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Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

Tim33160

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Joined
18 Feb 2019
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296
Regular Altrincham - Crumpsall service during evenings / Sundays when United at home at Old Trafford
 
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dannypye9999

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Joined
28 Jun 2013
Messages
392
I have some questions about Metrolink ticket inspectors and their devices.


1. What information gets sent to their main computer once they ping your device from their device? Apart from your phones IEMI code do they record anything else like tram information and which trams your on, location of the inspection and direction of travel?

2. Would you get a penalty if you got inspected at Bury but records show you touched in and out in the Zone 1 area? For example if someone touched in at Piccadilly then travelled to Bury and didn't touch out, then travelled back to Piccadilly but had a ticket inspection on the tram after just leaving Bury or anywhere in Zone 4 and then the person left the tram at Victoria and touched out? Would this automatically apply a penalty?

3. Would you get a penalty if you touched in at Piccadilly, travelled to Bury and didn't touch out but then travelled to Rochdale and had a ticket check leaving Bury but touched out at Rochdale? Would their system give you a penalty for making that untouched Bury journey?

4. Would you get refund on a £60 penalty issued if by touching in and out using a phone but they pinged your card during a inspection or vice versa?
 

507 001

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3 Dec 2008
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Huyton
2. Would you get a penalty if you got inspected at Bury but records show you touched in and out in the Zone 1 area? For example if someone touched in at Piccadilly then travelled to Bury and didn't touch out, then travelled back to Piccadilly but had a ticket inspection on the tram after just leaving Bury or anywhere in Zone 4 and then the person left the tram at Victoria and touched out? Would this automatically apply a penalty

Probably not, although you might find that you get an incomplete journey charge, depending on how long it took you to get to Bury and back.

3. Would you get a penalty if you touched in at Piccadilly, travelled to Bury and didn't touch out but then travelled to Rochdale and had a ticket check leaving Bury but touched out at Rochdale? Would their system give you a penalty for making that untouched Bury journey?

I’m not sure. Again you’d probably get an incomplete journey charge.

Let’s face it, both scenarios you describe would be dishonest, so I’d advise anyone making such journeys to buy a travel card.

4. Would you get refund on a £60 penalty issued if by touching in and out using a phone but they pinged your card during a inspection or vice versa

That depends on how nicely you speak to them.
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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30 Dec 2016
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Cambridge
I’m really not thrilled with being kicked off a tram at Ashton Moss and having to walk 1.5 miles to IKEA in the pouring rain because “there’s a blockage between here and Ashton-under-Lyne,” only to see absolutely nothing on the track and, what’s more, a tram from Ashton passing me as I walk it...
 

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507 001

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I’m really not thrilled with being kicked off a tram at Ashton Moss and having to walk 1.5 miles to IKEA in the pouring rain because “there’s a blockage between here and Ashton-under-Lyne,” only to see absolutely nothing on the track and, what’s more, a tram from Ashton passing me as I walk it...

Well there’s not much point in complaining about it on here is there?

The line being blocked may have simply been an easy way to explain something quite technical.
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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Well there’s not much point in complaining about it on here is there?

The line being blocked may have simply been an easy way to explain something quite technical.
There is, because I hoped someone might explain why?
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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I think what 507 meant was that this isn’t a Metrolink Complaints Helpline!
But a public discussion forum, and I’m simply discussing the irritating situation on Metrolink yesterday in case someone else experienced it or knew what was going on…?
 

occone

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8 Apr 2023
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221
Location
Manchester
I’m really not thrilled with being kicked off a tram at Ashton Moss and having to walk 1.5 miles to IKEA in the pouring rain because “there’s a blockage between here and Ashton-under-Lyne,” only to see absolutely nothing on the track and, what’s more, a tram from Ashton passing me as I walk it...
Almost always it's because a motorist drives onto the track then grounds themselves. Only then do they realise their car doesn't have the ultimate right to go wherever it wants.

Chances are you were booted off just as the car was being towed off, then services resumed.
 

edwin_m

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21 Apr 2013
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Nottingham
But a public discussion forum, and I’m simply discussing the irritating situation on Metrolink yesterday in case someone else experienced it or knew what was going on…?
You've didn't mention the date until this post, so nobody could have known when it was. Someone might now be able to give you a reason, particularly if you can say approximately what time it was. Nice photo and maybe about 1600?.
 

dannypye9999

Member
Joined
28 Jun 2013
Messages
392
Travelling on metrolink earlier, I noticed the door buttons flashing mid journey. Why do they do this? Also i noticed people pressing them too. Are they trying to open the doors or something or is it a request to stop? If not then can't these people see others stood against the doors before attempting to open them mid journey.
 

Bungle965

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Travelling on metrolink earlier, I noticed the door buttons flashing mid journey. Why do they do this? Also i noticed people pressing them too. Are they trying to open the doors or something or is it a request to stop? If not then can't these people see others stood against the doors before attempting to open them mid journey.
It automatically opens the door at the next stop for the door that has been pressed.
 

pokemonsuper9

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20 Dec 2022
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Greater Manchester
Travelling on metrolink earlier, I noticed the door buttons flashing mid journey. Why do they do this? Also i noticed people pressing them too. Are they trying to open the doors or something or is it a request to stop? If not then can't these people see others stood against the doors before attempting to open them mid journey.
You can pre-open the doors so that when they are unlocked, they immediately open
 
Joined
7 Feb 2024
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36
Location
Manchester
Are there any Metrolink drivers that can explain why trams leaving MediaCityUK stop twice?

Meaning, the driver switches ends as normal after pulling into the stop, then after getting into the opposite cab, drives up about 3-5 metres and stops again, before actually leaving.
Question might be too specific.
I'm just curious if anyone does know
 

Tramfan

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Gather there's another new timetable on the Metrolink from Monday, with improvements to first trams on multiple lines. Anyone know if there's any other changes?
 

toms

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14 Aug 2024
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Manchester
Are there any Metrolink drivers that can explain why trams leaving MediaCityUK stop twice?

Meaning, the driver switches ends as normal after pulling into the stop, then after getting into the opposite cab, drives up about 3-5 metres and stops again, before actually leaving.
Question might be too specific.
I'm just curious if anyone does know
I thought this was something to do with the signal or something, this happens at whitefield a lot when the turn back is used but I’m not sure why it happens really
 
Joined
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Location
Manchester
I thought this was something to do with the signal or something, this happens at whitefield a lot when the turn back is used but I’m not sure why it happens really
That's the thing, at MCUK it happens regardless of the signal aspect, which is what's confusing me
 

507 001

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3 Dec 2008
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2,178
Location
Huyton
Are there any Metrolink drivers that can explain why trams leaving MediaCityUK stop twice?

Meaning, the driver switches ends as normal after pulling into the stop, then after getting into the opposite cab, drives up about 3-5 metres and stops again, before actually leaving.
Question might be too specific.
I'm just curious if anyone does know

The signals at MEC are RTS demand signals. You can only send an RTS (ready to start) demand when you’re over a physical loop.

Therefore, you have to draw up to the ‘loop’ in order to request a proceed for the signal. If you look at the platform edge you’ll spot a red stop mark about 3 feet short of the end of the platform that denotes where the loop is.

It’s an odd set up, and I’ve never quite been able to get to the bottom of why it’s set up this way.

No, I don't mean that. They literally always stop. It happens every single time, regardless of signal aspect, regardless of people running late for the tram.

Strictly speaking, you’re not allowed to release the doors once you’ve moved up to the loop.
 
Joined
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Location
Manchester
The signals at MEC are RTS demand signals. You can only send an RTS (ready to start) demand when you’re over a physical loop.

Therefore, you have to draw up to the ‘loop’ in order to request a proceed for the signal. If you look at the platform edge you’ll spot a red stop mark about 3 feet short of the end of the platform that denotes where the loop is.

It’s an odd set up, and I’ve never quite been able to get to the bottom of why it’s set up this way.



Strictly speaking, you’re not allowed to release the doors once you’ve moved up to the loop.
I thought it might have been a TRTS thing. Thanks for the answer :)
 

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