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Manchester Metrolink master thread

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Manchester77

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I don't see why people are complaining. The closure was well advertised and the motorway re opened earlier than they planned (at around 4 when it was planned for 10 that nigh)
 
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185

185

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Headline should read
"More serious misery caused to residents of Greater Manchester by further rubbish jounalism."

oh, and
"Photo Credit: We stole it off someones twitter account, and won't pay for it."

Manchester Evening News = made the Daily Sport look intelligent
 
Nym

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The MEN makes the political newspapers at the University of Manchester look professional, and they're printed and stapled on A4...
 
Xenophon PCDGS

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185 said:
Headline should read
"More serious misery caused to residents of Greater Manchester by further rubbish journalism."

oh, and
"Photo Credit: We stole it off someones twitter account, and won't pay for it."

Manchester Evening News = made the Daily Sport look intelligent
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For those of you old enough to remember, it was this very same newspaper that blazoned a banner-front page headline of " 2 0 .. D E A D" during the prison riot at Strangeways Prison...when nothing of the sort had occurred. If they can make a mistake of that magnitude, is anyone really surprised at what they do with lesser news items..<(<(
 
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Paul Sidorczuk said:
For those of you old enough to remember, it was this very same newspaper that blazoned a banner-front page headline of " 2 0 .. D E A D" during the prison riot at Strangeways Prison...when nothing of the sort had occurred. If they can make a mistake of that magnitude, is anyone really surprised at what they do with lesser news items..<(<(
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Ah but that was in the Guardian Media days. It's gone even more downhill since the sale to Trinity Mirror in 2010...
 
Xenophon PCDGS

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snail said:
Ah but that was in the Guardian Media days. It's gone even more downhill since the sale to Trinity Mirror in 2010...
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Incidentally, did the production of many of the "local" town papers also transfer over to Trinity Mirror at the same time as the Manchester Evening News ?

Long gone indeed are the times when you had a choice between the Manchester Evening News and the Manchester Evening Chronicle. Am I giving my age away again :oops:
 
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Plans are currently made for the Altrincham Interchange revamp due to start in the next few months. It is expected the booking office will move to platform 4 while the bus section is closed off and the trams will arrive and depart from platform 2 instead of platform 1. I imagine that'll mean the only fully accessible route to Metrolink will be via the car park at the back of platform 4 and the assisted rail barrow crossing to platforms 2/3. I don't know how the Metrolink TVMs will be accessed though!
 
185

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jcollins said:
Plans are currently made for the Altrincham Interchange revamp due to start in the next few months. It is expected the booking office will move to platform 4 while the bus section is closed off and the trams will arrive and depart from platform 2 instead of platform 1. I imagine that'll mean the only fully accessible route to Metrolink will be via the car park at the back of platform 4 and the assisted rail barrow crossing to platforms 2/3. I don't know how the Metrolink TVMs will be accessed though!
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Of serious concern is the lack of bus stands in the new plan (6, I think), and almost zero layover facilities. Everyone agrees we have far too many at present, but the new plan has far too few, and I reckon will need major modifications in years to come.

Page 43 - Plans http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/Consultations/Documents/110629-Altrincham-Interchange-Summary-v4.pdf
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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northwichcat

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Paul Sidorczuk said:
Page 38 of this document states that the proposed number of bus stands under the new layout will provide a capacity of 72 bus movements per hour which both meets the needs of the current service provision and leaves room for growth for future increases in the existing level which will meet the target network figure of TfGM.
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I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that over 6 stands, 72 buses per hour means on average a bus every 5 minutes at each stand.

Although, of course it won't work like that with bus frequencies needing to be evenly spread out across the route, not just on departure from Altrincham.

At some bus stations it's very common for a bus not to be able to use it's designated stand because another bus is running late, so it pulls in to the next stand and then causes a knock-on effect. With 72 buses per hour over 6 stands I tend to agree with the user 185 that it'll be too many buses over too few stands.
 
Xenophon PCDGS

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jcollins said:
At some bus stations it's very common for a bus not to be able to use it's designated stand because another bus is running late, so it pulls in to the next stand and then causes a knock-on effect.
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I must confess to have seen what you have stated above happen at Manchester Airport bus station where the 200 service to Wilmslow, the 199 service to Buxton and the 369 service to Stockport have been involved.

My previous posting was solely to report what page 38 in the report that was published by TfGM stated and was not any reflection of my personal feelings on the matter of the new bus station.
 
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Greybeard33

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jcollins said:
Plans are currently made for the Altrincham Interchange revamp due to start in the next few months. It is expected the booking office will move to platform 4 while the bus section is closed off and the trams will arrive and depart from platform 2 instead of platform 1. I imagine that'll mean the only fully accessible route to Metrolink will be via the car park at the back of platform 4 and the assisted rail barrow crossing to platforms 2/3. I don't know how the Metrolink TVMs will be accessed though!
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Will it not still be possible to access Platforms 2 & 3 by the level footpath from the south end that leads to Denmark Street, and by the zigzag ramp from Moss Lane that joins it? Not ideal for wheelchair users, but usable.
 
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Greybeard33 said:
Will it not still be possible to access Platforms 2 & 3 by the level footpath from the south end that leads to Denmark Street, and by the zigzag ramp from Moss Lane that joins it? Not ideal for wheelchair users, but usable.
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For the ramp to Moss Lane there's a steep step down from Moss Street to that ramp (steep enough for someone to decide that there needs to be a handrail.) Also the end of that path is the bus side of the ticket office, not the Metrolink side.
 
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jcollins said:
For the ramp to Moss Lane there's a steep step down from Moss Street to that ramp (steep enough for someone to decide that there needs to be a handrail.) Also the end of that path is the bus side of the ticket office, not the Metrolink side.
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Part way down there is a linking path that goes down in the opposite direction and joins the path from the end of Platforms 1, 2 & 3 (can be seen on Bing maps). However, I agree that the gradient, narrowness and sharp bends of these paths, as well as the step, could deter some disabled/infirm passengers. The access from Denmark Street is much more straightforward.
 
familyguy99

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familyguy99

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Paul Sidorczuk said:
At a Tameside council meeting this week, it was announced that the date set for the opening on the East Manchester line part-route to Droylsden will be 11th February 2013, so I am informed.
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^^ MEN have got this on they site since last night

Opening of Metrolink tram service to Droylsden delayed until February 2013

The opening of the new Metrolink line to Droylsden has been delayed for a second time.

Metrolink's East Manchester Line had been due to open this summer, but was put back to the end of this year after problems with a new computer system caused delays.

Now the opening date for the long-awaited line has now been revealed as February 11 – another seven weeks later than was expected.

News of the delay is likely to anger traders in Droylsden who last year said disruption caused by the building work was ‘killing’ small businesses.

Coun Kieran Quinn, the leader of Tameside council, spoke of his frustration as he revealed the opening date at a council meeting tonight.

He said: "That we have had to wait so long for this has been a source of deep frustration for me and the local community.

"We have experienced first-hand the disruption and impact of the work involved in building the new line – only to have to suffer delays time and time again.

"I am told the cause of the delays has been the integration of the new line with the existing network which has now been resolved with Transport for Greater Manchester’s help."

The line will have eight new stops at New Islington, Holt Town, Etihad Campus, Velopark, Clayton Hall, Edge Lane, Cemetery Road and Droylsden. It will be extended to Ashton-under-Lyne by the winter of 2013-14.

Four extra stops will then open at Audenshaw, Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Ashton-under-Lyne.

The yellow trams have already been undergoing tests on the route and it was announced in October that tram drivers were expected to start their first training sessions.

Trams could also start running to Shaw and Crompton on the Oldham line early in the new year – with tests already underway.

The East Manchester Line will open just in time for Manchester City's home match against Chelsea on February 24, when it is expected to be used for the first time by fans.

Mr Quinn said TfGM would be handing residents and school children in Droylsden free three-day passes for the line for use prior to its official launch as a thank you for their patience during the delays.

He added: "I know this has been a testing time for Droylsden residents, but we can now see the finishing line.

"As disappointing as it has been to see this project arrive behind schedule, there is no doubt that the arrival of Metrolink to Droylsden will be a massive boost for the people and businesses in the area."

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...vice-to-droylsden-delayed-until-february-2013
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^^ I think Tameside Council are very stpuid announced the opening date for EML as what if it doesn't happen then who fault will that been? :-x
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
TFGM/Metrolink have confirm yesterday that line to Droylsden (EML) will be opening in February 2013, that also confirm it be running 12 mins service and it be Bury to Droylsden service too.

Droylsden’s new Metrolink line to open in February

The new Metrolink line to Droylsden in Tameside will open to passengers on 11 February – and residents will get the chance to try it out for free before then as thanks for their patience.

The new 3.9-mile (6.3km) section to Droylsden will have eight new stops: New Islington, Holt Town, Etihad Campus, Velopark, Clayton Hall, Edge Lane, Cemetery Road and Droylsden.

Journeys from Droylsden to Manchester Piccadilly will run every 12 minutes initially and will take around 20 minutes.

To thank the community for its patience during the construction of the street-running sections of the new line, residents from Clayton to Droylsden will be able to use the new line for free over the three days leading up to the launch.

Households in the catchment area will be sent more details closer to the time. TfGM will also contact local schools to arrange for classes to travel at specific times on the tram for supervised trips before the line opens to the public.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “We’re now entering the final stages of the programme for the new line to Droylsden, which means we’re getting ever closer to that landmark moment when we open the doors to passengers for the first time.

“The progress we’ve made so far on testing and commissioning has been encouraging, but it’s now clear that we’ll not be able to open for service before the year is out as the tram management system being delivered by Thales has not been available within the prescribed timeframe.

“While it’s disappointing to be seven weeks beyond the revised target, we’re confident we’ll be opening the line in February thanks to the interim solution put in place by TfGM. This arrangement is similar to those developed by TfGM which enabled the opening of the South Manchester and Oldham lines.”

The new line runs from the existing Metrolink stop at Manchester Piccadilly through the key regeneration areas of Ancoats, New Islington and Beswick and the heart of East Manchester.

It runs under Great Ancoats Street, through Holt Town towards Etihad Campus (Manchester City football stadium) and the Velodrome.

From here, between Clayton and Droylsden, it runs on-street along Ashton New Road and Manchester Road.

Services starting at Droylsden will run on through Manchester city centre – calling at the Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street, Shudehill and Manchester Victoria stops – before serving all stops on the Bury line.

Passengers will be able to connect with Altrincham and Eccles line services at Manchester Piccadilly, and with Chorlton and Oldham line services at Market Street.

The line to Droylsden is already being extended by a further 3.8km to Ashton-under-Lyne town centre, providing additional stops at Audenshaw, Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Ashton-Under-Lyne. This section is due to open in winter 2013/14.​
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http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=110

Also they started ghost service to Shaw & Crompton today (Oldham Mumps to Shaw & Crompton) and they possible that line to Shaw will be opening before xmas or it next two weeks, we wait and see on that one. :D
 
telstarbox

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Indeed :) from the MEN website:

Manchester Evening News said:
Passengers will be able to board trams to Shaw and Crompton for the first time this weekend after tests proved a success.

The new service will leave Oldham Mumps at 6.50am on Sunday and will arrive at Derker at 6.54am before reaching Shaw and Crompton at 6.59am.
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I have just read on the tfgm website that "Journeys from Shaw & Crompton to Manchester city centre will take less than 30 minutes". Well, i don't know the exact times but isn't this slower than the old train line into Victoria? It's only like 8 miles or so.
 
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VideozVideoz said:
I have just read on the tfgm website that "Journeys from Shaw & Crompton to Manchester city centre will take less than 30 minutes". Well, i don't know the exact times but isn't this slower than the old train line into Victoria? It's only like 8 miles or so.
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I took one of the first trams to Oldham when the line opened. The landlady of a recommended pub was overheard telling a regular - "They're slower, more expensive and no toilets, those trams, what's the point!"
 
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Very interesting! When they open the metrolink line to the airport, how long is that journey gonna take? 40 mins?! It's currently 20mins (including usual stops) from Piccadilly. Also, I wonder if they'll remove current airport trains as a result. Does anyone know?
 
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