Manchester Metrolink (Non speculative discussion)

[507 001]

Plain clothes ticket inspection team in operation on the Manchester Metrolink (Altrincham line) earlier this morning, instead of the more usual 'hi-vis' revenue protection teams. Not seen them out and about before, so maybe a new development?

Been happening for a few years now. Not particularly common mind.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Easter engineering work from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th April (inclusive). No service on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines. It is preparatory work for track replacement. Also there will be re-railing on the Altrincham line during this blockade. Details are here: https://share.google/udyGY9OIhN5vosMez
Also from Monday 30th March until the autumn the service frequency changes to every 15 minutes off-peak/every 7.5 minutes peak while they recruit more drivers.

 

[Park47515]

Easter engineering work from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th April (inclusive). No service on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines. It is preparatory work for track replacement. Also there will be re-railing on the Altrincham line during this blockade. Details are here: https://share.google/udyGY9OIhN5vosMez
Also from Monday 30th March until the autumn the service frequency changes to every 15 minutes off-peak/every 7.5 minutes peak while they recruit more drivers.

What's driving the lack of drivers, that requires such a drastic change? Or is it something like a roster change that simply requires more drivers?

 

[Rail Ranger]

The latter I think. There has been an agreement to reduce drivers' working hours as part of the resolution of a recent industrial dispute. They have said that they will run more doubles from 30th March.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Also from Monday 30th March until the autumn the service frequency changes to every 15 minutes off-peak/every 7.5 minutes peak while they recruit more drivers.

TfGM's press release reports they're also using that time for deep cleaning, maintenance, and some undefinied improvements, and will run more double trams.

This is being done while a significant recruitment drive gets under way to take on and train up new tram drivers, building extra capacity and resilience in the workforce.
During this temporary change, more double trams will run on the network to increase capacity in the busiest areas where it is most needed.
As work is carried out throughout the year, TfGM and Metrolink operator KAM will use this opportunity to deep clean, maintain and make improvements to trams which are not being deployed on the network. This should improve the reliability of our trams, as well as improve the overall passenger experience.

Major programme to boost capacity, reliability and resilience of tram network across Greater Manchester

news.tfgm.com

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will undertake a significant programme of work this year to build the capacity and resilience of its tracks, trams and workforce.

It’s part of a £150m programme of work to maintain, upgrade, and improve tram infrastructure to make sure the Bee Network continues to deliver safe, reliable and accessible services for millions more people into the future.

While this is delivered, there will be some temporary periods of disruption for passengers.

Work will take place from spring at a number of locations – including near Trafford Bar, Deansgate-Castlefield, Monsall, Newton Heath & Moston, Eccles, Derker and Piccadilly Gardens - meaning trams will have to stop on some lines while the work is done.

This year’s programme will continue until autumn, and there will be plenty of notice of each closure to help people plan their journey.

The first major works will take place during the Easter Weekend at Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield. These are preparatory works ahead of full track replacement later in the year and will be carried out over four days from 3 to 6 April. During this closure, rail replacement work will also take place on the Altrincham line.

There will be no trams on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines all weekend. The East Didsbury and Airport lines will run to Firswood only.

From Monday, 30 March until autumn a revised timetable will be introduced across the tram network. There will still be reliable and frequent tram services running every 15 minutes, supported by a peak service running every 7.5 minutes at the busiest times on the most popular lines.

This is being done while a significant recruitment drive gets under way to take on and train up new tram drivers, building extra capacity and resilience in the workforce.

During this temporary change, more double trams will run on the network to increase capacity in the busiest areas where it is most needed.

As work is carried out throughout the year, TfGM and Metrolink operator KAM will use this opportunity to deep clean, maintain and make improvements to trams which are not being deployed on the network. This should improve the reliability of our trams, as well as improve the overall passenger experience.

Up-to-date travel information will be shared on Bee Network channels throughout the work to keep everyone moving.

Ian Davies, Network Director for Metrolink at TfGM, said: “Keeping our network safe, reliable and ready for the future is our absolute priority. This year’s programme is one of the most significant we’ve ever undertaken and will strengthen the whole network—our track, our trams and our workforce.

“Whilst we complete this work, we will introduce a temporary timetable change that will run between spring and autumn. We know that some of this work will mean temporary disruption, and I want to thank passengers for their patience while we get it done. By investing now, we can reduce faults, improve day to day reliability and make sure Metrolink can keep pace with the growing number of people who depend on it every day now and for the future.”

For the latest information on tram improvement works visit our dedicated web page.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Easter engineering work from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th April (inclusive). No service on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines.

Possibly also worth mentioning that over the Easter weekend trams on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines will only operate as far as Firswood, with nothing running into Manchester City Centre beyond there. (Replacement buses beyond Firswood).

 

[Class 466]

The latter I think. There has been an agreement to reduce drivers' working hours as part of the resolution of a recent industrial dispute. They have said that they will run more doubles from 30th March.

As it stands as well, the current timetable is increasingly unreliable with the number of speed restrictions imposed across the network

 

[py_megapixel]

I just hope this doesn't drag out for ages.

In Sheffield we have had exactly the same - tram service interval cut from 12 minutes to 15 minutes because of a shortage of staff. Except I recall we were promised it would only be until "early 2026"... we're now several days into March and still stuck with it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Mar 2026 ==

As it stands as well, the current timetable is increasingly unreliable with the number of speed restrictions imposed across the network

Presumably this track work will at least partially address that?

 

[Russel]

As it stands as well, the current timetable is increasingly unreliable with the number of speed restrictions imposed across the network

What is the reason for this?

Lack of maintenance, no money or time for maintenance or something else?

 

[Jim]

I was quite surprised quite how many speed restrictions there were about the network, covered most lines last week whilst spoons ticking.

I see the grippers still do a mix of station blocks and holding trams at stations to check tickets, effective but delays!

 

[507 001]

I just hope this doesn't drag out for ages.

I think it’s worth noting that the situation here is very different to that at Sheffield.

1) it’s possible to actually increase capacity in specific areas by the use of more doubles (utilising stock freed up by the reduction in sets).
2) it should have the positive and very welcome impact of making the service more reliable, and I don’t just mean through the renewal of the infrastructure. Fewer conflicting moves through the various flat junctions on the system will be a huge help for time keeping.

What is the reason for this?

Aging infrastructure predominantly. Expanding the network as quickly as it did has meant this is almost an inevitable issue as the infrastructure all wears out at the same time.

 

[Tramfan]

https://tfgm.com/plan-a-journey/schedules/tram-schedule

All-day services​

The following services operate all day, from start of service until end of service:

• Altrincham – Etihad Campus
• Bury – Piccadilly
• Ashton-under-Lyne – Eccles via MediaCityUK
• Rochdale Town Centre – East Didsbury via Exchange Square
• Manchester Airport – Victoria via Market Street
• The Trafford Centre – Crumpsall via Exchange Square

From the TFGM tram schedule page, the temporary timetable will see the Trafford Centre service extended through to Crumpsall via Exchange Square. Also confirmation that the Bury - Altrincham directs and Shaw & Crompton peak services will run, however the MediaCityUK - Etihad Campus will not (presume all the Eccles services will be doubles to compensate?)

Part-day services​

Some services only operate for part of the day to meet increased demand at busier times.

Altrincham – Bury via Market Street​

Monday to Friday
7am to 8pm
Every 15 minutes

Saturday
9am to 6.30pm
Every 15 minutes

Outside of these hours, use the Altrincham – Etihad Campus and Bury – Piccadilly services.

East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton via Exchange Square​

Monday to Friday
7am to 8pm
Every 15 minutes

Saturday
9am to 6.30pm
Every 15 minutes

 

[toms]

https://tfgm.com/plan-a-journey/schedules/tram-schedule



From the TFGM tram schedule page, the temporary timetable will see the Trafford Centre service extended through to Crumpsall via Exchange Square. Also confirmation that the Bury - Altrincham directs and Shaw & Crompton peak services will run, however the MediaCityUK - Etihad Campus will not (presume all the Eccles services will be doubles to compensate?)

I assume they will update the route maps to stop confusion seeing as this is in place for 6 months

 

[M60lad]

I wonder after all of these temporary service revisions whether the Crumpsall-Trafford Centre service will end up being permanent considering that's what the Crumpsall Turnback was originally built for.

The reason why its not used as it was originally intended was due to a shortage of drivers to run the full route hence why Trafford Centre route terminates at Deansgate-Castlefield.

 

[507 001]

The reason why its not used as it was originally intended was due to a shortage of drivers to run the full route hence why Trafford Centre route terminates at Deansgate-Castlefield.

That’s not the main reason it wasn’t used, although it certainly didn’t help.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That’s not the main reason it wasn’t used, although it certainly didn’t help.

What was the actual main reason?

 

[507 001]

What was the actual main reason?

Congestion at Victoria.

 

[Russel]

Congestion at Victoria.

Wouldn't this constraint have been known about during the planning stage?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Service currently suspended on the South side into and out of Manchester City Centre. Overhead line fault has been reported.

More here...

Tram Disruption - City Centre

Travel advice to help continue your journey.

tfgm.com

Extract(s)...

Due to an overhead line fault, service changes are in place across the tram network. Services will operate:

Rochdale - Monsall
Altrincham - Old Trafford
East Didsbury - Firswood
Manchester Airport - Firswood
Eccles - MediaCityUK

Ashton - Piccadilly
Bury - Piccadilly
Services on the Trafford Park line and the Altrincham - Bury peak services are temporarily suspended.

Ticket acceptance is in place on all Bee Network bus services.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Services have now resumed.

 

[507 001]

Wouldn't this constraint have been known about during the planning stage?

There are often things that work fine on paper…

Victoria is also suffering from a long standing TSR which really hampers capacity.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Services have now resumed.

Still some (minor) residual issues on the Metrolink. Trams now running to all destinations, but either bunching up, or experiencing extended intervals inbetween. Nothing too serious, mind you.

 

[Rail Ranger]

I'm sure that Metrolink will work better with the basic 15 minute frequency from tomorrow. There will be fewer conflicts at junctions and the Altrincham line will be quicker after the removal of some speed restrictions after Easter. My fear is that a new problem arising from the reduced service could be much worse overcrowding, i.e. what is currently to some extent a Sunday phenomenon could spread to the whole week.

 

[Straus]

15 minute frequency is terrible news for the end user, especially for those looking to go one or two stops, or change form another line when any missed connections compound delay. A chorlton to media city tram could feasibly take nearly an hour if you arrive just as a tram is departing.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Metrolink does of course run to a timetable. You can plan a journey using the journey planner at www.traveline.info. This has the new times.

 

[splashoutradio]

Just compiled some timetables for Metrolink's new 15 minute interval service pattern. And whilst the timetables are only indicative, here's a few (very non-exhaustive) observations...

• It looks like there's the potential for things to get a little bunched-up between Victoria and Crumpsall, with the extention of Trafford Centre services.
• Trams from Eccles take 5 mins longer due to calling at MediaCityUK.
• Stations between Harbour City and Pomona will go from a 6 minute service to a 15 minute service.
• There is an uplift in services for stops between Victoria and Crumpsall which go from having 10 trams per hour to 12 - the same is true for trams running via Exchange Square.

Timetables of interested are on: www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/metrolink

15 minute frequency is terrible news for the end user, especially for those looking to go one or two stops, or change form another line when any missed connections compound delay. A chorlton to media city tram could feasibly take nearly an hour if you arrive just as a tram is departing.

I was wondering if the "single tickets are valid for 2 hours" rule still applied, as there are a number of journeys where this wouldn't be possible with the current timetable, presumably more when the 15 minute frequency commences.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I was wondering if the "single tickets are valid for 2 hours" rule still applied, as there are a number of journeys where this wouldn't be possible with the current timetable, presumably more when the 15 minute frequency commences.

I believe that's still the case; the ticketing info on the TfGM website seems to suggest this.

So, what single journey might take over two hours to complete? Rochdale Town Centre to another "far distant" Metrolink terminus station, such as maybe Manchester Airport?

 

[splashoutradio]

Believe that's still the case; the ticketing info on the TfGM website seems to so suggest. So, what single journey might take over two hours to complete? Rochdale Town Centre to another "far distant" Metrolink terminus station, such as maybe Manchester Airport?

From experience, if you arrive in Cornbrook to see the tailights of your connecting tram in the distance, the next tram missing from the departure boards, and a connection of 24 mins is to be endured (I'm looking at you Trafford Line), Bury to The Trafford Centre is one such journey

However, yes, some (granted, unlikely) journeys from the fringes of the network extremities are scheduled to take over two hours. Adding extra time for if tapping-in or buying a ticket 15 minutes before a tram departs, and a connection mid-journey, the distance that can be travelled in 2 hours can shrink by up to 30 mins.

 

[toms]

Updated Metrolink route map for those who haven’t seen it yet. Not sure if this for website use only or they are updating it on trams and ticket machine as the service change is only in place until autumn.

Main changes on the map is the extension of the red line to crumpsall from deansgate via exchange square, the purple route been extended to Etihad campus all day every day, the removal of the orange MCUK-Etihad peak time service and the addition of walking routes which in my opinion are quite helpful

 

[Bantamzen]

I'm sure that Metrolink will work better with the basic 15 minute frequency from tomorrow. There will be fewer conflicts at junctions and the Altrincham line will be quicker after the removal of some speed restrictions after Easter. My fear is that a new problem arising from the reduced service could be much worse overcrowding, i.e. what is currently to some extent a Sunday phenomenon could spread to the whole week.

Up until recently I worked in Salford Quays, changing at Cornbrook from the Altrincham line. Whenever the frequencies in the peaks were reduced, overcrowding quickly became a problem. There were times when it was almost quicker getting the Trafford Centre service and walking from the War Museum, because services arriving at Cornbrook towards Media City & Eccles were rammed and impossible to board. So whilst it might be operationally easier, delays will still bake in because of a reduced service.

I know more will be doubled-up, but if these start to fall behind they too quickly fill. I'm just glad I now work in central Manchester, and not have to spend goodness how long in the wastelands of Cornbrook hoping for a spot on the next tram in another 15 mins.