Trams back on track from Monday

Dean Kirby

October 31, 2009

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TRAM passengers are being promised services through Manchester city centre again from Monday after a multi-million pound track upgrade.

Metrolink chiefs aim to re-open the route between Victoria Station and St Peter's Square after a repair project that began in April comes to an end.

The 16-year-old tracks have been ripped up and replaced as part of a £100m overhaul of the tram system. The low-key reopening comes weeks after services on the Altrincham line were resumed - and then immediately thrown into chaos when a tram snagged on an overhead power line.

Upgrade work at Piccadilly Gardens, under a £22m project to revitalise the city centre tram network, includes widening the station, and installing new canopies to provide better shelter for passengers.

The St Peter's Square stop has also been revamped. Services are expected to start running again in the city at 6am on Monday.

Trams began rolling on the track without passengers during tests this week.

Passengers on the Bury line got a glimpse of the future yesterday when drivers also began trying out the new Metrolink tram for the first time.

Metrolink bosses have ordered 40 of the yellow M5000 trams, which will cater for passengers on the new lines being built to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton and MediaCity.

Metrolink director Philip Purdy said: "The sight of our new tram running on the Bury line will mean we're one step closer to it going into operation and to passengers being able to use it.

"People may see it pulling into stops and the doors opening - but unfortunately we can't let them board just yet. We've still got to make sure that drivers are familiarised with the controls of the new tram before we can do that, and this is all part of that process.

"In the meantime, we're grateful for people's patience and look forward to being able to invite them on our new tram in the next few months."

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Horatio Dogsbody, Flixton (31/10/2009 at 10:05)

"Trams back on track from Monday."

I hope they stay on the track!!

Kurt Stephens (31/10/2009 at 11:28)

With the new trams reaching Victoria last night for the first time, with no issues so far things are moving along very well on Metrolink at the moment.

See some of the new ticket machines have also started to arrive on the city centre stations.

All good news.

Knowall, stretford end (31/10/2009 at 11:38)

will these trams be able to take the tight curves on the Eccles line, it appears that the wheels are enclosed and the current trams the wheels on the turn come out from under the tram body, anarak I know but this should be checked.

Unite against the UAF (31/10/2009 at 13:23)

At last some good news regarding Metrolink, the new lines can't come quick enough.

Kurt Stephens (31/10/2009 at 14:15)

Knowall, guess what, the boggies on the Bombardier trams are just as capable of turning corners covered (as the Phase 2 existing trams are) or the Phase 1 'uncovered' trams.

The coverings are a requirement for the longer street running on that line.

Wonder how many of those who came on here in September 'cheerfully' predicting that the city centre would never be open on time in November will be back to say that they were clearly being overly pessimistic and were wrong.

Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall (31/10/2009 at 15:32)

I wonder when they are going to start north of the city. At Crumpsall station the other night, both ticket machines were out of order. London with over 250 stations has some of them undergoing renovation most of the time, but they don't get a fraction of the disruption that we have, and when they do have interruptions to the service, there is usually an alternative route, or the option to switch to the buses to complete a journey with no further cost. But there again, the politicians live in London and don't give a stuff about the rest of the country so we'll always have a second rate service until Parliament moves closer to the centre of the country.

Politically damaged, Castlefield (31/10/2009 at 16:35)

I'm a big supporter of public transport but this tram system is expensive and badly run. Why does a network only 16 years old need a £100m refit? Why use unreliable ticket machines when conductors are more flexible and provide a human presence to reassure passengers and limit anti social behaviour? They've done it in Birmingham and Sheffield. And as a Manchester council taxpayer why should I be paying for a new line to Rochdale?

Joe Pub, Manchester (31/10/2009 at 16:49)

How long is iy going to un for this time, would it not be cheaper to walk from vic station to the square,half a mile at leased.

s (31/10/2009 at 17:16)

Are the new trams only going on the new lines????

big g, sale (31/10/2009 at 17:37)

I live near the Altrincham line and I hope hope that the horrendous rattling noise that the trams are currently making can now be silenced. It has been impossible to have windows open this summer due to the noise.I was told in 2007 that it was due to "wheel flats" and that engineers were working on the problem. Subsequent correspondence on the unsolved matter went unanswered. Is there any money left in the kitty to cure this sleep depriving problem?

petan, openshaw (31/10/2009 at 17:50)

theres no leaves or ice on the lines yet!!!!!!

crongtong (01/11/2009 at 17:39)

I have seen the (empty) test trams skipping through from Market Street to Victoria this weekend, however Piccadilly Gardens stop still looked like a bombsite this afternoon, so don't be surprised if Picc and Picc Gardens are offline for a bit longer.

Gone in a single flush (01/11/2009 at 18:16)

So the headlines in the next issue of MEN will read:

SNOWBALL found in Hell.
FLYING pig spotted over Salford.
TRAMS now working in Manchester City Centre.

city col, prestwich (01/11/2009 at 20:11)

Wasn't november an extesion on original date they gave for being finished,so they are already late and it was ehe position of the pantagraph that gave problems with corners

Deejay, Bury (02/11/2009 at 08:08)

It's nice to see that the Bury and Altrincham lines will continue to use the old trams, and won't benefit at all from the new trams running on their lines.

Is It Me? (02/11/2009 at 12:28)

Cars are much more reliable. You can also listen to music or Terry Wogan,won't get robbed,have a fag,eat your breakfast,smell your own smell,keep dry,keep cool,all sorts! No competition!!

PW, Manchester (03/11/2009 at 11:17)

Is it me? I've just started wearing sound-excluding earphones on the bus so I don't have to listen to some of the moronic conversations/phone calls/"music" or the screaming, shouting and screeching you get on public transport.

Sticky Middle Finger (05/11/2009 at 10:04)

Think! Why did they get rid of trams years ago ?

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