The Manchester Metrolink recorded 42 million passenger journeys in 2023/24. Since beginning its operation in April 1992 as the United Kingdom’s first modern tram system, the Metrolink has grown to become an integral part of public transportation within the United Kingdom. The Metrolink is one of currently nine light rail systems in the country, next to those in London’s docklands, Croydon, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Blackpool, and Edinburgh.
Leading light rail and tram system
Docklands Light Railway in London is currently the largest light rail and tram system in the UK. In 2023/24 it had recorded nearly 99 million passenger journeys, far outranking the Manchester Metrolink, which came in second.
Tram and metro use across Europe Despite the large numbers of light rail passengers in Great Britain, light rail use per capita is well behind cities in other European countries. Prague and Budapest lead the charts in terms of ridership per inhabitant, while no UK cities appear in the ranking of the top twelve cities.
Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24
(in millions)
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Department for Transport (UK), & GOV.UK. (September 17, 2024). Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Department for Transport (UK), und GOV.UK. "Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in millions)." Chart. September 17, 2024. Statista. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Department for Transport (UK), GOV.UK. (2024). Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Department for Transport (UK), and GOV.UK. "Number of Passenger Journeys on The Manchester Metrolink in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Department for Transport (UK) & GOV.UK, Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited January 24, 2025)
Number of passenger journeys on the Manchester Metrolink in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1992/93 to 2023/24 (in millions) [Graph], Department for Transport (UK), & GOV.UK, September 17, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/305643/passenger-journeys-on-manchester-metrolink-uk/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
