Manchester Metrolink master thread

[Starmill]

The mythical A556(M) springs to mind! Also the likely-never-to-be-seen-again original M60 (Altrincham-Old Trafford).

Somebody has been reading Pathetic Motorways!

 

[Eagle]

The mythical A556(M) springs to mind!

At least you're getting the A555 SEM(I forget how many times)S road. :P



Yes, I know it's three Ms. But the MEN seemingly don't in that article.

 

[si404]

The mythical A556(M) springs to mind! Also the likely-never-to-be-seen-again original M60 (Altrincham-Old Trafford).

The A556(M) wasn't mythical (actual Statutory Instruments were made for it), and was merely the southern section of the old M60 plans (Knutsford - Central Manchester) continuing onwards - that's one scheme there...

Somebody has been reading Pathetic Motorways!

Not quite fully enough, but we'll let it slide.

Eagle - isn't it the South East Manchester Media-friendly Make Mott MacDonald Management More Money Multi Modal Study (SEMMMMMMMMMMS) road? Not that they are building all of the road, and it is to be built at a very watered down standard to even when only the A6(M) bit of the Manchester Outer Ring Road was to be Motorway.

And to bring it all back to the trams - the airport route uses part of the (long dropped) MORR alignment between the M60 (the new one, formerly M63) and the M56. The full loop would have used about 90% of that alignment.

 

[northwichcat]

A new link road between M6 J19 and the M56 is still set to be built but it won't be the A556(M) any more. The full plans for the new road are currently on display at Knutsford Library.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

At least you're getting the A555 SEM(I forget how many times)S road. :P

I often wonder why John Prescott in his ministerial capacity decided to cancel the A555 section towards Manchester Airport those many years ago, when it had reached the large roundabout at Handforth with just the short final leg from there to Manchester Airport to be constructed ?

 

[Shrimper]

I went on the tram on the East Didsbury line yesterday, again was rather impressed with all the new lines, apart from the shocking site of a number of locations on the new line that have been the victim of a graffiti attack

It all seems to be the same one - tags with 'SAG', and will attack anything from road signs to hoardings to security shutters and buses. I noticed a stretch of the SML with almost every OHLE stanchion tagged with it.

 

[snowball]

A new link road between M6 J19 and the M56 is still set to be built but it won't be the A556(M) any more. The full plans for the new road are currently on display at Knutsford Library.

And online on the Infrastructure Planning site:

http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/North West/A556-Knutsford-to-Bowdon-Scheme/

 

[Starmill]

I often wonder why John Prescott in his ministerial capacity decided to cancel the A555 section towards Manchester Airport those many years ago, when it had reached the large roundabout at Handforth with just the short final leg from there to Manchester Airport to be constructed ?

I was under the impression that the existing strip of A555 (which is actually a really interesting bit of road!) was built at the same time as the A34 bypass project in readiness for the rest of the road to go ahead and to avoid the need to modify the brand new road if it did? To be honest, that money would have been better spent grade separating a few of the roundabouts on the A34! The A555 created another bloomin roundabout itself, with almost no traffic going over the top.

Last time I was there, the road is signed 'Machester Airport' from the roundabout... well... you could get to the Airport from there but look where you'd have to go!

 

[snowball]

I was under the impression that the existing strip of A555 (which is actually a really interesting bit of road!) was built at the same time as the A34 bypass project in readiness for the rest of the road to go ahead and to avoid the need to modify the brand new road if it did?

It was.

To be honest, that money would have been better spent grade separating a few of the roundabouts on the A34! The A555 created another bloomin roundabout itself, with almost no traffic going over the top.

They should have made the A34 the through route instead of the A555 where the two meet.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They should have made the A34 the through route instead of the A555 where the two meet.

The newly constructed A34 was intended to replace the old A34 (now the B5358) through Handforth and was part of a project to eventually by-pass both Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, which was finally completed in two sections as far as Nether Alderley. It was not intended to be an incremental part of the A555 airport link road, but to offer connectional links to it only.

 

[snowball]

The newly constructed A34 was intended to replace the old A34 (now the B5358) through Handforth and was part of a project to eventually by-pass both Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, which was finally completed in two sections as far as Nether Alderley. It was not intended to be an incremental part of the A555 airport link road, but to offer connectional links to it only.

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with any of that. I'm not clear what point you're making. I simply meant that the A34/A555 junction was designed to give a direct unimpeded run to traffic on the A555, of which there is very little, whereas the heavy flow on the A34 has to negotiate the roundabout. On the basis of today's traffic flows, it would have been better if it could have been designed so that the A34 traffic had a straight run through, and A555 traffic had to negotiate the roundabout.

Of course, if and when the A555 is completed, it will gain traffic, but it would have to gain a lot to be busier than the A34.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I simply meant that the A34/A555 junction was designed to give a direct unimpeded run to traffic on the A555, of which there is very little, whereas the heavy flow on the A34 has to negotiate the roundabout. On the basis of today's traffic flows, it would have been better if it could have been designed so that the A34 traffic had a straight run through, and A555 traffic had to negotiate the roundabout. Of course, if and when the A555 is completed, it will gain traffic, but it would have to gain a lot to be busier than the A34.

The A34/A555 junction as it currently stands does give the heavy traffic flows coming and going from the Handforth Dean shopping hub (Marks & Spencer and Tesco superstores) on the A34 the opportunity to use the A555 slip road to Handforth in one direction and to Bramhall in the other direction by the use of a slip road, from the roundabout. At Cheadle Royal, the A34 does have an underpass underneath the large circulatory roundabout system that leads to both of the very large John Lewis/Sainsbury retail establishments, the large Cheadle Royal Business Park and Schools Hill, that leads into Cheadle.

One might query the lack of a flyover or underpass where the A34 first section improvement at Wilmslow was deemed to warrant nothing more that a roundabout to accept all traffic flows from the A34 and the roads from both Wilmslow and Alderley Edge all so now converge.

Regretfully, much how thought-provoking this road matter is, there seems to have been an off-topic drift from the thread matter that concerns the Manchester Metrolink system

 

[Starmill]

Of course, if and when the A555 is completed, it will gain traffic, but it would have to gain a lot to be busier than the A34.

How can ye predict this? If there was not reasonable expectation of a large enough flow to justify full grade separation they wouldn't be building the road!

Will this road not provide free-flowing access to the M56 by joining up to the existing spur?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

At Cheadle Royal, the A34 does have an underpass underneath the large circulatory roundabout system that leads to both of the very large John Lewis/Sainsbury retail establishments, the large Cheadle Royal Business Park and Schools Hill, that leads into Cheadle.

Oh, joy Paul. One grade separated junction...

 

[snowball]

Will this road not provide free-flowing access to the M56 by joining up to the existing spur?

Not very free-flowing. There will be grade-separated junctions at each end of the present A555 (the western one, with the former A34, being the completion of an existing partially-built junction). But other than that, all new junctions will be flat and signal-controlled. Going west towards the airport there will be four such junctions (Styal Road, Ringway Road, Airport City, and Outwood Lane) and one set of pedestrian signals (Woodhouse Road).

The bit near the airport is currently under construction in connection with the adjacent Metrolink line (bringing us back on topic at last!).

 

[familyguy99]

Here some picture that I took yesterday in Oldham Town Centre of work going on for Oldham 3B line. (Sorry to people who already seen them on SCC Metrolink Extension thread)

New Oldham Mumps stop


Metrolink shelters at new Oldham Mumps stop


New Oldham Mumps Metrolink stop

Line running on Union Street (in Oldham Town Centre)


Metrolink line on Union Street (Oldham) 3


Metrolink line on Union Street (Oldham) 4

Oldham Central stop is getting on well now.


Oldham Central Metrolink stop


Oldham Central Metrolink stop 2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolink_work/sets/72157632535235149/with/9069218716/

^^ I think there few picture that I haven't posted on here in Rochdale Town Centre too.

 

[martin2345uk]

I hate the A34. I drive it every day from Manchester to Alderley Edge. So many roundabouts, and the only junction where the A34 is properly separated is the one with the 50mph limit while most of the rest of it is 70!

Anyway apologies for continuing the OT chat - lovely photos Andrew, I'm hoping someone will post some of the progress at the new queens road stop, as I never really get up that way...

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Here some picture that I took yesterday in Oldham Town Centre of work going on for Oldham 3B line. (Sorry to people who already seen them on SCC Metrolink Extension thread)

Their is one thing that I have noticed about the new tram track compaired to Sheffield's.

Manchester now has a tarmac section in the middle of the new tramlines where Sheffield's was just plan concrete.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its tarmac where other vehicles will use it, paving stone/brick where it will only be pedestrians and concrete or ballast where its segregated.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Metrolink team at TfGM have sent out, to affected businesses and residents, notification that on dates from 9th to 21st July, there will be both overnight and weekend testing of the overhead line equipment from the current temporary line terminus at Rochdale railway station to the Smith Street area.

 

[Manchester77]

Testing to Ashton is due to begin soon to add

 

[familyguy99]

The Metrolink team at TfGM have sent out, to affected businesses and residents, notification that on dates from 9th to 21st July, there will be both overnight and weekend testing of the overhead line equipment from the current temporary line terminus at Rochdale railway station to the Smith Street area.

^^ It probably this that be send out.

Rochdale – testing of overhead line equipment, out of hours works
Work to bring Metrolink to Rochdale town centre is progressing well. Overnight works are required as part of the overall testing programme for the overhead power lines installed along the route. (Published:08/07/2013)

This overnight work is due to take place on several evenings in July, currently anticipated to be the 9th, 10th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and the also weekend of 20th and 21st of July, however these dates may change as work progresses. The overnight work will be undertaken between the hours of midnight and 7am when there are no passenger services in operation to Rochdale Railway Station stop.

The work will take place along the route of the Rochdale town centre Metrolink extension, from the railway station to Smith Street. We do not anticipate this work causing disturbance to local residents, however you may see workers and equipment on site during these times.

We would also like to remind you that the installed overhead line equipment is to be considered as “live at all times”. Thank you for your patience while we build your new Metrolink line.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?worksID=47

Also work is set to begin in Cornbrook area for TMS from this weekend.

Big changes ahead for Metrolink passengers

Metrolink is gearing up for a very busy summer that will deliver improvements for passengers.

Over the course of several weekends in coming weeks and months, engineers will be working solidly to upgrade systems and tracks on the existing network that will improve journeys through key parts of the network, including the Cornbrook junction.

The work forms a crucial part of the £1.4 billion expansion of the network and is linked to the roll out of a new tram management system, real-time information at stops and the transformation of the Manchester Victoria stop.

It will require significant changes to Metrolink services over a number of weekends, starting this weekend – July 13/14.

Passengers are therefore being advised to regularly check their services before they travel at weekends, by logging on to www.metrolink.co.uk, emailing customerservices@metrolink.co.uk or calling 0161 205 2000 for the latest updates.

Details will also be provided through TfGM’s twitter feed: @officialTfGM.

On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July, Metrolink services will run between Bury and Droylsden and Rochdale and Piccadilly but trams on the Altrincham, Eccles and East Didsbury lines will be replaced with bus services running to Piccadilly.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, which oversees the Metrolink network, said: “Metrolink is in the midst of a major transformation that will see it treble in size by 2016.

“Allied to that is the need to upgrade the existing ‘block’ signalling system to a new line-of-sight system, particularly through the Cornbrook junction, which is at the heart of the network.

“Regular passengers will know that services through this area are already starting to experience congestion and the work being done over coming weekends is an essential part of addressing that once and for all and, in turn, improving their journeys.”

Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, said: “We are also already building up to the major transformation of the Victoria Metrolink stop, which will be completed in earnest over several months next year.

“So it’s an incredibly exciting time, but the scale and breadth of the work being done will unavoidably require some temporary changes to weekend services.

“There’s no such thing as a quiet weekend in Greater Manchester – there will always be something happening somewhere – so the schedule of work aims, wherever possible, to strike the balance between getting things done as soon as possible but with the least impact.”

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=271

 

[Manchester77]

Just a reminder that there are no metrolink services between Altrincham, Eccles/MediaCity and East Didsbury to the City Centre due to TMS commissioning at Cornbrook.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just a reminder that there are no metrolink services between Altrincham, Eccles/MediaCity and East Didsbury to the City Centre due to TMS commissioning at Cornbrook.

That must come as a relief to those in the northern areas of Bury and Droylsden...

 

[Manchester77]

They need a break doubles on Droylesden to Bury so if you wanna go double banana spotting this is the time you'll be guaranteed

 

[familyguy99]

They need a break doubles on Droylesden to Bury so if you wanna go double banana spotting this is the time you'll be guaranteed

^^ Here are some that I took this afternoon at Droylsden stop.


double tram waiting near Droylsden stop


3045-3053 couple together


double trams waiting at Droylsden stop 2


3057-3022 trams leaving Droylsden stop

And rare Rochdale tram waiting at Piccadilly stop.


Rochdale tram at Piccadilly stop
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The Metrolink team at TfGM have sent out, to affected businesses and residents, notification that on dates from 9th to 21st July, there will be both overnight and weekend testing of the overhead line equipment from the current temporary line terminus at Rochdale railway station to the Smith Street area.

^^ Update on this, off MEN website it say that tram will run a test run to Rochdale Town Centre from this week (15th July to 17th July) and again next weekend (20th & 21st July)

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/tests-discover-trams-track-5074724

^^ With this and tram testing to Ashton set to begin on 22nd July it going to be good news and good progress on Metrolink 3B lines then.

 

[edwin_m]

Thanks for the Droylsden photos familyguy99. Did you notice if a different driver for the return working was boarding the tram before it went forward to reverse? I believe it is impossible for the driver of a double tram to change ends here as there is a traffic lane very close on each side so walking between the two trams would be dangerous.

 

[Manchester77]

at droylsden a driver gets in the back cab of the double tram then once the tram ha crossed over he takes control and the driver at the other end gets out and waits for the next tram

 

[HSTEd]

If doubled up trams are an increasingly common occurrence why are the new trams all "single length" vehicles?
Would it not be wise to order atleast some of the fleet as longer vehicles, like those on Nottingham Express Transit for instance?

It would avoid all this trouble with drivers changing ends and could easily increase capacity slightly.

 

[Manchester77]

It adds flexibility and also not all services need to be the length of two M5000s

 

[northwichcat]

It adds flexibility and also not all services need to be the length of two M5000s

How much would it affect service reliability if some double length trams had been ordered and then if that failed a service could run albeit short formed?