us ▁at ▁ ▁stop , ▁which ▁is ▁located ▁next ▁to ▁As ht on - under - L y ne ▁bus ▁station , ▁and ▁a ▁short ▁walk ▁from ▁As ht on - under - L y ne ▁railway ▁station . ▁ ▁Route ▁map ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁route ▁was ▁constructed ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁third ▁phase ▁of ▁the ▁Met rol ink ▁expansion , ▁which ▁included ▁new ▁lines ▁to ▁As ht on , ▁East ▁D ids bury , ▁Manchester ▁Airport ▁and ▁Old ham ▁and ▁Ro ch dale . ▁ ▁The ▁line ▁was ▁opened ▁in ▁two ▁phases ; ▁the ▁ 3 . 9 ▁mile ▁( 6 . 3   km ) ▁section ▁from ▁Pic c ad illy ▁to ▁Dro yl s den ▁was ▁opened ▁for ▁a ▁three - day ▁free ▁trial ▁for ▁local ▁residents ▁on ▁ 8 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁it ▁then ▁opened ▁to ▁the ▁general ▁public ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁phase ; ▁the ▁ 2 . 1 ▁miles ▁( 3 . 4   km ) ▁from ▁Dro yl s den ▁to ▁As ht on - under - L y ne , ▁was ▁opened ▁on ▁ 9 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁ ▁Pro posed ▁future ▁development ▁ ▁St aly bridge ▁extension ▁T ames ide ▁Metropolitan ▁Bor ough ▁Council ▁have ▁stated ▁their ▁asp iration ▁for ▁the ▁East ▁Manchester ▁Line ▁to ▁be ▁extended ▁from ▁As ht on - under - L y ne ▁to ▁St aly bridge . ▁In ▁ 2 0