Explainer

Vital traffic tips as thousands of gig goers due in Manchester for four events in one night

Manchester is playing host to Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, The Killers and Parklife Festival. Credit: Ed Sheeran/Alicia Keys/The Killers/PA Images

Thousands of music fans will be in Manchester this weekend, 11 and 12 June, as four huge events take place on the same night.

Ed Sheeran is performing four nights at the Etihad Stadium, which began on Thursday.

The Killers will bring their tour to Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Saturday, the same night Alicia Keys performs at the AO Arena.

And Parklife, the region's biggest music festival, headlined by US rapper 50 Cent, is happening in Heaton Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Around 200,000 people are expected to be in, around or passing through Greater Manchester on the Saturday alone. 

Credit: PA

The concert and festival goers are being encouraged to plan their journeys and consider using public transport.

Roads

Anyone using the motorways are being advised to expect congestion - especially when concert goers are leaving Parklife each night from around 9pm onwards, potentially into the early hours.

The traffic agency said its North West Regional Operations Centre will be closely monitoring motorway traffic using CCTV cameras, and patrols will be out and about to help manage traffic and keep drivers on the move.

Electronic variable message signs will be used to advise motorway users of the event in advance as well as over the weekend to warn of incidents and any congestion.

Brandon Flowers (left) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (right), members of American rock band The Killers. Credit: Press Association.

Chris Chadwick, senior network planner for National Highways in the North West, said: "We’ve ensured there are no roadworks on key routes over the weekend and we don’t expect any major congestion problems but people shouldn’t just leave the house and ‘hope for the best’.

“Our message to anyone thinking of driving to or around Manchester over the weekend is to plan your journey and certainly check traffic conditions before setting out. 

"If you are going to one of the events please give yourself plenty of time.”

Full information on public transport options for each of the weekend’s events is available on the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

Alicia Keys performing during the Platinum Party at the Palace on Jubilee weekend. Credit: Press Association

Rail

People planning to travel through Manchester Piccadilly are being advised journeys will be limited, with some long distance services timetabled to leave before the concerts finish.

Passengers are being urged to check the National Rail website and follow the advice of their train operator so they have a firm plan on how to get home.

Ongoing industrial action will also impact TransPennine Express services on Sunday.

Network Rail's advice is:

  • Plan your journey

  • Allow extra time - long queues to access platforms are expected

  • Don't rely on later trains home - they will be limited and very busy

  • Remember Network Rail's motto of ‘Be safe, be patient, be kind’ when travelling

Additional staff will be on hand at Manchester Piccadilly station to help passengers, with the station team prepared for the thousands of extra travellers.

At busy times queuing systems will be used to keep people safe and make sure people can board platforms safely.