Manchester Metrolink master thread

[northwichcat]

They have also in the past timed the line conversions (Oldham track and signalling, for phase 1 electrification renewal) at the point NR would have to renew the line anyway

So is that why a scheme that was supposed to happen before Northern Rail took over has only recently happened as the track wasn't due for renewal for another 10 years?

 

[WatcherZero]

So is that why a scheme that was supposed to happen before Northern Rail took over has only recently happened as the track wasn't due for renewal for another 10 years?

Indeed, while converting the Oldham Loop to Light Rail as part of phase 1 was first mooted in 1984 the decision to proceed as phase 3 didnt occur until 2000, The conversion delayed when the Government changed its mind on funding in 2004 reapproved it in 2006, the work renewing the Oldham line tracks finally began in late 2009.

The fate of the Oldham Loop line pre-conversion plan was up in the air with station closures in the 60's and 80's the line had of course been singled and in the 70's the Government tried to close the section between Oldham and Rochdale and GMPTE took over funding of services on that section of the line. In the 00's the line had already passed the 40 year life track renewal date as Railtrack/Network Rail didnt think the line could recoup the investment costs of renewal and they planned to run down the assets until closure.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The fate of the Oldham Loop line pre-conversion plan was up in the air with station closures in the 60's, and 80's the line had of course been singled.

Can I ask for clarification of this statement, as the line singling was only effected from Shaw to Rochdale. Shaw to Manchester Victoria, via Oldham Mumps, was always a double track section until heavy-rail line closure was effected.

 

[trickyvegas]

TfGM should have a word with the council to say that they are none too happy that this has happened for a second time now in the Tameside area....and as such, it will not bode well for a future system extension to Stalybridge...

No thanks, send it to Dukinfield instead.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

No thanks, send it to Dukinfield instead.

Do I sense another aggrieved resident who has never forgiven the powers-that-be for closing that station on Wharf Street, Dukinfield Central, in 1959..:cry:

 

[Manchester77]

Woo we're now officially the master thread!! And also approaching the 100 page mark!!

 

[CyrusWuff]

Took a ride on the extensions this weekend and the main thing that struck me was how low the speeds were compared to Croydon.

It's mostly 30km/h tops, even on segregated sections, touching 50 in places. And on the Ashton extension there are a couple of 5km/h TSRs and one 5km/h PSR.

 

[Manchester77]

Maximum speed on street sections is 30 mph. The Ashton extension isn't open yet so I assume you mean the EML up to Droylsden whe on the segregated sections there are serval low speed sections due to the twistyness of the route and track damage from people driving their cars onto the track. I don't know which lines you went on but on the segregated lines such as the Altrincham or SML they're not that slow. You mostly have speeds of 40 and 50 mph.

Ps metrolink signs are in mph not kph

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I don't know which lines you went on but on the segregated lines such as the Altrincham or SML they're not that slow. You mostly have speeds of 40 and 50 mph.

Not forgetting the Bury line, of course, why currently fly the flag for Metrolink in the "Northern Territories"....

I refuse to mention the Rochdale line until they have a service running into its terminal stop and stop forcing me to walk down Drake Street..

 

[radamfi]

Took a ride on the extensions this weekend and the main thing that struck me was how low the speeds were compared to Croydon.

It's mostly 30km/h tops, even on segregated sections, touching 50 in places. And on the Ashton extension there are a couple of 5km/h TSRs and one 5km/h PSR.

Are you comparing the speed limit signs along the track? The Croydon system has them marked in km/h whereas Metrolink is in mph.

Although I do find Metrolink painfully slow at times when they are trying to lose time. I nearly always measure the speed when travelling by Metrolink and you regularly run at 20-30 mph on the 50 mph sections, especially between Rochdale and Oldham. Tramlink feels quite swift whenever I go on it. They don't seem to dawdle like Metrolink.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Are you comparing the speed limit signs along the track? The Croydon system has them marked in km/h whereas Metrolink is in mph

I am sure there are those in "The Home Counties et al" who think that up here, we refer to fph....Ferrets per hour...

 

[Manchester77]

Not forgetting the Bury line, of course, why currently fly the flag for Metrolink in the "Northern Territories"....

I refuse to mention the Rochdale line until they have a service running into its terminal stop and stop forcing me to walk down Drake Street..

Haha at least drake street looks a bit nicer now the construction barriers have gone

I on the other hand find metrolink quite quick on the Altrincham line! Then again there's more slack in the timetable on the ORL compared with the Altrincham line however the speed limit over the Central Park finback to be painfully slow.

 

[185143]

What dates and times(If known) are first trams from

Ashton
Oldham Town Centre
Rochdale Town Centre

Is the Ashton Planned to open on the 9th October?

 

[Manchester77]

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/tramtimes/Pages/default.aspx input your station
And it seems to be however TfGM won't confirm

 

[telstarbox]

Aren't all tram speed limits in km/h on diamond signs to avoid confusing road drivers?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consu...n/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191923.pdf

 

[Manchester77]

Metrolinks are in mph on diamond signs. Temporary speed limits are in a red font, permanent in a black font.

 

[radamfi]

Aren't all tram speed limits in km/h on diamond signs to avoid confusing road drivers?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consu...n/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191923.pdf

Not in Manchester, evidently.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...ZVLOFjdQTAfNUnPhw&sig2=AfRZpUWOxweOWpeRPyR7MA

All tramways surveyed used white diamond -shaped signs to convey
instructions to tram drivers, as recommended in Guidance on
Tramways, except that on the Luas system speed limits were shown on
square signs. The meanings of the signs shown in Guidance on
Tramways are adhered to on all of the tramways. However, in TSRGD it
states that speed limit signs for trams should be in kph, and this is not
the case all of the tramways, for instance Sheffield Supertram and
Manchester Metrolink, who display speed limit signs in mph.

 

[PR1Berske]

What dates and times(If known) are first trams from

Ashton
Oldham Town Centre
Rochdale Town Centre

Is the Ashton Planned to open on the 9th October?

In "another place",9th October seems to be the worst kept secret in Greater Manchester.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In "another place",9th October seems to be the worst kept secret in Greater Manchester.

....and not exactly helped by a certain "blabbermouth" Tameside councillor.

 

[snowball]

What dates and times(If known) are first trams from

Ashton
Oldham Town Centre
Rochdale Town Centre

Is the Ashton Planned to open on the 9th October?

The 9th Oct date was leaked by a councillor then reluctantly quasi-confirmed by TfGM, emphasising that it's just a target date, not guaranteed.

For Oldham and Rochdale town centres there's nothing official more specific than "2014".

Rochdale looks visually pretty complete but new TMS equipment will have to be commissioned and tested as until now everything north of Newbold has operated as a single line.

My uninformed guess is Rochdale around the turn of the year and Oldham in the spring.

 

[familyguy99]

Trams are back running to Ashton today and it was confirm on SCC thread on Sunday that driving training with ghost service will start from week of 23rd September, not sure if driving training have started today with trams back running to Ashton today on testing.

 

[Jordy]

Apparently T68 1011 has gone to Booths for scrap.

 

[Manchester77]

yep after it was used as a red bull bmx thing

Metrolink QS OT 1011BMX 350 by d33206hg, on Flickr

 

[Rhydgaled]

yep after it was used as a red bull bmx thing

Metrolink QS OT 1011BMX 350 by d33206hg, on Flickr

Is that two old trams in the yellow livery or the two vehicles of one old tram uncoupled?

 

[hughesfowler]

Is that two old trams in the yellow livery or the two vehicles of one old tram uncoupled?

The latter, it was 1011 , as said now gone to Booths for scrapping. 6 m5000 to be introduced this week, possibly on the eccles line, which would result in more t68 withdrawals.

Yesterday only 2 t series in operation, been told it could be as early as the end of November now for the final withdrawal of the t series. It will be a sad day based on their replacements.

 

[Manchester77]

Yes to save money metrolink aren't fitting any more m5000s with ATS so some of the TMS only trams currently stored at OTD will be coming into play. An interim solution has apparently been found for getting trams in/out of depots.

Their numbers have been dwindling I'd imagine by the latest March 2014 if that! It'll be weird since they've been part of manchester for 21 years now!

 

[rebmcr]

It'll be weird since they've been part of manchester for 21 years now!

Yeah, it would have been nice to have custom cab-ends to make the M5000s at least look like "T69s".

 

[Manchester77]

They should have just a cab coming out of the wall in Piccadilly gardens!

 

[familyguy99]

I don't think this been mention on here but on Oldham Town Centre section King Street and Westwood stops have now got nameboard up with Oldham Central and new Oldham Mumps haven't got them up let.

I know some people don't like me upload picture on here but here are two picture showing you the nameboard at Westwood stop.


Westwood Metrolink stop


Westwood nameboard sign

(Photo credits: Andrew Purdie)

 

[Topgun333]

My office overlooks Exchange Quay on the Eccles line. I think they were using all the remaining T68s on it today.