Two-week closure for three Manchester tram lines
No trams will run on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines between 19 October and 1 November. Services from East Didsbury and Manchester Airport will terminate at Firswood, and those from Rochdale at Exchange Square.
The closures and route changes come as around 2.5 miles of track is replaced in what Transport for Greater Manchester said is the last major intervention planned for this year as its £150m overhaul programme continues.
TfGM said that passengers are being encouraged to plan their journeys as the upgrades get underway from next Monday.
Around 2.5 miles of tram track will be replaced between Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield, one of the busiest sections of the Metrolink network, where five tram lines come together.
This follows a three-week closure in July, also for the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines, which saw around a mile of track replaced.
The work will allow further speed restrictions to be lifted, said the transport body, leading to quicker and more reliable journeys for passengers, adding that around 100,000 journeys every day are now benefitting from journey time improvements following previous work on the tram network.
TfGM said that to allow work to be carried out safely and efficiently some lines will have to close for the full two-week period, with “significant service changes” on some other lines.
There will be a range of alternative travel options available while the work is taking place to help people get where they need to go.
What passengers need to know
- No trams will run on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines.
- East Didsbury and Manchester Airport services will stop at Firswood and Rochdale line services will run to Exchange Square.
- Express shuttle buses will operate from Sale, Chorlton, Trafford Centre and MediaCityUK linking limited stops along each line with the city centre. A direct express will connect Altrincham to Piccadilly every 15 minutes.
- Ticket acceptance will be in place for holders of seven-day, 28-day and annual Metrolink passes on Bee Network buses and Northern train services between Altrincham/Navigation Road, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and Eccles and the city centre.
- People who do not already hold one of these passes can purchase a £2 hopper bus fare on Bee Network buses allowing unlimited travel on buses in Greater Manchester for an hour and tickets for express shuttle buses (equivalent to tram tickets) will be available to buy at the stop.
- Starling Bike hire rides starting or ending at stations near the tram improvements will be free for trips of up to 20 minutes for the whole of the two-week closure. The standard £1 unlocking fee will also be waived for these journeys. People can visit the customer journey information hub for further information on this offer.
Customers can find line-by-line travel information, shuttle bus details, Bee Network bus details and journey-planning advice through the dedicated major works page and the Bee Network app. Extra staff will also be on hand to help customers during the closure period.
Special arrangements will also be in place for Manchester United’s home fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday 25 October, with dedicated shuttle buses running from Piccadilly Gardens, Altrincham Interchange and the Trafford Centre to Old Trafford, with return services after.
Ian Davies, network director for Metrolink at TfGM, said: “This is essential work that will help keep our tram network safe, reliable and fit for the future. We’re sorry for the disruption and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure people can still get around while it’s taking place.
“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from customers during previous closures and have introduced more direct shuttle buses between key locations and extra buses on local Bee Network routes.
“If you use any of the affected lines, now is the time to check your travel plans. We’d encourage everyone to visit the Bee Network website or app before travelling so they can see the options available to them and allow extra time where necessary.”
