Construction work has started on a 3•9 km extension of the Manchester Metrolink light rail network from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne.

This is the first of the projects included in Phase 3b of the network expansion programme to get underway.

The work is being undertaken by the M-Pact Thales consortium of Laing O’Rourke, GrantRail and Thales as an option on the existing contract for Phase 3a, which includes construction of a line to Droylsden from the existing terminus at Manchester Piccadilly.

The four-stop Ashton extension will open in 2014. It will run on-street to Audenshaw, follow an alignment to reach a bus-tram interchange in Ashton town centre.

There will be a park-and-ride site for more than 600 cars at Ashton Moss.