The UK Government has granted approval for a new £350 million tram line to be built in Greater Manchester.

Plans for the Trafford Park Metrolink line expansion were given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling on Thursday, 13 October.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are planning to build a new 3.4 mile route on the line, which will provide a major public transport boost for the area.

The new line will pass under the Trafford Road Bridge and run alongside the existing promenade next to Manchester Ship Canal before joining Trafford Wharf Road. The route will turn left onto Warren Bruce Road and then bear to the right onto Village Way up to Parkway. It then crosses over the Bridgewater Ship Canal before turning right onto Barton Dock Road, terminating outside the intu Trafford Centre.

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The service will also call at six stops; Wharfside, Imperial War Museum, Village, Parkway, EventCity and Trafford Centre.

TfGM will now begin work to appoint a contractor for the project, with construction potentially starting this winter and scheduled for completion by 2020/21.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Tony Lloyd, said: "Today's announcement is another big step forward for Greater Manchester. I'm delighted that our long held ambition to build a new Metrolink line through Trafford Park is now about to become a reality.

"Our new Trafford Park line will connect people across Greater Manchester to thousands of new job opportunities as well as offering fast, frequent and sustainable links to some of our city-region's greatest sporting and cultural venues, not to mention the Trafford Centre. 

"This new line will boost our economy and bring us closer to our goal of a world class transport system for Greater Manchester. I look forward to seeing the first shovel in the ground this winter."

(LM)