DRIVERS and commuters face months of city centre chaos as work starts to replace sections of worn out tram tracks in Manchester.

Two of the busiest Metrolink stations will be shut for eight weeks to allow engineers to carry out the work around Piccadilly meaning short-term misery in the city.

It is the first stage of a major renewal programme and transport bosses have pledged to phase the work to minimise disruption and also say work will be completed before Christmas.

The track between Piccadilly Station and Portland Street will be first for replacement and a circular shuttle bus will replace trams running every ten minutes between Fairfield Street and Market Street.

The city centre track is the tram network's busiest, with some carriages travelling over some sections more than 250 times every day. Transport bosses said the new and improved lines would allow for more than 400 daily journeys.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE's Metrolink director, said the 16-year-old lines were 'showing their age' but track renewal work already completed elsewhere on the network has boosted performance and reliability.

He said: "The new track on the Bury and Altrincham lines has made tram journeys smoother, quieter and more reliable but now we need to turn our attention to the city centre.

Inconvenience
"The Metrolink network opened more than 16 years ago and some of the track is showing its age. We'll be putting on shuttle buses while the work takes place but there will obviously be some inconvenience for passengers.

"We'll be reopening the Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink stops at the end of November, so people coming into Manchester for their Christmas shopping will be able to travel on the whole of the network.

"I hope passengers will bear with us while this essential work is carried out."

Trams will run between Bury and Altrincham every six minutes, and between Eccles and Victoria every 12 minutes, during the period of the work.

The shuttle buses will run between Fairfield Street, outside Manchester Piccadilly station, and Market Street every 10 minutes.

GMPTE said extra buses would operate at busy times.

The rest of the project to upgrade the city centre track will take place next year and discussions will be held with the bus operators about the effect on their services of the traffic diversions needed for the road closures at London Road, Aytoun Street and Portland Street, as soon as it is known how long the roads will be closed.

An alternative walking route will also be signposted from Piccadilly Station to both Market St and Mosley Street stops.