Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced that it will be carrying out a significant programme of work this year to build the capacity and resilience of its tracks, trams and workforce. The work is part of a £150m programme to maintain, upgrade, and improve tram infrastructure, to ensure the Bee Network continues to deliver safe, reliable and accessible services for millions more people into the future. However, whilst the improvement works are being delivered across the Greater Manchester tram network, there will be some temporary periods of disruption for passengers.
“This year’s programme is one of the most significant we’ve ever undertaken and will strengthen the whole network”
Ian Davies, Network Director for Metrolink at TfGM, said: “Keeping our network safe, reliable and ready for the future is our absolute priority. This year’s programme is one of the most significant we’ve ever undertaken and will strengthen the whole network—our track, our trams and our workforce.
“Whilst we complete this work, we will introduce a temporary timetable change that will run between spring and autumn.
“We know that some of this work will mean temporary disruption, and I want to thank passengers for their patience while we get it done. By investing now, we can reduce faults, improve day to day reliability and make sure Metrolink can keep pace with the growing number of people who depend on it every day now and for the future.”
Where will tram improvement works be taking place in Greater Manchester?
Work will take place from the spring at several locations, including near the following tram stops:
- Trafford Bar
- Deansgate-Castlefield
- Monsall
- Newton Heath & Moston
- Eccles
- Derker
- Piccadilly Gardens
For the work to be carried out, this will mean trams will have to stop on some lines.
When will the tram improvement works take place in Greater Manchester, and which lines will be affected?
Bury line works – Sunday 8th March
On Sunday 8th March, track repair works will take place on the Bury line. For the duration of the day, no trams will operate between Whitefield and Bury. A bus replacement service will operate between the affected stops.
Rochdale line works – Sunday 22nd March
On Sunday 22nd March, improvement works will take place on the Rochdale line. No tram services will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre during this time. A bus replacement service will operate between the affected stops.
Victoria pre-10am works – Sunday 29th March
On Sunday 29th March, from the start of service until 10am, no trams will operate through Victoria to facilitate track repair works. A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria – Piccadilly until 11am.
Easter bank holiday weekend tram works – Friday 3rd to Monday 6th April
From Friday 3 to Monday 6 April, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar.
During this time, the following changes will be in place across the network:
- No trams will operate on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines
- Services operating on the East Didsbury/Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood.
- Services operating on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square.
- Other tram service changes include: Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, Bury/Victoria – Etihad Campus.
Replacement buses will operate between the affected stops. Tram services will resume as normal from start of service on Tuesday 7th April.
Ashton line works – Sunday 12th April
On Sunday 12 April, due to track repair works, no trams will operate between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne. A replacement bus service will operate between the affected stops.
Victoria and Ashton line works – Sunday 26th April
On Sunday 26 April, track repair works will take place near Victoria until 10am, and on the Ashton line throughout the day.
From the start of service until 10am only:
- No trams will operate through Victoria.
- Services from Bury and Rochdale will terminate at Victoria, the East Didsbury line will terminate at Exchange Square and services from Manchester Airport will operate to Piccadilly.
Additionally, for the duration of the day:
- No tram service between Etihad Campus and Ashton-under-Lyne.
- Tram services from Eccles (via MediaCityUK) and Altrincham will operate as far as Etihad Campus.
Bus replacement services will operate Victoria – Piccadilly (until 11am), and between Piccadilly Gardens – Ashton-under-Lyne throughout the day to help customers continue their journey.
Victoria pre-10am works – Sunday 3rd May
On Sunday 3rd May, from the start of service until 10am, no trams will operate through Victoria to facilitate track repair works. A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria – Piccadilly until 11am.
Victoria and Rochdale line works – Sunday 10th May
On Sunday 10th May, from the start of service, track repair works will take place near Victoria until 10am, while the Rochdale line will undergo improvement works until 11am.
From the start of service until 10am:
- No trams will operate through Victoria.
- Services from Bury will terminate at Victoria, the East Didsbury line will terminate at Exchange Square and services from Manchester Airport will operate to Piccadilly.
In addition, from the start of service until 11am:
- No trams will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.
- From 10am to 11am, services from East Didsbury will continue to terminate at Exchange Square.
Bus replacement services will operate Victoria – Piccadilly, and Victoria – Rochdale Town Centre during the affected times.
Rochdale line works – Saturday 16th to Friday 29th May
From Saturday 16rh to Friday 29th May, improvement works will take place on the Rochdale line. During this time, no trams will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre. Tram services to East Didsbury will start from Exchange Square, and tram services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Crumpsall via Market Street. A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.
Piccadilly Gardens works – Monday 25th to Friday 29th May
From Monday 25th to Friday 29th May, improvement works will take place at Piccadilly Gardens. During this time, no trams will operate between St Peter’s Square/Market Street and Piccadilly.
Changes to the tram service include:
- Ashton-under-Lyne services will start from Piccadilly
- Eccles services will start from Deansgate-Castlefield.
- East Didsbury services will start from Exchange Square
- Services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Crumpsall via Market Street.
- All services from Altrincham will operate to Bury via Market Street.
Revised timetable across the Greater Manchester tram network
From Monday 30th March until autumn a revised timetable will be introduced across the tram network. There will still be tram services running every 15 minutes, supported by a peak service running every 7.5 minutes at the busiest times on the most popular lines.
This is being done while a recruitment drive gets underway to take on and train up new tram drivers, building extra capacity and resilience in the workforce. During this temporary change, more double trams will run on the network to increase capacity in the busiest areas where it is most needed.
More information on Greater Manchester tram improvement works
Up-to-date travel information will be shared on Bee Network channels throughout the work to keep everyone moving. This year’s programme will continue until autumn, and there will be plenty of notice of each closure to help people plan their journey. For the latest information on tram improvement works visit TfGM’s dedicated web page here.