SOARING passenger numbers have seen 1.88 million journeys made on Metrolink’s multi award-winning Manchester Airport line in its first year.

The 15-stop line, which was opened more than a year ahead of schedule, reached its first birthday on November 3.

The success of the £400 million line was recently recognised during the industry award season with four wins at different national award ceremonies.

Almost 60km of rail track was used to construct the line, which uses 670 overhead poles to power the trams. Twenty-eight tramway/highway junctions were either newly installed or modernised; a 337 metre-long viaduct was constructed over the River Mersey and two 580 tonne motorway bridges were installed over some of the busiest sections of urban motorway in the country.

An innovative scheme to recruit staff local to the area by Metrolink’s operator, RATP Dev, was also an unprecedented success, with 12 employees going on to work as part of the wider customer service team at Metrolink.

Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink director, said: “The Airport line has been hugely successful, delivering improved public transport and access to employment, business, retail and leisure opportunities, as well as education and healthcare.”

Greater Manchester’s Metrolink network carries more than 32 million passengers every year. The opening of the Airport line brought the number of Metrolink stops across Greater Manchester to 92, spanning some 60km.