The East Manchester Line runs on a mixture of reserved tracks and on-street sections with other traffic.

It then crosses part of Lord Sheldon Way to get to the central reservation section, running up to Ashton West stop.

[3] The route was constructed as part of the third phase of the Metrolink expansion, which included new lines to Ashton, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and Oldham and Rochdale.

[1] Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council have stated their aspiration for the East Manchester Line to be extended from Ashton-under-Lyne to Stalybridge.

[5] In 2019 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority confirmed that the Stalybridge extension was being considered as part of their transport strategy through to 2040.