Metrolink network post Victoria reopening

[thenorthern]

I am trying to work out how the Manchester Metrolink will look after Victoria reopens.

From what I gather Eccles-Ashton will be split so that it will run Eccles to Piccadilly and then the Ashton to Piccadlly will then run to Bury and the current Bury to Abraham Moss will will be merged into this.

Is this all correct?

Also a side question why is the MediaCityUK branch advertised as only running only as far as Cornbrook, I regularly catch this tram and it runs right through to Piccadilly.

 

[185143]

I think it will be how it used to be. As in Eccles-Piccadilly and Bury to Altrincham and Ashton-Bury. My understanding is that the airport line will use 2CC and extend to Shaw & Crompton however don't quote me on that!

With regards to Media City-Cornbrook, its been like that ever since it opened. I believe its because Peel Holdings only subside the trams to Cornbrook but I heard that on here.

 

[thenorthern]

I will miss the Ashton to Eccles trams as I have found them quite a good connection to have between the two and rather like an unlikely couple and having Ashton to Victoria trains already it did make sense having connections to somewhere which didn't have rail connections to Ashton but oh well.

One thing that would be useful in the future would be a link from Victoria to Salford Docks but I think we will have to wait till after the second city crossing for that.

 

[507 001]

I think it will be how it used to be. As in Eccles-Piccadilly and Bury to Altrincham and Ashton-Bury. My understanding is that the airport line will use 2CC and extend to Shaw & Crompton however don't quote me on that!

With regards to Media City-Cornbrook, its been like that ever since it opened. I believe its because Peel Holdings only subside the trams to Cornbrook but I heard that on here.

There are no firm plans. I (and a few other drivers) believe they will keep Eccles-Ashton.

There are no plans to run Airport to Shaw (and there never were). AFAIK it will be East didsbury to shaw via 2CC.

 

[martin2345uk]

I believe the plan is to run airport to Victoria no..?

If they keep Eccles - Ashton-under-Lyne, does that mean they won't reinstate Bury - Ashton-under-Lyne? Or will they have both and have a 6 minute service on the East Manchester Line?

 

[edwin_m]

For a year or so from summer 2015 the network is cut totally or partly in two by the St Peters Square remodelling. During this period Ashton will presumably link with Rochdale because their existing routes to Eccles and Didsbury are severed. I think they may do this when service resumes via Victoria to reduce the size of the network change that takes place only a few months later.

 

[martin2345uk]

For a year or so from summer 2015 the network is cut totally or partly in two by the St Peters Square remodelling. During this period Ashton will presumably link with Rochdale because their existing routes to Eccles and Didsbury are severed. I think they may do this when service resumes via Victoria to reduce the size of the network change that takes place only a few months later.

I dunno, why wouldn't they link Ashton back up with Bury..?

 

[thenorthern]

You are worrying me with a network reconstruction, I regularly get the tram across the city centre and it will mean my best bet will be to go to Deansgate on the train and then get the tram from Deansgate-Castlefield.

 

[edwin_m]

I dunno, why wouldn't they link Ashton back up with Bury..?

Because then they wouldn't have anywhere to link Oldham to. By doing this they can leave Bury-Piccadilly as it is, minimising the amount of change (and does Bury-Piccadilly still link on to Altrincham in the evenings?).

I'm assuming Bury-Altrincham will continue as the through service during the periods when there is a single line open through St Peters, as this is the busiest service and the one that normally uses double trams. However this will also have to terminate either side of St Peters during the times that stop is completely blocked.

 

[rebmcr]

The network will not be cut in half except for a week or two. St Peter's Square will be nonstop with single-line running, just like Victoria currently.

 

[edwin_m]

The network will not be cut in half except for a week or two. St Peter's Square will be nonstop with single-line running, just like Victoria currently.

There will be two eight-week periods, either side of the single line running, where all tram services through St Peter’s Square will be temporarily suspended.

http://www.transformationinformation.co.uk/faqs

As I've posted somewhere on here already, I struggle to understand why the total closures should be so long.

 

[familyguy99]

I am trying to work out how the Manchester Metrolink will look after Victoria reopens.

From what I gather Eccles-Ashton will be split so that it will run Eccles to Piccadilly and then the Ashton to Piccadlly will then run to Bury and the current Bury to Abraham Moss will will be merged into this.

Is this all correct?

Also a side question why is the MediaCityUK branch advertised as only running only as far as Cornbrook, I regularly catch this tram and it runs right through to Piccadilly.

^^ I'm pretty sure Metrolink have already confirm that once Victoria tram stop reopening Bury line will go back running to Ashton and Eccles service will go to Piccadilly like before Victoria become single line.

I think MediaCity service was plan to run to Cornbrook once new lines opens but it seen like Metrolink have given up on this and continued it running to Piccadilly, with Metrolink getting more trams I think this will mean MediaCity to Piccadilly service will end up been normal service then plan MediaCity to Cornbrook service.

For a year or so from summer 2015 the network is cut totally or partly in two by the St Peters Square remodelling. During this period Ashton will presumably link with Rochdale because their existing routes to Eccles and Didsbury are severed. I think they may do this when service resumes via Victoria to reduce the size of the network change that takes place only a few months later.

I dunno, why wouldn't they link Ashton back up with Bury..?

Because then they wouldn't have anywhere to link Oldham to. By doing this they can leave Bury-Piccadilly as it is, minimising the amount of change (and does Bury-Piccadilly still link on to Altrincham in the evenings?).

I'm assuming Bury-Altrincham will continue as the through service during the periods when there is a single line open through St Peters, as this is the busiest service and the one that normally uses double trams. However this will also have to terminate either side of St Peters during the times that stop is completely blocked.

^^ I don't think ORL will run to Ashton when St Peter Square closes for two months as I think it will only run to Piccadilly or even just to Victoria, I think when single line become operation in St Peter Square area I think Rochdale to Didsbury, Bury to Altrincham and Bury to Ashton will run normal service through single line and Eccles/MediaCity along with other Altrincham service will run to Deansgate-Castlefield stop.

It be interesting to see if Metrolink passengers will be allowed to use they tram tickets on train service between Piccadilly to Deansgate instead of having replacement bus service running from Piccadilly to Deansgate/Cornbrook stop while St Peter Square stop closed for 14 months.

 

[thenorthern]

One thing thats annoying about Ashton to Eccles is when the tram reaches Piccadilly in the morning from Ashton its normally full with people wanting to go to Piccadilly Gardens or beyond and at the same time there are commuters wanting to get on at Piccadilly to get to Salford Quays and the City Centre which means passengers are regularly left behind.

 

[Greybeard33]

I don't think ORL will run to Ashton when St Peter Square closes for two months as I think it will only run to Piccadilly or even just to Victoria, I think when single line become operation in St Peter Square area I think Rochdale to Didsbury, Bury to Altrincham and Bury to Ashton will run normal service through single line and Eccles/MediaCity along with other Altrincham service will run to Deansgate-Castlefield stop.

It be interesting to see if Metrolink passengers will be allowed to use they tram tickets on train service between Piccadilly to Deansgate instead of having replacement bus service running from Piccadilly to Deansgate/Cornbrook stop while St Peter Square stop closed for 14 months.

I do not think TfGM has yet revealed what service frequency will be possible through the St Peters Square single line, let alone what the service pattern will be. So it is all speculation at this stage. If the capacity is only 10tph each way, like the current Victoria single line, I think it is a shoe-in that one of the two through services will go to Altrincham. However, I think it would be better if one service went to Piccadilly and the other to Victoria rather than both to Vic. A constraint is that all the through trams will need to be doubles, but usage of the Eccles and Ashton lines is probably not enough to justify running doubles there. Also one of the Bury services needs to be doubles. So I think the most likely combination of city centre services might be Alt-Bury and E Didsbury-Picc (all doubles) plus Rochdale-Picc (some doubles) and Ashton-Bury (singles).

 

[WatcherZero]

Because the block is quite short and straight compared to Victoria (Length of St Peters Square versus Shudehill to beyond Victoria) they aren't expecting a significant reduction in capacity.

 

[Starmill]

I do not think TfGM has yet revealed what service frequency will be possible through the St Peters Square single line, let alone what the service pattern will be. So it is all speculation at this stage. If the capacity is only 10tph each way, like the current Victoria single line, I think it is a shoe-in that one of the two through services will go to Altrincham. However, I think it would be better if one service went to Piccadilly and the other to Victoria rather than both to Vic. A constraint is that all the through trams will need to be doubles, but usage of the Eccles and Ashton lines is probably not enough to justify running doubles there. Also one of the Bury services needs to be doubles. So I think the most likely combination of city centre services might be Alt-Bury and E Didsbury-Picc (all doubles) plus Rochdale-Picc (some doubles) and Ashton-Bury (singles).

Nonetheless the chances are that the status quo will prevail rather than altering the service permanently. Don't forget when the EML opened the trams went to Bury.

 

[Manchester77]

I think if it is just 10 tph over the single line it will the bury directs and the ORL-SML service as it is a relatively new service and is quite busy anyway. Plus from deansgate you will have multiple trains per hour to Piccadilly. One thing that I have wondered whether they'll do is if they introduce a Didsbury - Cornbrook / Deansgate service (like the planned Exchange Square - Shaw service) to provide the 6 minute frequency along the SML

 

[Greybeard33]

I think if it is just 10 tph over the single line it will the bury directs and the ORL-SML service as it is a relatively new service and is quite busy anyway. Plus from deansgate you will have multiple trains per hour to Piccadilly. One thing that I have wondered whether they'll do is if they introduce a Didsbury - Cornbrook / Deansgate service (like the planned Exchange Square - Shaw service) to provide the 6 minute frequency along the SML

I believe that work was scheduled to start on the Ordsall Chord in May 2015. Even if this is delayed, there are likely to be consequent reductions in the weekend heavy rail service through Deansgate before St Peters Square reopens.

Exchange Square is scheduled to open during 2015, so the Shaw service is likely to start before St Peters Square reopens. However, during the two periods of a complete blockade of SPS, I guess there will be a limit on the total number of services per hour that can be turned back south at Cornbrook and D-C combined. So maybe the frequency increase on the SML will be delayed until SPS reopens?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I believe that work was scheduled to start on the Ordsall Chord in May 2015. Even if this is delayed, there are likely to be consequent reductions in the weekend heavy rail service through Deansgate before St Peters Square reopens.

Is certain Ministerial approval on the Ordsall Chord required before any work can commence?

 

[WatcherZero]

Yes it requires the approval of a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application.