Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[Mcr Warrior]

Haven't we got enough Lostocks already, scattered randomly around the north-west?

Quite possibly. Supposedly the name 'Lostock' means "pig farm".

 

[Tetchytyke]

RAIB have just announced an investigation into an incident at Crossacres tram stop earlier in the month. RAIB state that an 11-year-old child became trapped between the platform and a departing tram at Crossacres tram stop, on the Manchester Metrolink. The child was then dragged along the platform for around 15 to 20 metres, suffering life-changing injuries as a result.

Serious injury to a child at Crossacres tram stop

Investigation into a serious injury to a child at Crossacres tram stop, Manchester, 7 October 2025.

www.gov.uk

 

[Russel]

I think it makes sense to rename it. A lot of visitors wouldn't associate Barton Dock Road with part of the Trafford Centre

Agreed, very sensible change.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they’re planning to rename it The Trafford Palazzo

See that the map of the Metrolink network has now been updated to reflect the new 'Trafford Palazzo' tram stop name. Link below...

https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93idf4jq/1epyaeOCJsfhpE80iFY1z8/9d7f0f9a8c0e5b5d8584840117ef7533/Metrolink_map_for_web_July_2025__Trafford_Palazzo_.pdf

But how come the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport branches are still shown as heading off in the wrong directions?!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

But how come the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport branches are still shown as heading off in the wrong directions?!

I'd imagine because it fits on the map better.

 

[507 001]

Wasn't it originally going to be called "Event City" in those early days of line construction, but Event City decided to relocate, so "Barton Dock Road" was hurridly entered into the plans.

Third time lucky?

Its station code is still EVC even after the latest rename.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

But how come the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport branches are still shown as heading off in the wrong directions?!

I'd imagine because it fits on the map better.

Probably, but it wouldn't have taken all that much to correct it, would it? Does any other GB rail/metro map also show duff info?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Probably, but it wouldn't have taken all that much to correct it, would it?

Maybe? But the only way I could think of to do it was flip the airport line upside down (see very rough sketch below).

I think the current map works fine, I don't think it really matters which way round the junction is.

Does any other GB rail/metro map also show duff info?

See my breakdown of Northern's new map. A single junction being the wrong way round (irrelevant to a passenger) I think is much less important than making it look like 2 lines (3tph) don't stop at Salford Central (more trains do stop that aren't shown to than are shown to)!

Why are Windermere/Barrow trains shown to stop at Salford Crescent?
Why is there no seperation between the Sheffield-manchester (fast) and New Mills - Manchester (stopping)?
Why isn't the service from Chinley via Stockport that runs once or twice a day shown?
Why does Clifton (2tpd) get its dot but there's no dot for Farnworth (3tpd) or Moses Gate (1tpd) on the Rochdale-Blackburn/Clitheroe.
Why isn't the few TPD from Stalybridge or to Leeds from Wigan North Western shown (ok this one really isn't that significant and would be a pain to add)?
Why is Dinting after its triangle, if it was on the triangle, it'd hide that it's not showing as a limited service for direct Hadfield-Manchester?
Why doesn't Shipley have a dot for trains from Bradford?
Why don't Walsden and Moorside show limited peak time service for Headbolt Lane - Blackburn?

Why is the Castleford TPE service shown in full from Stalybridge, but every other TPE merges into Northern at the earliest opportunity?
Why is Grand Central only shown from Bradford to Wakefield?
What is the barrier for "may call additionally at this station at peak times", why doesn't Salwick apply?
Why isn't Ince shown as a stop on the Southport services? FIXED NOW
Why isn't Hindley an interchange?

Denton and Brinnington are on the wrong side of each other's lines.

I could go on but the more I continued the less significant the errors got (they're shuffled in with each other).

Also just realised it's not showing the Rochdale-Blackburn/Clitheroe and Southport-Stalybridge stopping at Salford Central!

There are also plenty of lines crossing over each other in the wrong places on maps (Especially the tube map)
Also on the tube map, the DLR for Bank diverges above of the line for Tower Gateway, instead of below


And at Paddington on the Elizabeth Line carriage diagram, services terminating in Paddington are shown to diverge to above, but they diverge below (The tunnel portal is on the North side of the tracks).

 

[sprunt]

Does any other GB rail/metro map also show duff info?

It doesn't show duff info. It's a diagram, not a map, it isn't supposed to be geographically accurate, it's supposed to tell you which station is served by which service.

 

[cool110]

The line diagram is designed as a stripe to fit above the doors and ticket machines, the currently layout fits that goal well. If you geographical accuracy then they provide a separate map for that.

 

[507 001]

It doesn't show duff info. It's a diagram, not a map, it isn't supposed to be geographically accurate, it's supposed to tell you which station is served by which service.

Correct!

 

[Class 466]

Another successful possession handback on the Bury Line - a shame the replacement buses were nothing short of farcical thanks to roadworks and drivers taking different routes each time I caught one. Serving Queens Road & Abraham Moss (when they actually went that way) was entirely pointless with barely anyone getting the bus to or from those stops on my many trips (there was a tram service there, why would you get the slower bus?). People were instead opting to change at Crumpsall thus avoiding sitting in traffic.

Fingers crossed that there’s a better strategy whenever the next blockade is (am guessing there will be more).

 

[Bantamzen]

Another successful possession handback on the Bury Line - a shame the replacement buses were nothing short of farcical thanks to roadworks and drivers taking different routes each time I caught one. Serving Queens Road & Abraham Moss (when they actually went that way) was entirely pointless with barely anyone getting the bus to or from those stops on my many trips (there was a tram service there, why would you get the slower bus?). People were instead opting to change at Crumpsall thus avoiding sitting in traffic.

Fingers crossed that there’s a better strategy whenever the next blockade is (am guessing there will be more).

Yep, this weekend in fact:

Trafford Bar works

Trafford Bar works on 1 - 2 November

tfgm.com

From Saturday 1 November, until the end of service on Sunday 2 November, tram improvement works will take place at Trafford Bar.

No tram services will operate between Cornbrook and Sale Water Park/East Didsbury/Old Trafford during this time.

The East Didsbury line will be suspended from the city centre, the Manchester Airport line will terminate at Sale Water Park and the Altrincham line will terminate at Old Trafford.

Other service changes include:

• On both days, Rochdale-bound trams will start from Exchange Square.
• On Saturday only, services operating on the Shaw & Crompton line (peak times only) will commence from Victoria and Trafford Centre services will operate to Crumpsall.
• On Sunday only, Trafford Centre services will run to Etihad Campus.

The following bus replacement services will run on both days to keep customers connected: East Didsbury - Victoria, Sale Water Park - Deansgate-Castlefield and Old Trafford - Piccadilly.

Frequent Bee Network bus services also call at the bus stops near each tram stop. These may provide a faster or cheaper journey option than the replacement bus, depending on your destination.

See here for live bus departure information.

Please note: Tram tickets are only accepted on the replacement bus and will not be accepted on numbered bus services.

Tram services will resume from the start of service on Monday 3 November.

 

[Class 466]

Yep, this weekend in fact:

Trafford Bar works

Trafford Bar works on 1 - 2 November

tfgm.com

I meant blockade on the Bury line rather than weekend engineering works in general

 

[Bantamzen]

I meant blockade on the Bury line rather than weekend engineering works in general

Ah right, sorry I misunderstood.

 

[BlitzFan87]

Tram 3132 came back to service today following repairs

 

[M60lad]

I did use the Tram Replacement bus last Saturday from Bury-Victoria and due to some Tree Felling works controlled by Temporary Traffic Lights on Manchester Road there was extremely heavy traffic causing delays to all bus services including the Tram Replacements in the area in fact I was on 10:49 service from Bury Interchange and it took us about 20mins just to get from Interchange to Gigg Lane and the Replacement Services were meant to be running every 6 mins.

Also not to sure why but there was a Replacement Bus Stop outside Queens Road Bus Depot which I found odd considering Queens Road Tram Stop is further down the road.

 

[markwcel]

Nice to see the Trafford Centre Tram now going to Crumpsall instead of just Deansgate Castlefield. Makes getting in to the city a lot easier

 

[py_megapixel]

Nice to see the Trafford Centre Tram now going to Crumpsall instead of just Deansgate Castlefield. Makes getting in to the city a lot easier

TfGM website still seems to be showing all Trafford Centre trams terminating at Deansgate

 

[M60lad]

It was only running Crunpsall-Trafford Centre due to engineering works over the weekend at Traffordf Bar. Same reason as to why MediaCityUK shuttles and Eccles directs were running throughout the evening on Saturday.

 

[markwcel]

It was only running Crunpsall-Trafford Centre due to engineering works over the weekend at Traffordf Bar. Same reason as to why MediaCityUK shuttles and Eccles directs were running throughout the evening on Saturday.

Aww thats a shame. Thanks for the info tho

 

[kennythelad]

Can anyone clarify how the after 9pm service from Media City UK round the single line curve to Langworthy works, please?. Is it just an Eccles bound tram that reverses at MCUK?. Is the 9pm start from the City centre?,
Thanks for any info

 

[Rail Ranger]

The first direct tram from Media City to Eccles is actually at 20.03 on Monday to Friday and every tram after that until the end of service. Yes the Eccles service goes via and reverses at Media City.

 

[kennythelad]

The first direct tram from Media City to Eccles is actually at 20.03 on Monday to Friday and every tram after that until the end of service. Yes the Eccles service goes via and reverses at Media City.

Brilliant!. Thanks for the prompt reply

 

[507 001]

Can anyone clarify how the after 9pm service from Media City UK round the single line curve to Langworthy works, please?. Is it just an Eccles bound tram that reverses at MCUK?. Is the 9pm start from the City centre?,
Thanks for any info

Both the inbound and outbound services go via media city, not just the Eccles (outbound) services.

 

[Exilem]

I'm not sure this question is on the right thread. I was recently in Manchester and when passing through Old Trafford Metrolink station towards Trafford bar there seemed to be a lot of work happening to remove vegetation on what used to be a 4 track section.
I haven't been able to find anything describing what is planned there. Are they planning to expand old Trafford station? Does anybody on here know?

 

[Rail Ranger]

I've asked elsewhere and the answer was that the clearance of the trackbed of the former slow lines was in connection with some forthcoming engineering work at Cornbrook. For the storage of materials? Incidentally the slow lines between Sale and what is now Trafford Bar were the original 1849 alignment of the Altrincham line before that section was widened to four tracks. This can be seen at Stretford where the former booking office building is over the alignment of the slow lines.

 

[Exilem]

I've asked elsewhere and the answer was that the clearance of the trackbed of the former slow lines was in connection with some forthcoming engineering work at Cornbrook. For the storage of materials? Incidentally the slow lines between Sale and what is now Trafford Bar were the original 1849 alignment of the Altrincham line before that section was widened to four tracks. This can be seen at Stretford where the former booking office building is over the alignment of the slow lines.

Thanks for the answer. Much appreciated.

 

[507 001]

As above it's prep works for forthcoming engineering works.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is there a date set when all the graffiti in the Old Trafford Metrolink approaches that I see when coming in from the Firswood direction will be covered over?