Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[Tim33160]

Seems this is a powered chair - not just a wheelchair?

https://tfgm.com/accessibility/guides/wheelchairs-and-mobility-scooters refers

Mobility scooter users must have a mobility scooter permit to take their scooter on a tram.
To take a mobility scooter on to Metrolink trams you must:

• have proof of your disability, such as a National Concessionary Travel pass, Concession Plus pass, TfGM travel vouchers; or a blue badge for the car; and
• have a valid permit which shows your scooter is within the size limit and that you can use it competently.
• Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme Terms and Conditions – Customer Declaration

For the latest information and permit testing appointment bookings, please contact TfGM on 0161 244 1000.
Find out more on the Manchester City Council Website

 

[billh]

Seems this is a powered chair - not just a wheelchair?

Yes , a powered wheelchair, definitely NOT a mobility scooter and not the same rules as a scooter. It has the same footprint as an unpowered chair. I can see no reason for the limited height restriction , can you?

 

[redgate]

It could be due to how high the backrests in (some of the wheelchair) bays are. I had no idea there was height limit though. Use the network very regularly with a child who uses wheelchair and can confirm it’s pretty accessible. But if there are lifts involved at the stops then it’s worth having the ‘lifts/escalators out of service’ webpage bookmarked. Queens Rd is very broken indeed and DCF is out of service more than it is in (but you can go via the train station)

 

[toms]

I see at Radcliffe that vinyl stickers have been placed over station signage, same as the old signage which I guess the bee network brand won’t be applied to metrolink any time soon

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Pomona I noticed still has an old style sign above the stairs in blue and grey!

 

[duffield]

I'm planning to travel from Piccadilly to Bury by tram on Friday morning, how's the service at present? It seems to be running about every 12 minutes today, is it quite reliable at present? There's nothing shown for October 11th on the website engineering works page, but isn't one of the cross city lines still closed or something, or is it all normal now?

 

[Tim33160]

I'm planning to travel from Piccadilly to Bury by tram on Friday morning, how's the service at present? It seems to be running about every 12 minutes today, is it quite reliable at present? There's nothing shown for October 11th on the website engineering works page, but isn't one of the cross city lines still closed or something, or is it all normal now?

All lines are running again across the network - any weekend engineering work is listed at https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works - the next one listed is "no trams before 0900 on Sunday 20th Oct" due to software update - and no replacement buses either! Also on that date: trams Bury - Crumpsall replaced by buses all day (after 0900)

Double trams usually run on the Piccadilly - Bury line every 12 mins - with additional 0700-1900 Altrincham - Victoria - Bury single tram every 12 mins (not necessarily is that a tram every 6mins!)

Enjoy!

 

[duffield]

All lines are running again across the network - any weekend engineering work is listed at https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works - the next one listed is "no trams before 0900 on Sunday 20th Oct" due to software update - and no replacement buses either! Also on that date: trams Bury - Crumpsall replaced by buses all day (after 0900)

Double trams usually run on the Piccadilly - Bury line every 12 mins - with additional 0700-1900 Altrincham - Victoria - Bury single tram every 12 mins (not necessarily is that a tram every 6mins!)

Enjoy!

Thanks, I'm heading for the East Lancs Railway autumn steam gala (at Bury Bolton Street station) on Friday, the real ale train leaves at 1030 and I don't want to miss it.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Cornbrook closures last weekend were an absolute nightmare. Hoping that's not due again for a long while.

 

[duffield]

Trams were running pretty well on Friday, but I noticed again (after a previous trip a few weeks ago) that the Piccadilly to Victoria route seems to have a lot of very slow and also quite bumpy sections. Is some significant track work happening soon or overdue, or is this just how it is?

Apologies if this information is buried somewhere in this 25 page thread already!

 

[Bungle965]

Is some significant track work happening soon or overdue, or is this just how it is?

Hasn't it just happened?

 

[duffield]

Hasn't it just happened?

I thought the recent works were emergency repairs rather than full scale track renewals, but I could easily be mistaken.

 

[507 001]

There’s just been two sets of points replaced at the delta junction, as well as rail replacement at Shudehill and on High street.

Theres still a couple of TSRs over the delta junction, but these are only affecting the Piccadilly spur/Ashton line.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Might I ask if the 3001-3060 trams on non ATS routes stick to the same diagrams each day, to allow for ease of allocation? For example, say the 10:05 from East Didsbury to Rochdale was one, would that service be one the next day too? Or do they just do a special allocation of units for Altrinchams and then add whatever's left of 3001-3060 to a common pool for the other routes?

Come to think of it, while most non ATS lines see them now and then, usually Rochdale/Shaw - East Didsbury and MediaCity - Etihad (I know that requires them for interworking with Altrincham later), but they do also work Airport and Eccles too: I don't think I have ever seen one work a Trafford Centre service.

 

[507 001]

Might I ask if the 3001-3060 trams on non ATS routes stick to the same diagrams each day, to allow for ease of allocation? For example, say the 10:05 from East Didsbury to Rochdale was one, would that service be one the next day too? Or do they just do a special allocation of units for Altrinchams and then add whatever's left of 3001-3060 to a common pool for the other routes?

Come to think of it, while most non ATS lines see them now and then, usually Rochdale/Shaw - East Didsbury and MediaCity - Etihad (I know that requires them for interworking with Altrincham later), but they do also work Airport and Eccles too: I don't think I have ever seen one work a Trafford Centre service.

Only the Altrincham sets and sets 41 and 42 on MEC-SPC sets are absolutely allocated ATS vehicles.

The rest is just pot luck as to what turns up.

 

[Tim33160]

BeeNetwork (@bee Network) posted: You said
You said you wanted improved tram reliability on the Rochdale line.

We did
From November 11th, we are adding trams to increase reliability on the Rochdale and Didsbury lines.

We're using your feedback to make the #BeeNetwork better. https://x.com/beenetwork/status/1854826198875943131

Presume this is just adding trams into the existing frequencies - not changing / adding to the frequencies

 

[TheSmiths82]

BeeNetwork (@bee Network) posted: You said
You said you wanted improved tram reliability on the Rochdale line.

We did
From November 11th, we are adding trams to increase reliability on the Rochdale and Didsbury lines.

We're using your feedback to make the #BeeNetwork better. https://x.com/beenetwork/status/1854826198875943131

Presume this is just adding trams into the existing frequencies - not changing / adding to the frequencies

From another forum it seems that they are increasing the amount of trams on that line while increasing the run time, so they have more time to make up for loss any lost time when at the terminus. I am not sure where they are getting the extra trams from though or have many extra they are intending to run. I use the south Manchester section of this line all the time, and in the day the frequency is fine but on Sundays they are every 15 minutes and they all need to be double sets and not the singles that seem to be running.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I am not sure where they are getting the extra trams from though or have many extra they are intending to run.

I use the south Manchester section of this line all the time, and in the day the frequency is fine but on Sundays they are every 15 minutes and they all need to be double sets and not the singles that seem to be running.

You may have answered your own question there!

 

[507 001]

Yes, it’s an increase in run time rather than an increase in frequency. It’s also not necessarily an increase in turnaround time. The idea is to try and prevent delays from occurring in the first place, not to use turnaround time to recover from delays.

 

[splashoutradio]

Following some tweaking of timings on the East Didsbury line, the TfGM website suggests they're moving on to the Airport line.

"We have listened to customer feedback and from Monday 25 November 2024, we will adjust the timings of the double trams on the Airport line to make sure they are where customers need them the most. These timing changes will be in place until further notice."

It's unclear whether this is a timetable change or just the times that double trams are out and about.

 

[Tim33160]

Unannounced service changes on Metrolink:

Saturday and Tuesday 26th, the MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus service is withdrawn due to both MCFC and a COOP event.
The Altrincham to Piccadilly will extend to Etihad Campus from the start of service and all Ashton to Eccles service will operate via MediaCityUK (both services will be operated by double trams) This is not a permanent change.
Thus Media City - Etihad is reduced from every 6 mins to every 12 mins throughout the day

This follows the unannounced change from 11 November: new timetable came into effect (no changes to service patterns) this was to add extra sets and increase the run times onto the Rochdale to Didsbury service.
This has resulted in other times changing across the network - particularly around the time of first tram of the day, on which the whole daily frequencies are built

 

[Tim33160]

Christmas and New Year services on Metrolink:

Between Christmas and New Year, trams running every 15 minutes no extra peak routes running (so a SuPH pattern) with early starts and finishing around midnight. Extra trams for football days. (usual weekday service is ev12mins with additional peak journeys)
Fireworks on NYE mean no service through St Peters Sq in the evening.
https://www.tfgm.com/winter-travel/christmas-operating-times

Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve - Services will start at 6am but will end earlier than usual, with last trams arriving at terminus stops around 9pm. Please check the journey planner for last tram times before travelling.

Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day - No tram service.

Thursday 26 to Wednesday 1 January - Trams will operate on the following services:

• Altrincham – Etihad Campus
• Bury – Piccadilly
• East Didsbury – Rochdale Town Centre (via Exchange Square)
• Ashton-under-Lyne – Eccles (via MediaCityUK)
• Manchester Airport – Victoria
• The Trafford Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield

The Altrincham – Bury, East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton, or MediaCityUK – Etihad Campus peak services will not operate.

Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day - Services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight.

Manchester Piccadilly rail station will be closed on this day. Use the Fairfield Street entrance to access Piccadilly Metrolink stop.

Friday 27 and Saturday 28 December - Services will start at 6am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. After midnight services will operate at least every 30 minutes until around 1am.

Sunday 29 December - Services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight.

Monday 30 December - Services will start at 6am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight. Additional trams will operate between Altrincham – Crumpsall for the Manchester United match.

Tuesday 31 December, New Year's Eve - To allow for the City Council’s fireworks display at St Peter’s Square, an amended service pattern will start at 6am and run every 12 minutes until around 1am. Trams will operate on the following services:

• Bury - Ashton-under-Lyne (all day)
• Altrincham - Etihad Campus (until 8pm)/Deansgate-Castlefield (after 8pm)
• Eccles - Cornbrook (until 8pm)/Deansgate-Castlefield (after 8pm)
• Rochdale - East Didsbury (until 8pm)
• Rochdale - Victoria and East Didsbury - Cornbrook (after 8pm)
• Manchester Airport - Victoria (until 8pm)/Cornbrook (after 8pm)
• The Trafford Centre - Deansgate-Castlefield (until 8pm, no service after 8pm)

Please check the journey planner for last tram times before travelling.

Wednesday 1 January, New Year's Day - Services will start at 7am and operate every 15 minutes until midnight.

Thursday 2 January - Normal service resumes. Please check the journey planner at beenetwork.com before travelling.

https://www.tfgm.com/winter-travel/christmas-operating-times

 

[Accura]

Is there any news on when the Trafford Centre service is due to be extended to Crumpsall? Apologies if I've missed any earlier posts on this.

 

[toms]

Is there any news on when the Trafford Centre service is due to be extended to Crumpsall? Apologies if I've missed any earlier posts on this.

I think the answer your looking for is keep dreaming

 

[507 001]

It’s been deferred until further notice. No idea why exactly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It’s been deferred until further notice. No idea why exactly.

Any idea how much it cost to do all the required tasks that were needed to add that new third platform and associated track and signalling at Crumpsall?

 

[M60lad]

Last I heard it was due to continued shortage of available drivers why the Trafford service hasn't been extended to Crumpsall.

As for Crumpsall turnback you would be surprised how often it does get used, it gets used often to turn back late running services instead of them clogging up Victoria.

 

[507 001]

Any idea how much it cost to do all the required tasks that were needed to add that new third platform and associated track and signalling at Crumpsall?

That would have been built whether the plan was to go to Crumpsall or not. It was part of the MCIP works (Metrolink Capacity ImProvement) rather than the TPL works.

Last I heard it was due to continued shortage of available drivers why the Trafford service hasn't been extended to Crumpsall.

I don’t believe that is the issue at this point.

 

[py_megapixel]

Worth noting that even without the Trafford Park service the Crumpsall turnback has been useful - it provides a convenient place to send services from one end of the Ashton-Eccles route when the full thing can't run for whatever reason. Ashton-Crumpsall has definitely run in the past, because of a points fault that meant trams couldn't turn left from Piccadilly Gardens onto Moseley Street. Not sure if Eccles-Crumpsall or MCUK-Crumpsall has actually run in practice but in principle they certainly could.

 

[Accura]

Last I heard it was due to continued shortage of available drivers why the Trafford service hasn't been extended to Crumpsall.

As for Crumpsall turnback you would be surprised how often it does get used, it gets used often to turn back late running services instead of them clogging up Victoria.

Agreed. As a Bury line user I've been on a few trams which terminated in the third platform during disruption (the most recent being in the evening last Thursday) and you can see how it's a very handy facility for the Met, even without the TPL service running into it. During the Shudehill works earlier this year, it worked really well as the terminus for the Piccadilly-Crumpsall shuttle, while all the through services were running to Altrincham - providing a nice temporary capacity boost on the Bury line.