Preserving the tramway heritage of Greater Manchester for future generations.
Heaton Park Tramway is set to operate again thanks to a major new funding award securing its future for generations to come.
For the last 18 months, the trams have been unable to run as the electrical substation which powers the Heritage Tramway at Heaton Park needed an overhaul to bring it up to current safety standards.
The £400,000 funding investment, secured from Manchester City Council, will enable essential restoration work on the substation to begin this spring. The upgrade should mean the tramway can restart in summer 2026 to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of Manchester’s first electric tramways in 1901.
The tramway operates on the only remaining section of Manchester’s original tramways in Heaton Park and this major investment into the existing infrastructure will ensure its safe and continued operation for many years to come.
It is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of volunteers of the Manchester Transport Museum Society (MTMS) who have worked in partnership with Manchester City Council since 1979 to keep this popular attraction running in one of the city’s largest and most popular green spaces.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said:
“Our support of the much-loved Heaton Park Tramway not only preserves an important piece of local heritage, but a piece of living history. It will be welcomed by visitors to Heaton Park who come to enjoy the outdoor space as well as the variety of attractions that this wonderful park has to offer. The vintage trams hold a special place in the hearts of many people, and I’m delighted that they will be up and running again in time for the 125th anniversary.”
Geoff Senior, Chairman of the MTMS said:
“This is the wonderful news our volunteers have been looking forward to, representing a huge vote of confidence in the hard work and dedication they have shown in the last almost 50 years of working with the city of Manchester to build, develop and run this vital piece of Manchester’s transport heritage, not only for the citizens of Manchester but those who travel to the park from wider afield.
We look forward to welcoming visitors to the park back onto the tramway in the coming months and would love to hear from anyone who wants to get involved with helping run this unique part of Manchester’s history within this wonderful green space.”
Keith Whitmore, Chairman of the MTCL said:
“It is well known that the tramway is a jewel and a must-see attraction in North Manchester, and the commitment of Manchester City Council to support the restoration of the Electricity Sub Station to a safe working condition demonstrates their commitment to ensure that the Tramway continues to be a must visit on a Heaton Park day out.
As Tramway Company Chair, I am proud of the work that our Tramway volunteers undertake come rain and shine, and also the help given by the City Council and park officials to keep the tramway running in the Park, especially following incidents such as the theft of tramway wiring a few years ago, and now to get the electricity sub station fit for purpose following an anxious and difficult year for us all.
It is especially fitting that we should be seeing the tramway back in operation during the celebrations of 125 years of electric tramways in Manchester.”
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