Last bounce on the Oldham loop

[me123]

Of course, the fact that both criminals are being tried and sentenced under two separate justice systems is completely irrelevant.

 

[adamp]

Aye alot of delays and cancellations. Particulary on the calder valley. The 18:00 vic to leeds being cancelled buggered my schedule up! Luckily the 17:54 to rochdale via oldham hadnt left yet.

 

[323235]

really enjoyed the last day of the oldham loop
but was very sad to see it close

 

[robert2000]

why did it close, surely they want to re open lines now, not close them.

 

[adamp]

To convert to metrolink.

Still seems silly when theres a perfectly good railway line there instead but ahh well!
Pics are up and video will be later on
http://gbrailwayworld.fotopic.net/c1764186_1.html

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Great photos

So what happens now to the line , by that I mean are all the signal boxs kept open as I guess some traffic will still be using the line for the metrolink works ?

Hope there is going to be some more pictures took, closed stations with rusty rails are always intresting

 

[yorkie]

To convert to metrolink.http://gbrailwayworld.fotopic.net/c1764186_1.html

In other words, increase fares, increase journey times, decrease through ticketing options and lower safety standards.

 

[Lampshade]

In other words, increase fares, increase journey times, decrease through ticketing options and lower safety standards.

Actually, I find the fares on the existing Metrolink system to be very reasonable, I'd imagine them to stay pretty much the same. I can't imagine journey times increasing because of the frequent stops, trains wouldn't have been able to go full pelt either. Trams will also be better for the environment and increase capacity due to more frequent services; also, lower safety standards? The trams will be replacing Pacers, that can only be a good thing. Although I'm quite sad to see the Oldham Loop vanish from the NR network, I can certainly see the reasoning behind the conversion.

 

[yorkie]

The fares are higher than equivalent journeys by rail, particularly through fares.

I'm sure journey times will increase due to extra stops, this is unavoidable when street running commences.

Of course lower safety standards apply to light rail than heavy rail, for example they may be able to drive on sight in certain places thus removing the need for signalling.

As for environmentally friendly, well if they really cared about the environment they'd do it in stages ensuring that passengers could get from Oldham to Manchester by one of the routes at all times, thus avoiding forcing people onto the roads.

I'm pro-tram instead of buses, but when it comes to replacing heavy rail then I think the benefits are exaggerated.

 

[adamp]

Well, my bloody manchester day ranger better be valid on all metrolink services around the loop when its all finished. If not then... F*** Em all !

 

[Lampshade]

Well, my bloody manchester day ranger better be valid on all metrolink services around the loop when its all finished. If not then... F*** Em all !

Rail Rangers are valid for travel on Metrolink services within the City Zone only.

Now that's annoying

EDIT: There's a few train/tram combo travelcards valid on all Metrolink services, but they're either £6.30 TM or £7 BTM, I don't have a clue what either of those acronyms mean though.

 

[rick9525]

Well, my bloody manchester day ranger better be valid on all metrolink services around the loop when its all finished. If not then... F*** Em all !

You can get tram/train rangers but they cost more. £4:00 train rover. £6:30 train and tram.

I paid £5:90 from Marple to Bury and back where as I could get to Bolton for £3:30. I find the tram usful but expensive

 

[Mojo]

Indeed, phase 1 of Metrolink was a massive success. A few years after opening it actually carried MORE passengers than all other Greater Manchester suburban rail stations combined and actually turned a profit rather than requiring a subsidy.

Phase 2 created thousands of jobs and supported a multimillion pound regeneration scheme which simply wouldn't have been possible with buses, and a darn sight harder with heavy rail.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Now that's annoying

EDIT: There's a few train/tram combo travelcards valid on all Metrolink services, but they're either £6.30 TM or £7 BTM, I don't have a clue what either of those acronyms mean though.

They are Daysavers.

TM = Train, Metrolink
BTM/TBM = Train, Bus, Metrolink

There is also a TB (train, Bus - £5.30), but that is obviously not valid on the tram)

And there is a Weekly County Card (£28.60).

 

[tbtc]

if they really cared about the environment they'd do it in stages ensuring that passengers could get from Oldham to Manchester by one of the routes at all times, thus avoiding forcing people onto the roads

...whilst I disgree with the rest of your points, I agree with this - I can't understand why they didn't keep the Oldham - Rochdale section opened whilst they started work on Manchester - Oldham (or maybe vice versa) - keeping a Manchester - Rochdale - Oldham service going up until the tram was built from Oldham to Manchester, then as the tram opened the heavy rail could stop, meaning Oldham wouldn't be without a service for any length

Sadly tram planning hasn't learnt the lesson from Sheffield. We tried to build everything pretty much all at one, which meant disruption in lots of places and a slow pace of building.

If Edinburgh had learnt from this, they could have had a couple of stages up and running by now (e.g. concentrate resources on Leith - St A Square first, get it up and running, and only then divert workers to the Airport side of the line)

 

[metrocammel]

I'm sure journey times will increase due to extra stops, this is unavoidable when street running commences.

To be honest, GMPTE haven't really addressed this point, but I'm sure it will be an issue. Fair enough, there will be more trams and they will have greater acceleration than the equivalent DMMUs, but will their be any 'express' trams at all? Until last week, if you travelled from Shaw to Manchester, you could catch an 'express' service, and arrive significantly quicker than the stopper- I very much doubt the trams will offer 'express' services, thus making the journey time longer for Shaw / Oldham pax.

 

[yorksrob]

As a resident of Leeds and it's environs I find this thread very interesting - particularily in anticipation of our own tram train proposals. Manchesters tramlink certainly seems to have been successful so far. However, I think there will always be a tricky compromise between the need for shorter distance mass transit and faster longer distance travel. I still don't think this is the right solution for the Harrogate line.

 

[Railway]

Pictures from October 3rd.

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61417584.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61417716.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61417580.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61431634.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61417587.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61418180.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p61417591.html

 

[adamp]

My Vid from the last night in operation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAVjxoJh72o

 

[Mojo]

Hi Adam,

Great video and very well put together, liked the Coldplay as well!

 

[sheff'd victoria]

My Vid from the last night in operation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAVjxoJh72o

Great Video

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Any new photos of the line as it is now ?

Has work started on the Metrolink ?