Shortly before its demise, the Fallowfield Loop line played an important role in the early development of the Manchester Metrolink tram network when the stretch of track at Debdale Park on the site of the former Hyde Road railway station was used in 1987 for a public demonstration of "Project Light Rail", the working title for the development of a new light rail/tram network in Manchester. The event made use of a Docklands Light Railway train on loan from GEC Transportation Projects Ltd, DLR P86 number 11, prior to its introduction onto the fledgling Docklands system in London and it was the first ever light rail vehicle seen in operation in Manchester. The event was jointly staged by GMPTE, British Rail, British Rail Engineering Limited, GEC, Balfour Beatty and Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd and was formally opened by David Mitchell MP, Minister of State for Transport, on 10 March 1987.