Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced that essential track replacement work will take place on the Ashton tram line this weekend. 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.
When will the essential track replacement on the Ashton line take place?
On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April, track repair works will take place on the Ashton line.
- 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.
Ashton Interchange will be partially closed on Sunday due to works.
Travel to Olivia Dean at Co-op Live
Olivia Dean is set to perform at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 25 April and Sunday 26 April. Tram services will continue to operate to Etihad Campus, with a 6-minute frequency between the city centre and Etihad Campus on Saturday, and a 7.5 minute frequency on Sunday.
Gig-goers can alight the tram at Etihad Campus for the arena, however if you’re travelling from Ashton-under-Lyne, board the replacement bus service and alight at Velopark for a short walking route to the arena.
Replacement buses
Replacement buses will call at stops between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne to help customers continue their journey. However, replacement buses cannot serve the Etihad Campus stop. Passengers can get off the bus at Holt Town and change for a tram or alight at Velopark and finish their journey via the step-free, well-lit and sign-posted CityLink walking route.
Replacement buses will also have to use a different stop to collect passengers at Droylsden, going towards Ashton (Droylsden Canal Street Bus Stop D). Audenshaw will be unserviceable for all outbound journeys.
Other works taking place on the Bee Network
On Sunday 26 April, 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.
Repairs on the network will continue until the autumn at various locations, including Monsall, Newton Heath & Moston, Eccles, Derker, and Piccadilly Gardens. Trams will not be able to run on some lines while the work is being done.
While the improvements are delivered throughout the summer, a temporary timetable will see trams run every 15 minutes all day, with peak services running every 7.5 minutes at the busiest times on most lines.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at TfGM, said: “These essential track repairs are part of our continued investment in our tram network, the largest light rail system in the country.
“The safety and reliability of our network is our top priority, and this work will help to ensure a more dependable service for many years into the future. We know any disruption to tram services can be inconvenient for passengers, and we’d like to thank people for their patience while this important work is carried out.”
Further information on planned tram improvement works can be found on the dedicated webpage on the Bee Network website.