West Didsbury tram stop 2.57

West Didsbury is a tram stop on the South Manchester Line (SML) of Greater Manchester's light-rail Metrolink system. It opened to passengers on 23 May 2013, in West Didsbury, South Manchester, England. The Metrolink stop sits some 300m south east of the former heavy rail station of the Midland Railway, which opened 1 January 1880 as Withington; was renamed on 1 July 1884 to Withington and Albert Park; renamed again on 1 April 1915 to Withington and West Didsbury; and closed 3 July 1961. The route was earmarked for redevelopment with a light rail system during the 1980s, and was confirmed and funded as part of Metrolink's Phase 3b of expansion in 2006.Service pattern12 minute service to with double trams in the peak12 minute service to with double trams in the peak6 minute service to with double trams in the peakHistoryRailway stationWithington & West Didsbury railway station opened in 1880 as "Withington" when the Midland Railway opened its new Manchester South District line out of Manchester Central Station. The station was renamed "Withington & Albert Park" in 1884, and then "Withington & West Didsbury" in 1895.The Manchester South District line, and consequently Withington & West Didsbury station, closed in July 1961. By the 2000s, the original cobbled station approach road and wall were still visible off Lapwing Lane, and the remains of the station platforms could still be seen at the bottom of the overgrown embankment.