I agree that the lack of a rail route to Stockport is a big drawback, and a huge factor in the awful traffic problems in and around Marple. Interesting re the alternative route via brinnington, is it really viable?? Has there been a serious feasibility study on it?
I don't think there has been a feasibility study of this route. A lot was said about the possibility of a link from the Manchester side of the Reddish Vale viaduct to the Stockport to Guide Bridge line but as for my suggestion the problems to be considered would be:
1. Is it feasible to get a turning circle at the Lingard Lane bridge? I would say yes though a new curved incline would have to be built above the M60.
2. Is Brinnington Road wide enough to take trams? It is wide enough to take HGVs and buses and there is space for the road to be widened by the junction with Northumberland Road though whether there is enough space for platforms I am not sure. The trams share the road with the traffic at Eccles so I don't see why they shouldn't here. A problem could be that resident's parking on the road would be lost.
3. Link from Brinnington Rise to old railway line? A curve could be built using part of the large Jack & Jill pub car park (the pub is not very well patronised now I don't think) and a bit of the corner of St Bernadette's school fields. The road swerves to the left, the tram line would continue in a straight line or veer a little to the right. There is then a steep descent to the old railway line though the gradient is no steeper than that on the steep ascent/descent in Salford on the Eccles line. The land which is in the V between the two old lines has not been used for the last 50 years: I don't know if it belongs to Network Rail or SMBC. A new track could not remain on the existing line for too long a distance because it needs to descend toward the river basin to cross Tiviot Way. All of the land is SMBC owned, part of Reddish Vale Country Park, but because it would be descending the side of the hill it would cross land that is not currently much utilised by users of the park and perhaps a new entry to the car park drive may be needed
4. Crossing the River Tame requires some thought. Either use the existing Tiviot Way road bridge just east of Tesco or new bridge.
5. The northern bank of the River Tame is totally free of obstructions/ properties but there are National Grid powerlines nearby: I don't know if that would be problematic. The Trans Pennine Trail horse/cycle/pedestrian route would need to be reconstructed along an alternative route but the area is a neglected wasteland anyway.
6. I have not seen the bottom of Lancashire Hill for a few years but I suspect that if the Nicholsons Arms has been demolished and nothing has been built on this spot there will be room for the tram lines between Penny Lane and the M60. Over the Lancashire Bridge assuming that the weight of the tram is not prohibitive (juggernauts use it).
7. At bottom of Lancashire Hill cross Great Edgerton St past the Kings Head pub to the corner of Princes St, right along Princes St (probably single track) into Mersey Square and if the A6 Wellington Road arches are high enough into the Bus Station.