For the next twelve months, Mancunians can ride on the Rovers Return, step through the doors of Roy's Rolls or admire Jack and Vera Duckworth's cladding when they take a tram.
The Coronation Street Experience tram will be operating on different routes across the city's busy network to celebrate Manchester's television icon.
Branding agency Meanwhile, which is based in the city, has produced a range of images based on the soap's locations which now decorate the rolling stock.
The specially-themed unit has been dubbed ‘insta-trammable'!
The Coronation Street Experience itself is one of Manchester's most famous tourists attractions, giving a chance to explore the exterior sets and replicas of fans' favourite interior ones.
It holds world records as the largest single TV production site, dedicated to the longest-running soap opera.
We can't wait to see the reaction from fans in Manchester as this iconic tram rolls through the city, bringing the magic of the Coronation Street Experience to life”
Jurian Van de Meer, EVP Brand Licensing, ITV
Although the tram seen in the soap's title sequence was made using CGI, fans regularly ask TfGM how to get to the Coronation Street stop.
In a dramatic episode to mark the programme's 50th anniversary in 2010, a tram crash was staged in the Street.
When they watched the live episode, almost 300 worried viewers then contacted TfGM to check if the tram network was still operating.
To launch the newly-decorated tram, IWM North, which is the nearest station to the Coronation Street Experience, was renamed Weatherfield North for the day.
Corrie favourites Julia Goulding, who plays Shona Platt in the soap, Peter Gunn, otherwise known as Brian Packham, and Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow), were on hand as the tram made its inaugural journey from the Street.
We've got our very own Weatherfield tram stop where our characters catch a handy tram ‘into town'. And we've even very occasionally got a virtual tram going past over our bridge.
“However, we've never actually ventured onto Manchester's Metrolink other than fictionally, so it's exciting that an actual tram will sport some fine Coronation Street livery. All in the aid of telling people how easy it is to journey to the Coronation Street Experience on a ‘real tram' so they can walk down those legendary cobbles. Bring flat shoes!
John Whiston, MD Continuing Drama for ITV Studios
Since opening in 1992 Metrolink has seen several expansions and new stops built, so we were delighted to welcome some of Coronation Street's residents onto the newly crowned Weatherfield North stop on the Trafford Park Line.
Metrolink, like Corrie, is an iconic symbol of Greater Manchester that has gone from strength to strength over the years, so we are delighted to be supporting ITV Studios and the Coronation Street Experience which is just a stone's throw away from the Imperial War Museum stop.
“Passengers will also have the chance to board the Corrie-themed tram out on the network over the coming months, so I'd urge people to keep an eye out.
Pete Sommers, TfGM's Interim Metrolink Network Director
