Metrolink: Where should it go next?

[Bletchleyite]

Metrolink regards 5tph as a "turn up and go" service and refuses to publish public timetables. It is possible to use a journey planner to check the working timetable for your local stop, but few users bother. People just turn up at random - on average you only wait 6 minutes.

Only because journey planners are a faff. If the stops had a "Trams to Manchester are at 00, 12, 24, 36 and 48 minutes past each hour" sign (as Merseyrail stations traditionally did and may still do[1]), people would remember it.

Go to a Merseyrail station and watch what happens - people don't turn up randomly.

[1] Though the Takt has been stuffed up on the Southport and Chester lines, for which Abellio need a very firm kick indeed.

 

[bramling]

I have no experience of the Rose Hill line, however having travelled on the Glossop line a few times, it's certainly not one that has ever struck me as feeling run down. It has a decent, fast electric service with plenty of carriages.

Glossop line service is pretty good IMO - a regular service with extras at peak times, decent trains and a respectable if not superb journey time. As things stand it’s crew operated, which isn’t a bad thing given the line seems to have a bit of a reputation for being troublesome at times.

I’d certainly be happy if it was my local line, having said that the trains can be very quiet at off-peak times, which perhaps tells us something.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Glossop line service is pretty good IMO - a regular service with extras at peak times, decent trains and a respectable if not superb journey time. As things stand it’s crew operated, which isn’t a bad thing given the line seems to have a bit of a reputation for being troublesome at times.

I’d certainly be happy if it was my local line, having said that the trains can be very quiet at off-peak times, which perhaps tells us something.

Yeah, that line would to me seem a good model for a "Manchester S-Bahn" type thing, though it would be nice if more people could be convinced to use it so the frequency could increase to Merseyrail levels. (It was increased to 3tph at one point but dropped back due to lack of use).

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/edthowe manc tram train 204.png

Could this be the future Metrolink map?

 

[Chester1]

One idea I have had for Stockport is segregating two lines on the WCML from Stockport to just south of Slade Lane for tram train use (60mph). This could allow Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel to be removed from the Heavy Rail network so all trains run express between Stockport and Piccadilly. Reducing the mainline to two tracks between Slade Lane and Stockport and reducing the station to 4 platforms (0 to 3) would obviously reduce capacity but some Northern services could be switched to compensate. I was thinking tram trains of 5tph Alderley Edge, 5tph Hazel Grove and 5tph Altrincham (with new intermediate stops). Other services could be added that make use of street running e.g. through Stockport. Obviously it would need a tram line from Slade Lane to Piccadilly and probably two extra Metrolink platforms. Apart from Marple and Glossop, the existing tram train proposals are limited by being unable to compete with the WCML. If Stockport-Heaton Chapel-Levenshulme-Piccadilly could be done in 15 minutes then it would be competitive when factoring in the ability to run services through the city centre.

I know its a very speculative idea but that is what this sub forum is for!

 

[jtuk]

I don't want any more Metrolink anywhere until they actually integrate with other public transport properly (i.e. Countycard is valid everywhere, you can use it for all Piccadilly/Victoria transfers without going via Salford), and only then I would never want it replacing existing lines, simply because the trams they use are that bad

 

[Modron]

Not sure if they are already served by Metrolink, but what about stations to serve Old Trafford (Manchester United & Cricket) the Etihad (Manchester City) and Salford Reds IF these aren't currently served?

I think that extending it to Stockport is a good idea - would Bolton be an idea (something along the line of Birmingham-Wolverhampton) or maybe Ashton/Hyde/Stalybridge could be considered?

 

[yorksrob]

I don't want any more Metrolink anywhere until they actually integrate with other public transport properly (i.e. Countycard is valid everywhere, you can use it for all Piccadilly/Victoria transfers without going via Salford), and only then I would never want it replacing existing lines, simply because the trams they use are that bad

This is a good point. The existing trams should be available for cross Manchester transfers.

 

[edwin_m]

Not sure if they are already served by Metrolink, but what about stations to serve Old Trafford (Manchester United & Cricket) the Etihad (Manchester City) and Salford Reds IF these aren't currently served?

Etihad and Old Trafford already have their own stops and Man U will be on the new Trafford Park line.

 

[sprunt]

And Salford Reds' stadium would be served by the proposed Port Salford extension. Of course, The Willows (RIP) was served by Metrolink - there should be a law against sports teams moving from a stadium well served by public transport to one in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Modron]

And Salford Reds' stadium would be served by the proposed Port Salford extension. Of course, The Willows (RIP) was served by Metrolink - there should be a law against sports teams moving from a stadium well served by public transport to one in the middle of nowhere.

Slightly OT but is The Willows ground still there (albeit derelict) or has it been built upon?