Comment by M2Ys4U
16 hours ago
Manchester's Metrolink should also be used as a benchmark.
The Airport line extension cost £368m with 15 stops over 14.5km of track (which shakes out at roughly £25m/km), and was completed more than a year ahead of schedule and under budget.
That line is really slow, it can be faster to get to the airport by getting the tram to East Didsbury then changing to a train.
Well it depends on where you're trying to go.
As a means to get to the airport from the city centre? Yeah, heavy rail is probably better.
But that's not the only reason for the line. It's used to get to and from other points on the route too.
As a means to get to the airport from almost anywhere, heavy rail can be quicker. TBF, the route planner on the TFGM website will tell you if this is true and tram tickets to the airport are valid on the train.
The Airport Line might be better labelled as the Wythenshawe Line.