Multimodal Manchester

Over the next few months, I'll be building up a series of posts on this blog called "Multimodal Manchester", where I attempt to visit every significant transport hub in Manchester. I'll be covering all modes - bus and coach; heavy and light rail (otherwise the series wouldn't be very "multimodal"). But what exactly am I considering a "transport hub"?

My definition is that a location is a "transport hub" if it's on my list of transport hubs. And a location is on my list of transport hubs if it is at least one of:

• considered by TfGM to be a Bus Station;
• marked as a "Major Bus Interchange" and/or an interchange between light and heavy rail on TfGM's map of rail services;
• Manchester Oxford Road railway station (because the previous categories cover all stations in the Manchester Central Zone except Oxford Road, and it seems unreasonable to exclude it given it's a very significant and busy station)
• Chorlton Street Coach Station (because it predominantly exists for coaches, it's not managed by TfGM, but it is served by plenty of local buses as well)
• Cornbrook Metrolink station (because it isn't really an interchange between Metrolink and any other mode, but it is a signficant interchange )
• Astley Street busway stop (because officially it isn't a bus station, but it is very reminiscent of one)

I did consider also including park-and-ride sites, but there are far too many of them, TfGM's list of them is incomplete, and often they are very boring. There's only so much you can write about a bus stop that just happens to be next to a car park. I'm aware the criteria are rather arbitrary, but my main aim with them was just to produce an interesting list of places to visit and write about, and my belief is that this selection should achieve that.

Anyway, the first post will be publshed at some point over the next few days and will cover Altrincham Interchange. Enjoy!