From team talk to tram talk

TRAM travellers will be accompanied by some familiar voices on Metrolink’s newest route.

To mark the start of the East Manchester line — which stops at the Etihad stadium — Manchester City manager Robert Mancini and players Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and James Milner will feature on the tram’s PA system announcing stops along the way on match days.

The Etihad Campus stop opened as part of the new East Manchester line and offers direct access to the stadium and its facilities via a walkway.

Sunday will see the inaugural use of the recorded celebrity messages when City entertain Leeds United in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

Steve Sayer, director of operations for Manchester City, said: “The new Metrolink service will greatly improve access to the Etihad Stadium for supporters on match days and other visitors to the Etihad Campus during the week.

“It’s a nice touch for the fans that some of our star players and manager will announce on the way to our home stadium to get everyone in the mood for the match.”