MediaCityUK points fail again, its there something wrong with them?

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When IWM opens. won't it make sense to simply close the branch completely?

But remember we are still in 2015. Following the award of the TWA order for this new Trafford Park Metrolink line (still subject to DfT approval), construction of this line should commence in 2016 but completion is not said to be envisaged until 2019/2020.

So there is still a very long time for what you say could be considered and who is to say that a solution to the current problems may not be found in that forward time period.

 

[miami]

I arrived at 11:45 wanting to get the tram to Piccadilly and there was an Eccles tram leaving and the information board said Piccadilly 7 Min, then at 11:52 it was still saying Piccadilly 7 min but quickly changed to Eccles 5 min and Piccadilly 10 min. I found out the tram that I was wanting had been diverted not to call at MediaCityUK. Finally when my tram did arrive the Eccles tram was still in the platform that said for Piccadilly so just as it was pulling in there was an announcement saying to move to the other platform for the Piccadilly tram. I finally left at 12:03 which was quite a bit later.

Had you walked to Harbour City you'd have been able to get the direct train

With an 18 minute wait, then 12 minutes to deansgate and another 10 to Piccadilly - a total of 40 minutes, that's barely faster than walking the 3.3 miles, averaging under 5mph. Ouch.

 

[507 001]

Operationally, it is a huge pain in the backside.

It doesn't like doubles
It doesn't like more than one tram at a time
It slows the journey down
It makes it harder to keep to time
It adds 2 change of ends to every round trip
Your cab heaters never quite get warm enough
It often makes the onboard PIS system play up.

All to save a 500m walk.

 

[miami]

Operationally, it is a huge pain in the backside.

It doesn't like doubles
It doesn't like more than one tram at a time
It slows the journey down
It makes it harder to keep to time
It adds 2 change of ends to every round trip
Your cab heaters never quite get warm enough
It often makes the onboard PIS system play up.

All to save a 500m walk.

420m

 

[thenorthern]

I was at Piccadilly this morning and the information boards told me that Eccles via MediaCityUK was the next train in 3 minuets. In the end it was 10 minuets before I left and a Rochdale tram was given priority but Metrolink don't tell you that until the Rochdale tram is arriving.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I was at Piccadilly this morning and the information boards told me that Eccles via MediaCityUK was the next train in 3 minuets. In the end it was 10 minuets before I left and a Rochdale tram was given priority but Metrolink don't tell you that until the Rochdale tram is arriving.

10 minuets....time for a couple of gavottes also...

 

[edwin_m]

10 minuets....time for a couple of gavottes also...

Probably quite a good description of the route the Eccles via MediaCity trams take...

 

[thenorthern]

The Eccles line was a mess this morning I think that the line into Piccadilly was closed this morning for a time.

The Eccles line was severely disrupted this afternoon as well, there was a broken down tram on the Eccles Line in the Weaste area which meant that nothing could get beyond MediaCityUK and there were a lot of unhappy passengers.

 

[nidave]

The Eccles line was a mess this morning I think that the line into Piccadilly was closed this morning for a time.

The Eccles line was severely disrupted this afternoon as well, there was a broken down tram on the Eccles Line in the Weaste area which meant that nothing could get beyond MediaCityUK and there were a lot of unhappy passengers.

To be fair, thats not something which happens often any more - Ahhh for the Days of the T68/a's breaking down in the Manchester sun due to overheating.

 

[507 001]

To be fair, thats not something which happens often any more - Ahhh for the Days of the T68/a's breaking down in the Manchester sun due to overheating.

Give me a T68/68a any day!

 

[Bungle965]

Just heard over the radio this morning again that the points at Media City have yet again failed!
Sam

 

[Altfish]

I'm pretty sure that the MediaCityUK tram stop was part of the deal that brought the BBC etc. to that area. So it would be difficult to close the branch.

 

[Camden]

Not really. They're there now, hardly likely to move. Five minute walk to the nearest tram stop once it's torn out.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not really. They're there now, hardly likely to move. Five minute walk to the nearest tram stop once it's torn out.

Five minutes walk....Remember we are talking of BBC staff here....

 

[northwichcat]

Not really. They're there now, hardly likely to move. Five minute walk to the nearest tram stop once it's torn out.

But dock10 have to be able to rent out studio space to 3rd parties who make TV programs for BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. One factor 3rd parties will have to consider is getting a studio audience to/from the studios and many of the people who come might not be familiar with the local area.

From the MediaCity tram stop you can see a building with a big sign saying "The Studios" - perfect. From Broadway stop the Studios are a 0.5 mile walk and the building right in front of you says "Pie Factory" - not so good.

 

[WatcherZero]

Pie Factory is actually three sound stages for television recording, any media types would probably know that.

 

[Camden]

But dock10 have to be able to rent out studio space to 3rd parties who make TV programs for BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. One factor 3rd parties will have to consider is getting a studio audience to/from the studios and many of the people who come might not be familiar with the local area.

From the MediaCity tram stop you can see a building with a big sign saying "The Studios" - perfect. From Broadway stop the Studios are a 0.5 mile walk and the building right in front of you says "Pie Factory" - not so good.

That doesn't sound at all insurmountable. Large numbers of people get to and from various places with no bother whatsoever.

Bearing in mind I have been to the grim forsaken place that is media city. I have alighted the tram at Broadway. You and I have a different idea of 0.5 miles. Instead of spending money on points, they could adjust the accessibility of this stop to bring it even closer.

 

[northwichcat]

Bearing in mind I have been to the grim forsaken place that is media city. I have alighted the tram at Broadway. You and I have a different idea of 0.5 miles. Instead of spending money on points, they could adjust the accessibility of this stop to bring it even closer.

Google Maps says it's 0.5 miles from Broadway tram stop to the entrance of The Studios at MediaCity.

You seem to be implying MediaCity has one entrance to everything not that it's a variety of different buildings each with different entrances - you can easily walk 0.25 miles from one building within MediaCity to another.

 

[miami]

Google Maps says it's 0.5 miles from Broadway tram stop to the entrance of The Studios at MediaCity.

By the road perhaps. It's 0.34 miles, or 550m, walking along existing paths - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6765569

You seem to be implying MediaCity has one entrance to everything not that it's a variety of different buildings each with different entrances - you can easily walk 0.25 miles from one building within MediaCity to another.

It's 0.2703 miles from the entrance end of the mediacity platform to the end of the eastbound Harbour City platform (435m)

It's 0.3528 miles for the westbound platform (567m) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6765566

This FOI request https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/metrolink_station_distances

States Mediacity-Harbourcity at 469m, Mediacity-Broadway at 420m, Harbourcity-Mediacity at 590m and Mediacity-Broadway at 452m

Well under 0.5 miles (805m) in all casees

As for distances in mediacity, you're right it can be a long way. The furthest is probably Wagamamma to the multistory car park at 250m-330m depending where in the car park, but that's still under 1/4 mile (400m).

 

[Camden]

And heaven forbid anyone should ever have to walk 0.25 miles anyway!!!

I mean why not go the whole hog and have porters with wheelbarrows carry the poor lumps and their aching limbs from tram to entrance too.

Heaven knows how they managed to make it on to the tram in the first place, if such a short distance is such an issue.

 

[Mikey C]

But dock10 have to be able to rent out studio space to 3rd parties who make TV programs for BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. One factor 3rd parties will have to consider is getting a studio audience to/from the studios and many of the people who come might not be familiar with the local area.

From the MediaCity tram stop you can see a building with a big sign saying "The Studios" - perfect. From Broadway stop the Studios are a 0.5 mile walk and the building right in front of you says "Pie Factory" - not so good.

I can see the Question of Sport audience being distracted by the prospect of pies and wandering off!

Not that I'm stereotyping people from the North West of course

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Would we be having this situation as a topic for discussion if the problem was affecting any large broadcaster in London?

 

[Camden]

London alters its transport network all the time to be appropriate to need. There are abandoned Tube stations all over the show that just didn't work out.

I don't get the media city tram stop, it seems OTT given the nature of it and how close the other stop is. And surely it must cheese people off who are going to places like Eccles? If it's giving constant problems, why not just take the opportunity to bin it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

London alters its transport network all the time to be appropriate to need. There are abandoned Tube stations all over the show that just didn't work out.

I don't get the media city tram stop, it seems OTT given the nature of it and how close the other stop is. And surely it must cheese people off who are going to places like Eccles? If it's giving constant problems, why not just take the opportunity to bin it.

I really think you have to look at how prestigious TfGM view this particular stop and the name they chose to bestow upon it, notwithstanding the financial cost of a double track terminal to serve the area around.

Why not put your views to TfGM and report back to us on this thread with their reply.

 

[Camden]

I really think you have to look at how prestigious TfGM view this particular stop and the name they chose to bestow upon it, notwithstanding the financial cost of a double track terminal to serve the area around.

Really just underlines why this stop might be wrong. Prestige for a PTE doesn't make something good. They could always rename Broadway once it's closed!! Perhaps even soften people up before hand by having media city, and media city broadway... let the passenger traffic fragment then announce the closure of the stub.

Why not put your views to TfGM and report back to us on this thread with their reply.

Hmmm! Dare I?!!

Joking aside, I think it would be a wasted effort and end up in the round filing cabinet under the desk, so I don't think I'll bother. If they come to the conclusion at all it will only be of their own making I'm sure.

 

[keith1879]

"Joking aside, I think it would be a wasted effort and end up in the round filing cabinet under the desk, so I don't think I'll bother. If they come to the conclusion at all it will only be of their own making I'm sure. "

Is it any more wasteful than expressing your views here where you know they will make no difference at all . It would be interesting to see their response at least.

 

[Camden]

It's enough taking "feedback" from people on here, let alone those officially qualified to dole it out thanks!!!

 

[Altfish]

London alters its transport network all the time to be appropriate to need. There are abandoned Tube stations all over the show that just didn't work out.

I don't get the media city tram stop, it seems OTT given the nature of it and how close the other stop is. And surely it must cheese people off who are going to places like Eccles? If it's giving constant problems, why not just take the opportunity to bin it.

MedaCityUK branch and tram stop was part of the deal to bring the BBC to Salford Quays. No tram stop, no BBC. A no brainer really.

 

[northwichcat]

I can see the Question of Sport audience being distracted by the prospect of pies and wandering off!

Not that I'm stereotyping people from the North West of course

Don't forget people from Yorkshire come across - to be in studio audience, not to eat the pies made within the traditional Lancashire boundary.

 

[WatcherZero]

MedaCityUK branch and tram stop was part of the deal to bring the BBC to Salford Quays. No tram stop, no BBC. A no brainer really.

They weren't, was already planned for Lowry in a slightly different platform location, they just reoriented it from facing the Lowry to facing Media City after Peel offered to contribute nearly £10m towards its cost by providing the funding for the purchase of the 4 trams required to operate a service as far as Cornbrook. Salford Council paid for the infrastructure (tram stop and track) another £10m they were already going to contribute towards a Lowry stop.