Metrolink blockade and replacement transport

[telstarbox]

This week there are no Metrolink services between Central Park and Rochdale while the line through Oldham town centre is completed.

Replacement buses are operating over the entire closed section as below, but given the long journey times, why did Metrolink not arrange ticket acceptance on Northern between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria for the duration as well as the bus?

A replacement bus service will operate between Rochdale and Central Park. The replacement bus service will match the usual tram service pattern.

Passengers holding a valid Metrolink ticket or pass can also use the 181 bus between 07:00 and 09:00 Monday to Friday for the duration of the work.

We anticipate the following approximate journeys times to Central Park on the replacement bus:

o Rochdale railway station - 1 hour 8 minutes
o Newbold – 58 minutes
o Milnrow – 52 minutes
o Newhey – 48 minutes
o Shaw and Crompton – 42 minutes
o Derker – 34 minutes
o Oldham Mumps – 27 minutes
o Freehold – 21 minutes
o South Chadderton – 18 minutes
o Hollinwood – 13 minutes
o Failsworth – 7 minutes
o Newton Heath and Moston/ Dean Lane – 3 minutes

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

But what about travellers from Shaw and other locations that indeed are quite a distance away from Rochdale ?

 

[rebmcr]

Why did Metrolink not arrange ticket acceptance on Northern between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria for the duration?

End-to-end passengers probably use the train anyway; Metrolink and its replacement buses are more invlolved in serving intermediate destinations.

 

[185]

Agree. The number of people actually travelling Rochdale all the way to Manchester on the tram makes up less than 2% of all other journeys.