Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[edwin_m]

Can someone with the knowledge let me know in what year was the Metrolink onwards extension through the current Manchester Airport tram stop first made mention of in an official statement. I am not as well as hoped for at this moment in time and becoming a tad confused when I try to source matters myself.

The loop round from the airport via Wythenshawe Hospital was part of the original proposal for the Airport route (sorry I can't give a date but probably 1990s). It was later deferred, probably as an economy measure.

 

[507 001]

I guess that means no Trafford Centre - Crumpsall extension anytime soon

That is out of the question at the moment for various reasons.

 

[BlitzFan87]

Is Tram 3005 still out of service? Any chance of it being repaired?

the repairs are almost complete

 

[Class 466]

I guess that means no Trafford Centre - Crumpsall extension anytime soon

Logically that should be a lower priority given the peak crowding issues on the Bury Line way before Crumpsall

 

[AndyD4]

the repairs are almost complete

It’s in the shed at Trafford. It’ll be back at some point but god knows when. It’s little more than a body shell at the moment.

Thank you both for your help. I will have to be patient to get 3005, but on the bright side other one I required, (3027) came back in service this year. So I need a trip out to Manchester.

 

[507 001]

the repairs are almost complete

I double checked this last night. It certainly doesn’t look like it…

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I had to make an afternoon visit to Bury and on the way back to Victoria, tickets were checked on three different occasions, near Whitefield, near Heaton Park and near Crumpsall in the mid-afternoon by three different sets of Metrolink staff. Twice is the most I have experienced in the past on a single journey.

 

[Paul AC]

The loop round from the airport via Wythenshawe Hospital was part of the original proposal for the Airport route (sorry I can't give a date but probably 1990s). It was later deferred, probably as an economy measure.

I've found my copy of an official 36-page GMPTE publication "Metrolink South Manchester and Airport Line Proposal" which dates from early/mid 1993 - it doesn't actually have a publication date but it refers to public consultations in May - July 1993, and a set of exhibition dates in June and July (but with no year specified). This only proposes the line from Trafford Bar to Hough End (nowadays St Werburgh's Road) and on to Roundthorn (so far, as actually built) then via stops at Newall Green, Davenport Green, Airport Terminal 2 and finally Airport Terminal 1. It does not show the line that was actually built via Wythenshawe Town Centre, not does it show Hough End to East Didsbury.

I have to say that if I'd answered without finding this document, I would have said that it was always planned to run in a balloon loop from Roundthorn via Davenport Green, Airport and Wythenshawe.

The Airport Line document contains a diagram entitled "Metrolink 2000" which shows this Airport line, the lines pretty much as eventually built to Broadway (but not to Eccles), to Dumplington (now Trafford Centre), to Oldham via the town centre and on to Rochdale Town Centre; and to Ashton. I have another document which covers the proposed Ashton line in a similar manner to the Airport line document.

 

[edwin_m]

I have a Platform 5 publication "Light Rail Review 7" with a report on the Public Enquiry starting in June 1995. This was proposing the "balloon loop" via Wythenshawe Hospital.

 

[Tim33160]

Following long term engineering work between Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station severing the Ashton line from the rest of the Metrolink tram network (from Tue 03 Jun, 4:00am - Mon 11 Aug, 1:00am)

Planned arrangements were made for defective / maintenance trams, to allow trams to connect to the main network through the track works, every three weeks during the closure.

Looks like the Ashton Metrolink branch line lost another tram on Thursday 7th afternoon
Until last tram on Sunday 10th, there are now only 5 operational trams on the Ashton line which needs 6 to maintain the 12 min frequency. and thus a gap in service of 24mins with ticket acceptance on local buses.
No Etihad - Piccadilly extras appear to have been working when events are on at Co-op Live arena

Ashton Line - Minor Delay​

Fri 08 Aug, 5:00am - Sun 10 Aug, 11:59pm
Due to an earlier tram fault, we are experiencing a minor delay to some services on the Ashton line. Metrolink tickets are being accepted on the 7, 53, 76, 76A, 171, 172, 216, 219, 220, 221, 230 & 231 Bus services.
Some passengers may experience and additional wait for a service, we apologise for any inconvenience caused to your journey.

The Ashton line is linked back up to the Network from first tram on Monday 11th - as is the Trafford Centre line which is curtailed at Wharfside this week

Meanwhile on the Altrincham trams dropped the Network Rail operated Timperley - Altrincham section from around 1830 for 3 hrs on Friday evening:

Due to a signalling fault on the Altrincham line, there is currently no tram service between Timperely - Altrincham.
Tram ticket acceptance is in place on the following local bus services: 15, 23, 25, 245,248, 249, 250, 255, 256, 263, 281, 285, 286, 370, 371.

Looks like a good list of buses taking tickets: but only 249 263 285 286 run anywhere near Timperley tram stop on an evening with 285 286 only every 2hrs!

 

[RikGarner]

I took a tram from Victoria to Piccadilly this evening and the ride from Piccadilly Gardens to the undercroft was noticeably smoother and quieter than before.

 

[507 001]

I took a tram from Victoria to Piccadilly this evening and the ride from Piccadilly Gardens to the undercroft was noticeably smoother and quieter than before.

I would hope so! It’s a substantial amount of new track that’s been put in.

 

[BeijingDave]

Work to start on SIX new Metrolink lines to every corner of Greater Manchester

But the projects will take a decade to come to fruition if everything goes to plan

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Work to start on SIX new Metrolink lines covering every corner of Greater Manchester - and even Cheshire​

 

[daodao]

Work to start on SIX new Metrolink lines to every corner of Greater Manchester

But the projects will take a decade to come to fruition if everything goes to plan

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Work to start on SIX new Metrolink lines covering every corner of Greater Manchester - and even Cheshire​

It is disappointing to note that the article makes no mention of converting the ex-GCR heavy rail lines in SE Manchester to Metrolink, even though these formed part of the original proposals in the 1980s. Conversion of the line from Piccadilly via Reddish to Marple Rose Hill to Metrolink would be simpler and more beneficial than any additional Metrolink routes serving Altrincham.

 

[Jamesrob637]

It is disappointing to note that the article makes no mention of converting the ex-GCR heavy rail lines in SE Manchester to Metrolink, even though these formed part of the original proposals in the 1980s. Conversion of the line from Piccadilly via Reddish to Marple Rose Hill to Metrolink would be simpler and more beneficial than any additional Metrolink routes serving Altrincham.

Trams crossing Reddish Vale Viaduct would look incongruous!

 

[Burton Road]

It is disappointing to note that the article makes no mention of converting the ex-GCR heavy rail lines in SE Manchester to Metrolink, even though these formed part of the original proposals in the 1980s. Conversion of the line from Piccadilly via Reddish to Marple Rose Hill to Metrolink would be simpler and more beneficial than any additional Metrolink routes serving Altrincham.

The report the article quotes makes reference to these routes, but they can't go forward until whatever is or isn't happening with HS2/NPR etc. is decided and designed, as any significant surface project east of Piccadilly will be disruptive to them. I would imagine that should a realistic plan ever emerge there, that TfGM might develop these further pretty quickly, but that doesn't appear to be worthwhile yet.

 

[sprunt]

Does anyone have experience of using the tram after an event at Co-op live? I'm going there in December - but always fun to plan early - and I was wondering whether I'd be likely to get away significantly quicker by using a park and ride and heading back on an Ashton bound tram than waiting to get on one heading back to town.

 

[TheSmiths82]

There is an official walking route which isn't too bad, takes around 30-40 minutes depending on which part of the city centre you're heading to, although I got a bit lost last time and ended up going the long way round the Piccadilly Station (I was heading there for the toilet, before going onto another bar). Getting the tram to the venue has been fine on both times, but I have never attempted to get the tram back.

 

[507 001]

Does anyone have experience of using the tram after an event at Co-op live? I'm going there in December - but always fun to plan early - and I was wondering whether I'd be likely to get away significantly quicker by using a park and ride and heading back on an Ashton bound tram than waiting to get on one heading back to town.

I usually park at Ladywell and jump on the tram. Done it a few times now. Getting there is nice and easy. Coming back, the queues never seem to be horrific, but then being staff I get to jump them...

 

[kennythelad]

Afternoon, does anyone know the tram number that’s currently in a dark pink livery, please?. It was on Queens Road depot this afternoon. Thanks for any info.

 

[507 001]

Afternoon, does anyone know the tram number that’s currently in a dark pink livery, please?. It was on Queens Road depot this afternoon. Thanks for any info.

3091.

 

[kennythelad]

3091.

Thanks very much

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Afternoon, does anyone know the tram number that’s currently in a dark pink livery, please?. It was on Queens Road depot this afternoon. Thanks for any info.

Is this the unit with the pink 'This is Prosecco' advertising vinyls on its mid-section? (Cab ends however still predominantly yellow).

 

[Tramfan]

Is this the unit with the pink 'This is Prosecco' advertising vinyls on its mid-section? (Cab ends however still predominantly yellow).

Yes that's tbe one

 

[kennythelad]

Is this the unit with the pink 'This is Prosecco' advertising vinyls on its mid-section? (Cab ends however still predominantly yellow).

Yes, that’s the one. I found a pic of it on Tramsonline

 

[Class 466]

Does anyone know the status of 3005? It's one of 4 I haven't travelled on but is the only one that's not even been in any of the doubles I've been on either in the past 3 years (Yes, I only count the one I've actually sat/stood onboard)

 

[Tramfan]

Does anyone know the status of 3005? It's one of 4 I haven't travelled on but is the only one that's not even been in any of the doubles I've been on either in the past 3 years (Yes, I only count the one I've actually sat/stood onboard)

Been out of service since February 2020 I believe.

 

[507 001]

It is a long term stopper. It's been the Trafford Depot christmas tree for some time. I'm not sure if there is a plan to return it to service at present, although I believe the original issue that saw it stopped has been repaired.

 

[Class 466]

It is a long term stopper. It's been the Trafford Depot christmas tree for some time. I'm not sure if there is a plan to return it to service at present, although I believe the original issue that saw it stopped has been repaired.

Ahh thanks for the clarification on that.

One other thing that somewhat confuses me is the Bury - Piccadilly formations on a Sunday. Monday to Saturday it runs at a 12 min frequency entirely with Doubles, Sundays it’s every 15 mins with a mixture of Singles & Doubles - is it that there isn’t the perceived demand (there is) for them all to be doubles on Sundays or is there another reason why?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What are the longest tunnels on the Manchester Metrolink tram system? Guess that Heaton Park Tunnel must be the longest (at 713 yds?) but there must be several others longer than 100 yds. Anyone got a complete list of the longer tunnels/underpasses?