Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[markymark2000]

No I know you weren’t and I agree with you, I do think they do things for their own ease at times, I only added the beginning bit so people wouldn’t think I was knocking Metrolink for the sake of it.

Ahh. Apologies. I took your comment differently to how you mean it.

 

[toms]

I’ve just seen a video on social media where a drone flier has been confronted by a nearby worker for a warehouse (somewhere on the Trafford park line or airport line I presume). The woman who confronted the flier basically said that she needed to be careful with the drone near the overhead lines because she didn’t want the operator of the drone to get a nasty shock or something, she also said that Metrolink would not be best pleased with her flying the drone next to the overhead line and that they would not allow this and the operator of the drone got really arsey as they do. My question is, is there a restriction on drones near the lines because I know there is guidance for the OLE such as builders working nearby. Is there any restriction on drone flying?

 

[507 001]

I’ve just seen a video on social media where a drone flier has been confronted by a nearby worker for a warehouse (somewhere on the Trafford park line or airport line I presume). The woman who confronted the flier basically said that she needed to be careful with the drone near the overhead lines because she didn’t want the operator of the drone to get a nasty shock or something, she also said that Metrolink would not be best pleased with her flying the drone next to the overhead line and that they would not allow this and the operator of the drone got really arsey as they do. My question is, is there a restriction on drones near the lines because I know there is guidance for the OLE such as builders working nearby. Is there any restriction on drone flying?

No, I genuinely don’t think anybody will have thought about it to be fair. Obviously the OHLE is best to be avoided (2.75m minimum distance) but yeah, no restrictions.

 

[toms]

No, I genuinely don’t think anybody will have thought about it to be fair. Obviously the OHLE is best to be avoided (2.75m minimum distance) but yeah, no restrictions.

Wow I’m suprised, if it flys into the OHLE surely that would cause disruption

 

[507 001]

Wow I’m suprised, if it flys into the OHLE surely that would cause disruption

It’ll hurt the drone more than it’ll hurt the OHLE.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Good to see Metrolink’s as useful as ever tonight.
(Photo shows two out of service trams at St Peters)

 

[toms]

View attachment 173395

Good to see Metrolink’s as useful as ever tonight.
(Photo shows two out of service trams at St Peters)

Isn’t this to do with the overhead line at deansgate?

 

[Tim33160]

Isn’t this to do with the overhead line at deansgate?

Due to damage to the overhead wires at Deansgate-Castlefield, service changes are in place across the tram network.

Staff are working hard to resolve the problem but the service change is expected to remain in place until later this evening [Friday].

UPDATE: From 5pm, services on the Eccles and Altrincham line will now operate to Cornbrook (was and Media City and Old Trafford

Updated Service Pattern​

• East Didsbury - Firswood
• Manchester Airport - Firswood
• Altrincham - Cornbrook
• Trafford Centre - Wharfside
• Eccles - Cornbrook
• Ashton-under-Lyne - Piccadilly
• Rochdale Town Centre - Exchange Square
• Bury - Piccadilly

Ticket acceptance​

• Manchester Airport line: Passengers can use their tickets on the 23, 25, 41, 43, 85A, 101, 103, 248, 249 and the 368 bus services.
• East Didsbury line: Passengers can use their tickets on the 15, 23, 25, 41, 42, 42A, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 101, 103, 111, 142, 143, 147, 171, 172, 370 & 371 bus services.
• Altrincham line: Passengers can use their tickets on the 15, 23, 25, 41, 53, 79, 245, 248, 249, 250, 255, 256, 263, 281, 285, 286, 370 & 371 bus services
• Trafford Park line: Passengers can use their tickets on the 150, 248, 250, 255, 256, 263, X50 bus services.
• Eccles line: Passengers can use their tickets on the 10, 33, 50, 52, 53, 67, 79, 100, 248 & 249 bus services.

Passengers can use the Free Bus 1 & 2 services in the City Centre to make their way between City Centre stops.

 

[507 001]

View attachment 173395

Good to see Metrolink’s as useful as ever tonight.
(Photo shows two out of service trams at St Peters)

I’m not sure if you noticed, but there’s been a major storm today…

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’m not sure if you noticed, but there’s been a major storm today…

Sure I did. I simply made a statement that again, I reached the Metrolink and was unable to get on a tram.

 

[507 001]

Sure I did. I simply made a statement that again, I reached the Metrolink and was unable to get on a tram.

Pretty much the whole of the country has taken a battering. Let’s be realistic…

 

[Winthorpe]

I've just noticed that there is a planned near month-long full closure of the Eccles line between Eccles and MediaCity. The closure runs from Saturday 1st February until Tuesday 25th February.

https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works/eccles-line-works-feb-2025

I seem to remember that this stretch was closed for a considerable length of time a couple of years ago for work. Anyone know why more work is needed?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've just noticed that there is a planned near month-long full closure of the Eccles line between Eccles and MediaCity. The closure runs from Saturday 1st February until Tuesday 25th February.

Oh my god. I give up! I’m not walking to MCUK every day. It’s buses from now on.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I've just noticed that there is a planned near month-long full closure of the Eccles line between Eccles and MediaCity. The closure runs from Saturday 1st February until Tuesday 25th February.

https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works/eccles-line-works-feb-2025

I seem to remember that this stretch was closed for a considerable length of time a couple of years ago for work. Anyone know why more work is needed?

The web story that you've linked to, references work being undertaken at Weaste tram stop. Three weeks seems a long time to do just this. Are they possibly demolishing/rebuilding the existing station?

 

[Winthorpe]

The web story that you've linked to, references work being undertaken at Weaste tram stop. Three weeks seems a long time to do just this. Are they possibly demolishing/rebuilding the existing station?

I missed the Weaste bit.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2025 ==

I seem to remember that this stretch was closed for a considerable length of time a couple of years ago for work. Anyone know why more work is needed?

I've looked up the details of the previous closure I referred to. It was closed for three months in 2022!

Eccles tram line set to return after three months

he Eccles tram line closed back in July for reworks on the line, meaning no trams ran from Eccles to Manchester for three months

www.salfordnow.co.uk

 

[507 001]

I've just noticed that there is a planned near month-long full closure of the Eccles line between Eccles and MediaCity. The closure runs from Saturday 1st February until Tuesday 25th February.



I seem to remember that this stretch was closed for a considerable length of time a couple of years ago for work. Anyone know why more work is needed?

Replacement of Weaste crossover is the main job.

Oh my god. I give up! I’m not walking to MCUK every day. It’s buses from now on.

Things get old and need to be replaced…

 

[Winthorpe]

Replacement of Weaste crossover is the main job.



Things get old and need to be replaced…

Thank you for the information. I know the on street track gets a pounding. Just a pity to have a long closure so soon after the last long closure.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Things get old and need to be replaced…

Completely agree I just keep getting bad luck lately

 

[507 001]

Thank you for the information. I know the on street track gets a pounding. Just a pity to have a long closure so soon after the last long closure.

Unfortunately it’s not been possible to do all of the work required in one big closure. It was always intended to be done in several ‘shorter’ ones.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

A couple of times recently, I've arrived at the tram stop to be greeted with a late running tram back home towards Eccles - and then here comes the one good thing about delays.
"Sorry folks, in order to make up some of the lost time this tram will no longer serve MediaCityUK, please change at Harbour City."

When you've had a long day and just want to get home, you really could almost KISS the driver on hearing him say that! I've honestly started to resent the MediaCityUK stop on weekends and at evenings for the extra almost ten minutes it tags on to home - town trips, and that's as someone who actually WORKS in MediaCityUK too, so no bias.

If I'm feeling too lazy to walk to MCUK I get the tram from Langworthy to Broadway, and Broadway serves it absolutely fine for both Eccles and City services, and Harbour City is perfectly adequate for City services. Obviously I appreciate the direct link, but only when it operates a standalone service. I'd rather MediaCity get nothing at all on Sundays than slow down the already infrequent Eccles trams, seeing as two other tram stops are perfectly adequate.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd rather MediaCity get nothing at all on Sundays than slow down the already infrequent Eccles trams, seeing as two other tram stops are perfectly adequate.

Do not many people work in the Media City UK complex on Sundays who may well use tram travel?

 

[sefyllian]

I've honestly started to resent the MediaCityUK stop on weekends and at evenings for the extra almost ten minutes it tags on to home - town trips

It doesn’t add 10 minutes, it adds 4 minutes.

I'd rather MediaCity get nothing at all on Sundays than slow down the already infrequent Eccles trams, seeing as two other tram stops are perfectly adequate.

So what you’re saying is that adding 4 minutes to your own journey is completely unbearable, but adding 4 minutes to other people's journeys (by making them walk from Harbour City to MediaCity) is totally acceptable. OK...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It doesn’t add 10 minutes, it adds 4 minutes.

So what you’re saying is that adding 4 minutes to your own journey is completely unbearable, but adding 4 minutes to other people's journeys (by making them walk from Harbour City to MediaCity) is totally acceptable. OK...

Of course you would choose to manipulate what I said like that

If anything, I’m being selfLESS, because I have FAR more use for a direct tram from Eccles to MediaCityUK than the city, working there four days per week at unsociable hours! But I do not think extending the wait of the already poor frequency Eccles to the city service is worth the 1-2 minutes maximum that the MediaCityUK stop saves over Broadway. Not when Eccles already suffers a 12 minute frequency compared to Shaw/Oldham, Bury, Didsbury and Altrincham, AND suffers most from road delays due to Ashton Eccles being the route by far the most shared with roads.

Many a time the turnaround itself has taken 4 minutes, and while the tram waits at Broadway/Harbour City for the passing service, I have actually got off one stop early before and beaten the tram to MediaCityUK more than once.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jan 2025 ==

Do not many people work in the Media City UK complex on Sundays who may well use tram travel?

Have you seen how close Broadway is? It takes me less time to walk from Broadway to the Centre of MediaCityUK than it does to walk from my building in MediaCityUK to the MediaCityUK Greggs, for goodness sake! BBC and ITV also have reduced programming on Sundays, most of the outlets are shut, and the uni is also not in use.

And at the end of the day, if the demand is so high on Sundays that it’d be positively horrible and cruel of me to suggest people walk from Broadway, surely the answer is therefore to restore MediaCity’s own designated service, as per weekdays?

 

[507 001]

It doesn’t add 10 minutes, it adds 4 minutes.

Sets generally leave MEC late though, as 4 minutes isn’t enough to get in, change ends and get out. You often meet a set going in the opposite direction to you which makes it even more difficult to keep to the 4 minutes.

MEC is an operational PITA.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2025 ==

And at the end of the day, if the demand is so high on Sundays that it’d be positively horrible and cruel of me to suggest people walk from Broadway, surely the answer is therefore to restore MediaCity’s own designated service, as per weekdays?

The problem there is that you end up with massive over provision of service.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The problem there is that you end up with massive over provision of service.

Yes, better to just leave it unserved on Sundays and after 8pm then.

 

[toms]

Can anyone highlight why trams are going slow between Radcliffe/hagside level crossing and the approach to bury interchange?

 

[507 001]

Can anyone highlight why trams are going slow between Radcliffe/hagside level crossing and the approach to bury interchange?

I went up there last night and there were no restrictions or anything?

 

[toms]

I went up there last night and there were no restrictions or anything?

Strange, I noticed a couple times that after the crossing they were going slowly on the approach to Bury, today that’s not happened at all so must of been those particular times and not all the time

 

[507 001]

Strange, I noticed a couple times that after the crossing they were going slowly on the approach to Bury, today that’s not happened at all so must of been those particular times and not all the time

Could just be that they were running a little early and were trying to avoid stopping at the protecting signal.

 

[toms]

Could just be that they were running a little early and were trying to avoid stopping at the protecting signal.

Yeah that’s what I was thinking but then I don’t really understand how things like that work but thanks for replying