Shoppers seeking post-Christmas bargains at the Trafford Centre were plunged into transport chaos on Monday, with many trapped in their cars for hours as gridlock brought the complex to a standstill.
Hours-Long Queues and Abandoned Vehicles
The situation deteriorated throughout the afternoon of Monday, December 29, 2025, with motorists reporting waits of over two hours simply to exit the centre's car parks. Social media was flooded with images and videos showing stationary traffic snaking around the perimeter roads, including Trafford Boulevard and Barton Dock Road, effectively sealing off exits.
One shopper, Katrina Cliffe, took matters into her own hands after becoming stuck. She abandoned her vehicle to help direct traffic in the large car park outside John Lewis. "We have been trying to get out of the car park since 3.45, so it's been over an hour," she told the Manchester Evening News. "You just can't get anywhere... every lane [is] gridlocked."
A Perfect Storm of Congestion
The crisis was attributed to a combination of factors. The Trafford Centre itself cited an exceptionally busy day at the centre and nearby retail parks, compounded by a vehicle breakdown at Junction 9 of the M60. This created a domino effect, with congestion on the motorway's anti-clockwise carriageway backing up from Junction 10 to Junction 15 at Swinton.
Despite the centre advertising that all car parks were full, vehicles continued to enter, blocking lanes and preventing those inside from leaving. The roundabout outside the centre was also reported to be at a complete standstill.
Public Safety Fears and Wider Disruption
Frustration quickly turned to anger, with some shoppers labelling the situation a 'public safety risk'. One person posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating they had been stuck for two hours with "very little movement" and that police control had no reports of incidents to act upon.
The disruption extended beyond private cars. Local bus services were severely delayed due to the area-wide traffic paralysis. The live traffic service Inrix confirmed significant tailbacks on the surrounding road network throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
In a statement, the Trafford Centre said its dedicated traffic teams had been working with Greater Manchester Police and highways authorities to deploy officers and ease the congestion. The centre expressed appreciation for visitors' patience during the severe delays.
