in place, it’s very much wait and see at the moment.
It’ll get you from A to B but should be a lot better than it is

The Metrolink tram system covers a good part of Greater Manchester (from Bury to Altrincham and Manchester Piccadilly to Eccles). When making an onward connection at Manchester Piccadilly, it’s clearly sign-​posted, simple and speedy to find.
The maps on the platform are easy-​to-​follow. On-​site machines permit you to get your ticket just before you board (although you might need to allow a little extra time for this). Trams run very regularly, around every 12 minutes.
Once on-​board, the large windows are a boon — even in the rain — as they give you a good perspective on Manchester’s diverse offering — from the impressive new super-​modern developments to the canalside, former mill areas and historic buildings.

Metrolink is a brilliant way of getting round Manchester. In the city centre the stops are really regular, and the lines also take you out into Greater Manchester with stops every few minutes.
If you’re familiar with London, the trams feel a little bit like the DLR. There is an actual driver but if you manage to sit at the front you can feel like you are driving it yourself :-)
My main uses have been from Altrincham to Piccadilly Station which takes about 35 minutes and costs about £3.50. It’s a quick, pleasant ride and it lets you see loads of Manchester from afar. It’s particularly cool at night when everything’s lit up.
The trams run on electric and are modern & new (not like Blackpool trams). They run on regular streets throughout Manchester so keep an eye out when you’re walking about so you don’t get in their way!