Build log ·
Manchester Trams: making the Metrolink easier to use
A practical travel app for finding nearby stops, checking live departures and planning journeys across Manchester’s Metrolink.
Manchester Trams is an independent app for people travelling on Manchester’s Metrolink. It helps you find a nearby stop, check live departures and keep your regular stations close at hand. I first built it to make my own commute easier; it now helps thousands of people do the same.
The problem: useful information, without the digging
When you’re on your way somewhere, you want to know where to go and when the next tram is coming. The app puts nearby stops, departures and favourites in one straightforward place, so checking your journey takes a moment.
Made for more people
The app is available on Android and iOS, and its interface is translated into 18 languages, including Welsh, Urdu, Polish and Tigrinya—and even Pirate. It has grown to more than 3,800 users, with over 70,000 station searches.
What this could mean for your business
The useful bit isn’t the technology for its own sake. It’s noticing where people get stuck, then making the next step easier. That might be a customer app, a booking flow, or a small tool that puts the right information where people need it.
Have a problem like that in mind? Tell me about it.