Manchester Metrolink master thread

[Manchester77]

No problem there's been a bit of surge of M5000s entering service recently so its harder to keep track of which units are in service!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if this mean that Rochdale Town Centre line wouldn't be opening same time as Oldham line then?

Recent conversations with TfGM with regard to Rochdale town centre appear to be all about the new interchange next to the site of the old bus station.

Had the final section from Rochdale railway station to Rochdale town centre been considered to have been ready to link in with the new line through Oldham town centre, I am sure that TfGM would not have missed the opportunity to trumpet their good news about that particular matter.

 

[Manchester77]

In their press release about the new Rochdale Interchange it said metrolink would begin in Spring 2014, later than Oldham which is probably due to the signalling arrangements there

 

[507 001]

Plus Rochdale needs TMS working to allow the other platform at Railway Station to be used otherwise you'd have all single line from Newbold the Rochdale TC.
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Would anyone be able to confirm which units are currently in traffic please? A summary of which T68s are left and which of the 'new' units are now in passenger use would be most useful.

http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/manchester.html this list is mostly correct, 3074 is in service though and I think 3070 is too(?), 3068&3069 are the units at Rochdale for testing. T68s wise 1003 was withdrawn a few days ago and there's 1002&1016 which we haven't seen out in service for a while so were not sure about. I'll have a look on SCC to see if there's been any sitings

EDIT: this post by brad states the last sitings of them but we won't know for definite until we see them at Old Trafford

I last recorded 1016 in service on Wednesday 30 October but it wasn't around on 7/13 November. 1002 was in service 7 November, but not 13 November. I agree that that's not very definitive, but the fact is I've been busy with something at home just recently and haven't had much chance to survey the tram scene. It does show, however, that it's only just over a week since 1002 was definitely in service, and T68s have been known to come bounding back after absences of greater than that, even in recent times. 1016 managed to survive that skirmish in Mosley Street, don't forget.

I'm sure I saw 16 hiding in the workshop at QRD this morning.
2003 failed at bury earlier, could this one be the next to go I wonder? It's been dumped in platform b since about midday.

In other news, 3076 was delivered earlier today

 

[Manchester77]

Yeah someone posted this pic of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/d33206hg/10887419643/
So probably will be a gonner now :cry: if it does then there'll only be one T68A left hock:

 

[familyguy99]

Just notice on Metrolink blog that 3070+3071 and 3074 all went up to Rochdale late last night and 3068+3069 are sit at Rochdale Town Centre stop (which they picture on SCC of that tram)

https://www.facebook.com/Metrolinkblog

 

[radamfi]

Just notice on Metrolink blog that 3070+3071 and 3074 all went up to Rochdale late last night and 3068+3069 are sit at Rochdale Town Centre stop (which they picture on SCC of that tram)

https://www.facebook.com/Metrolinkblog

3070 and 3071 were at Rochdale station a few minutes ago.

 

[185143]

3069+3070+?3071 were all at Rochdale Railway Station at around 3PM.

When is the Rochdale town centre stop set to open, and when is Oldham likely to open?

 

[Manchester77]

I you read back in the the thread we were discussing how Oldham will now open in the new year and Rochdale in Spring

 

[familyguy99]

3069+3070+?3071 were all at Rochdale Railway Station at around 3PM.

I guess you mean 3070+3071 and 3074 sit at Rochdale stop yesterday?

Here are some picture of 3070+3071 and 3074 tram sit at Rochdale Railway station.


3070+3071 sit at Rochdale


3070+3071 tram at Rochdale Metrolink stop


3074 tram sit at Rochdale stop


3074 tram sit at Rochdale Metrolink stop

Well four trams at Rochdale Railway station if you count this one.


3007 tram waiting at Rochdale


Looking at Metrolink trams at Rochdale stop

Smart Card reader (Get me there) have now pop up on Rochdale Railway station.


Smart Card reader

And 3068+3069 trams is now at Rochdale Town Centre stop (in which you already now)


3068+3069 tram sit at Rochdale Town Centre stop


3068+3069 tram at Rochdale Town Centre stop


3068+3069 tram at Rochdale Town Centre

 

[Polarbear]

I ventured into Wythenshawe earlier today & was impressed with the amount of work that's taken place with regard to the Metrolink extension to the airport.

Given that this line isn't forecast to open until 2016, the work appeared to be quite advanced in some areas. Track has been laid & some stops have been partially constructed in the Wythenshawe area.

Moving toward the airport, there's a huge amount of work being done at present & what appears to be an underpass for the tram is being built under the road linking the airport to Heald Green (which itself appears to be being widened).

Whilst there is still quite a bit to do, I would expect the airport extension to be open well before the summer of 2016 given the progress to date, unless there is something I'm not aware of further up the line.

 

[Manchester77]

Baguley even has signage! I think most of us expect it to open before the 2016 date however it depends on where it can terminate, 2CC won't fully open till 2017 so it'll probably have to terminate somewhere on the outskirts (Deansgate is the most likely especially post remodelling)
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Some shots by JDR of the Airport Line: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=108919727&postcount=34745

 

[Bald Rick]

I ventured into Wythenshawe earlier today & was impressed with the amount of work that's taken place with regard to the Metrolink extension to the airport.

Given that this line isn't forecast to open until 2016, the work appeared to be quite advanced in some areas. Track has been laid & some stops have been partially constructed in the Wythenshawe area.

Moving toward the airport, there's a huge amount of work being done at present & what appears to be an underpass for the tram is being built under the road linking the airport to Heald Green (which itself appears to be being widened).

Whilst there is still quite a bit to do, I would expect the airport extension to be open well before the summer of 2016 given the progress to date, unless there is something I'm not aware of further up the line.

I drove that way en route to Heald Green today - impressive stock of bi-block sleepers and plenty of rail, was surprised how advanced it was.

 

[ianhr]

Baguley even has signage! I think most of us expect it to open before the 2016 date however it depends on where it can terminate, 2CC won't fully open till 2017 so it'll probably have to terminate somewhere on the outskirts (Deansgate is the most likely especially post remodelling)
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Some shots by JDR of the Airport Line: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=108919727&postcount=34745

Thanks for the link to the pics. It is good to see that it is going through areas where people actually live unlike some tram schemes that I could mention!

 

[CJ]

I travelled on a tram recently from East Didsbury (on Wednesday) and when I went passed the Trafford tram depot, i saw like 10+ T68 trams all lined up and was quite amazed/shocked to see so many of them had been attacked by vandals as they were covered in Graffiti.

I know they're planning to scrap them so that's probably why they're not bothering to clean them off.

Still, not many of them are left around the network..

 

[61653 HTAFC]

With regard to the Airport line, is it expected to open in stages as both the Didsbury and Ashton lines did?

I imagine the construction will get trickier close to the Airport terminal! Of course, someone mentioned capacity in the city centre, so perhaps there's less incentive to finish any sooner than necessary!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With regard to the Airport line, is it expected to open in stages as both the Didsbury and Ashton lines did?

I imagine the construction will get trickier close to the Airport terminal! Of course, someone mentioned capacity in the city centre, so perhaps there's less incentive to finish any sooner than necessary!

Both the lines to East Didsbury and to Ashton-under-Lyne had logical temporary terminal points (St Werburgh's Road being just before the line bifurcation and at Droylsden). Where would the first such temporary terminal point on the Airport line be best situated ?

 

[Manchester77]

Its not expected to

Sale Water Park (will have big P&R) or Wythenshawe?

 

[snowball]

The temporary termini at St Werburgh's Road, Droylsden and Rochdale Railway Station corresponded to the limits of Phase 3a of the Metrolink expansion programme. Phase 3a, which also included the present line past Oldham, was approved before Phase 3b, so it's not too surprising that the lines initially opened to the points they did.

Phase 3b includes the extensions to Ashton, East Didsbury, Rochdale town centre and the airport, and the line through Oldham town centre.

The work on the airport line is not proceeding in a particularly north-to-south fashion. The last two stops to get platforms were the two northernmost, Barlow Moor Road and Sale Water Park.

However there are trailing crossovers south of Sale Water Park, Roundthorn and Wythenshawe Town Centre, so if they do decide to open it in stages, those are places which would be operationally convenient as temporary termini.

 

[507 001]

For those who were asking, 1016 is in service today on directs. Passed it at at st Peters square and Victoria this morning.

2003 is sat in queens road depot, it looks serviceable, but then so does 1003!

 

[Manchester77]

http://vimeo.com/78630602 GMT Card for metrolink

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

For those who were asking, 1016 is in service today on directs. Passed it at St Peters Square and Victoria this morning.

My wife and I also saw it at St Peters Square today, as we decided to visit the European Christmas market outside the Town Hall and in St Anns Square. My wife was amazed, as she thought all of them had ceased running.

That whats you get for living in the area outside the borders of the TfGM Empire..

 

[Topgun333]

1022 on Eccles line this morning.

 

[507 001]

1003 has disappeared! It was at trafford yesterday with pan up, lights on, compressor whirring away but isn't in the yard today!
Just wondering if it's been moved inside for decommissioning. I shall endeavour to find out!

 

[Manchester77]

There was talk it could become an icebreaker so it might have gone into the sheds for the special pantograph to be fitted. If this is the case it'll probably be withdrawn around April

 

[507 001]

There was talk it could become an icebreaker so it might have gone into the sheds for the special pantograph to be fitted. If this is the case it'll probably be withdrawn around April

Officially it's already been withdrawn.

 

[Manchester77]

Ah well, another one bites the dust. Poster on WMXX said

Another T68 has gone today with 1002 retired from service and due to move to Trafford tonight I believe - although that might change! So now the T68s are into single figures with nine in the operational pool and two T68As.

which is sad, just 11 in total

 

[507 001]

I know, I'm a bit gutted that I'll never get to drive one

 

[Manchester77]

Think they'll always be in manchester's history books! Wish the could keep like half of one so that as you enter Old Trafford Depot there's just a reminder of the the old Metrolink, similar to how London Road Depot on LU has an old 1972 Mark I cave on the wall!
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Surprised no ones posted about the disruption ice has been causing over the past few days, apparently metrolink should run more icebreakers however a driver off WNXX posted saying how the ice forms in the 12 minutes gaps between trams describing how difficult it can be to drive especially on the Central Park fineback bridge. People calling for Peter Cushing to resign, I personally don't think he should, him being there won't effect how quick ice forms, furthermore communication has improved greatly under his regin!

 

[northwichcat]

The MEN have a Metrolink quiz on their website: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ster-news/how-well-you-know-metrolink-6323967