Metrolink passengers are advised that, subject to overnight testing, services through the Victoria stop will recommence tomorrow morning (Wednesday).
Network Rail is now expected to complete its engineering work during the night, at which point an essential and thorough safety inspection and operational testing process will begin.
That process will take several hours to complete and is crucial for the operator, MRDL, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to allow trams to carry passengers through the Victoria stop.
As a result, passengers are still advised to check the Metrolink website –
www.metrolink.co.uk – and official Twitter feed, @MCRMetrolink, for the latest service information before travelling.
When the line reopens, trams will be running on a new, permanent track alignment, installed as part of the Victoria stop’s transformation and suitable for many years to come.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We have been working 24 hours a day to fix the problem at Manchester Victoria. Work is progressing to plan, and we hope that tram services will be resumed in the morning.
“We apologise to Metrolink passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by the late completion of the work. This does not meet the high standards we are committed to delivering, and we are carrying out a full investigation into the causes behind this.”
TfGM’s Metrolink Director Peter Cushing said: “This has been an incredibly trying week for passengers, who have had to suffer a great deal of disruption caused by this overrun.
“While I am pleased that we are now in a strong position to get services back to normal for passengers tomorrow morning, I am nevertheless very disappointed that they were put in this position in the first place.
“On behalf of everyone involved, I would like to apologise to them and assure them that lessons will be learned.”
Victoria Phases by Manchester_77, on Flickr