Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[Tim33160]

Same question applies though - what's the source of this information?

I don't have a problem if it's an internal source that doesn't have a link, but if it's just your speculation then it's good to keep that separate from official information.

I was talking to an employee of the company organising the tram replacement. He has been a controller of replacement buses across various rail and tram replacements.

 

[Bantamzen]

Talking to some fellow commuters from Cheshire this week, I'm hearing that it is absolute chaos trying to get from Altrincham / Navigation Road into Manchester. I've not travelled this week, but I've heard reports of all the Mid-Cheshire Northern services being absolutely rammed as the replacement buses & 263s from Altrincham are so unreliable punters are chancing their hands with Northern. Given that most of these services are either 2 car 150 / 156s, it sounds like it's going to be really bad until the works have completed. And looking at the Bee Network page there's no indication as to how often they might run.

Deansgate-Castlefield & Trafford Bar - Tram improvement works

Deansgate-Castlefield & Trafford Bar tram works taking place from Monday 13 July to Sunday 2 August

tfgm.com

Replacement bus services, between Altrincham and Piccadilly, will operate from the start of service. After 8pm services will be less frequent.

That's pretty vague to say the least, given that the Altrincham line is very busy and uses a large number of double trams in the peaks. I realise that it's not always easy to get replacements, but at least give people an idea of how often they might expect one to show up.

 

[M60lad]

The problem with Replacement Buses or lack of them this week will be down to the fact that some of the operators that would normally operate Metrolink Replacements are still tied with School commitments as some Schools don't finish for summer holidays until this week and others early next week so hopefully things will start to improve next week.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The problem with Replacement Buses or lack of them this week will be down to the fact that some of the operators that would normally operate Metrolink Replacements are still tied with School commitments as some Schools don't finish for summer holidays until this week and others early next week so hopefully things will start to improve next week.

But surely TfGM would be aware of that particular replacement bus availability knowledge when these remedial Metrolink work schedules were planned.

 

[splashoutradio]

It doesn't include replacement busses (as discussed earlier in this thread, they're a bit of a mess), but just in case it's of any interest to anyone, here's a (hopefully accurate) Metrolink Timetable, covering tram movements over the network for the duration of the Deansgate/Trafford Bar works.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

...just in case it's of any interest to anyone, here's a (hopefully accurate) Metrolink Timetable, covering tram movements over the network for the duration of the Deansgate/Trafford Bar works.

Good stuff. Not sure all of the map diagrams are quite right!

 

[treasury brain]

I know this blockade will sort out the dive under between cornbrook and trafford bar, but does anyone know if they are going to fix the TSR over the bridge before deansgate, or the one on the corner just after deansgate?

 

[Paul AC]

I know this blockade will sort out the dive under between cornbrook and trafford bar, but does anyone know if they are going to fix the TSR over the bridge before deansgate, or the one on the corner just after deansgate?

The curve on the corner just after Deansgate-Castlefield is certainly being worked on. My photo from this lunchtime attached.

 

[treasury brain]

The curve on the corner just after Deansgate-Castlefield is certainly being worked on. My photo from this lunchtime attached.View attachment 207887

Fantastic! That 4mph TSR was torturous

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I know this blockade will sort out the dive under between cornbrook and trafford bar, but does anyone know if they are going to fix the TSR over the bridge before deansgate, or the one on the corner just after deansgate?

Will that also see the removal of the graffiti in that line section that gives the impression of a second-rate city?

 

[M60lad]

Has anything been done on Rochdale line to sort out the TSR (towards Rochdale) between Newton Heath & Moston and Failsworth?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Will that also see the removal of the graffiti in that line section that gives the impression of a second-rate city?

A thorough lineside litterpick could also, perhaps, be usefully done whilst the various sections of line are currently closed.

 

[Tim33160]

On Saturday they were working in a fenced off area at the top of Mosley Street - after New York Street and before the delta

 

[splashoutradio]

Good stuff. Not sure all of the map diagrams are quite right!

Thanks for the heads up. The software behind the diagrams was a (somewhat failed) trial that was never used elsewhere apart from Metrolink timetables. Will update them before the next timetable change

 

[Tim33160]

The problem with Replacement Buses or lack of them this week will be down to the fact that some of the operators that would normally operate Metrolink Replacements are still tied with School commitments as some Schools don't finish for summer holidays until this week and others early next week so hopefully things will start to improve next week.

With the reduction of School buses as holidays beckon, the full tram replacement is now running with the removed timetables reappearing online. Buses are sometimes following each other - either as duplicates - or just late running
Only thing missing now is passengers as many seemed to have found their own way of getting to work or maybe just working from home!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Only thing missing now is passengers as many seemed to have found their own way of getting to work or maybe just working from home!

Surely those at top-level management of the system would have been aware of this possibility, especially on the Altrincham line.

 

[TheSmiths82]

I have noticed a lot of the buses on my line seem to be empty too. Catching the replacement bus is too much of a faff, you have to walk to the platform to get a tram ticket, walk down the road to find the bus, hope the bus turns up and then face a journey which is just as slow as the Bee Network buses which stops much closer to where I live. My local bus service has been much busier so I suspect people are just switching to ordinary buses instead.

 

[Rail Ranger]

It would have been helpful if the 263 Altrincham to Piccadilly Bee Network bus had been made a double decker during the Metrolink closure.

 

[edwin_m]

Surely those at top-level management of the system would have been aware of this possibility, especially on the Altrincham line.

They are probably encouraging it. One of the reasons to have these blockades in the summer and announcing them well ahead of time is so some people will plan to take their holidays during that period, thus reducing the number of passengers who have to be carried on the replacement service.

 

[py_megapixel]

It would have been helpful if the 263 Altrincham to Piccadilly Bee Network bus had been made a double decker during the Metrolink closure.

I agree with you, but I think part of the problem is that it is run from Wythenshawe garage which doesn't have any double decker buses, which while not insurmountable does make it more challenging.

 

[Winthorpe]

Chorlton has some major roadworks involving single file traffic. One site is just outside the junction next to the Metrolink stop and one another along the route between Chorlton and Firswood. It’s causing traffic congestion exacerbated by the extra buses.

Not great timing and not joined up thinking!

 

[Paul AC]

Living near Timperley tram stop, it seems that the roads (mainly Park Road, the only useful road to the A56 in this area) are busier than usual, allowing for the reduced schools traffic at this time of year; and I've seen plenty of largely empty buses. Of course more traffic means slower bus journeys, so it's a vicious circle. For able-bodied people, none of the Altrincham line tram stops are far from the A56 with its service 263 buses, so it does seem that improving that would have helped matters.

 

[py_megapixel]

For the many people quite reasonably saying the 263 should have had double deckers - Sharston depot seems to have been running some duplicate 263s over the last few days with Wright Streetdecks!

Perhaps a shame this couldn't have happened from the start, but glad to see they've managed it eventually.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Chorlton has some major roadworks involving single file traffic. One site is just outside the junction next to the Metrolink stop and one another along the route between Chorlton and Firswood. It’s causing traffic congestion exacerbated by the extra buses.

Not great timing and not joined up thinking!

It does seem mad that they allowed these road works to go ahead at the same time as closing the tram line. Technically though trams are still running through Chorlton it is just not much use for the majority of users who want to get to the city centre.

 

[Winthorpe]

It does seem mad that they allowed these road works to go ahead at the same time as closing the tram line. Technically though trams are still running through Chorlton it is just not much use for the majority of users who want to get to the city centre.

Roadworks are often scheduled here to avoid the football season. It’s one of the main routes away from Old Trafford. That’s possibly why it’s happened. But is unfortunate timings with these Metrolink replacement buses.

 

[TheSmiths82]

That is true it would cause chaos in the football season, they were digging up Kensington Road yesterday too which made matters worse.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That is true it would cause chaos in the football season, they were digging up Kensington Road yesterday too which made matters worse.

One has to consider which traffic flow is greater... normal commuter traffic or football-supporter-related traffic. They do not dig up roads without a valid reason for doing so.

 

[ic31420]

I am currently travelling from Bury to Victoria.

I am staggered at the amount of temporary speed restrictions we have encountered we are easily over 10 before Crumpsall.

It seems line condition in some places and almost almost every cast iron bridge has a TSR of 20mph.


Is it me or this unusual? it seems to be having a massive affect on journey time. I imagine energy use will be increased with the braking and acceleration.

is work planned to deal with these TSRs? It feels an absolute stagger

 

[Rail Ranger]

I have heard that there is a programme to deal with TSRs. Quite a few will hopefully have been removed when the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines reopen tomorrow morning.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2026 ==

The dates for the autumn blockade have been announced. Monday 19th October to Sunday 1st November. Arrangements the same as during the July/August blockade: Deansgate-Castlefield & Trafford Bar - Tram improvement works | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM https://share.google/ebuMcKuEYVDti4tAe

 

[treasury brain]

I have heard that there is a programme to deal with TSRs. Quite a few will hopefully have been removed when the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines reopen tomorrow morning.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2026 ==

The dates for the autumn blockade have been announced. Monday 19th October to Sunday 1st November. Arrangements the same as during the July/August blockade: Deansgate-Castlefield & Trafford Bar - Tram improvement works | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM https://share.google/ebuMcKuEYVDti4tAe

Went from altrincham to st peter’s square today. There are still 6 ‘temporary’ speed restrictions. Three weeks of closure doesn’t appear to have done anything outside of the dive under before cornbrook. Even the corner that’s had repairs after deansgate is still a painful 4mph