Manchester Metrolink - Trafford Centre Extension

[507 001]

I'm not sure that the timings have been announced yet but typically trams start at around 6.30am on a Sunday - if you do want to be first on the tram then I'd keep an eye on publicity this week. I'd also check whether the trams are starting at Pomona or in fact at Cornbrook - I've seen press suggesting both and if you check out the Metrolink website it shows the new line starting at Cornbrook.

They’re starting at Cornbrook. Even if they were starting at Pomona they can’t turn back there.

 

[splashoutradio]

Any idea what times the first trams will be on Sunday 22 March?

Hoping to be the first traveller at Pomona next week!

TFGM have now released timetable data via their open data feeds.
Obviously, with the current health situation, changes are a possibility, but the full "planned" timetable (starting 22 March) is shown in table 4, here: http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/MetMar20/

Hopefully this will be of some use

 

[telstarbox]

Now showing in Google Maps

 

[daodao]

TFGM have now released timetable data via their open data feeds.
Obviously, with the current health situation, changes are a possibility, but the full "planned" timetable (starting 22 March) is shown in table 4, here: http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/MetMar20/

Hopefully this will be of some use

A most unfortunate time to be opening a new service to the Trafford Centre - I wonder whether the launch will be cancelled.

The anchor store in the Trafford Centre (Selfridges) closed down only yesterday and Intu (who own and run the Trafford Centre) are in financial difficulties; the Coronavirus pandemic is likely to push them over the edge. Nearby entertainment facilities and the Imperial War Museum North have now closed for the foreseeable future.

This new tram line could become a white elephant.

 

[telstarbox]

There are still plenty of people working in Trafford Park as far as I know. It's not all about the shops

 

[Ianno87]

A most unfortunate time to be opening a new service to the Trafford Centre - I wonder whether the launch will be cancelled.

The anchor store in the Trafford Centre (Selfridges) closed down only yesterday and Intu (who own and run the Trafford Centre) are in financial difficulties; the Coronavirus pandemic is likely to push them over the edge. Nearby entertainment facilities and the Imperial War Museum North have now closed for the foreseeable future.

This new tram line could become a white elephant.

White elephant is usually a term applied to something that never has any use.

The TC line *will* be fantastically popular once Covid 19 dies down.

 

[splashoutradio]

A most unfortunate time to be opening a new service to the Trafford Centre - I wonder whether the launch will be cancelled.

From Metrolink & TfGM's responses on Twitter, it looks like they're proposing to open the line as planned, but there'll be no ribbon cutting ceremony.

 

[Jozhua]

Honestly, been as there are distribution centres, etc, this could be a great time to open the Trafford Centre line.

Take some people out of the bus services and not necessarily have to worry about trams being out of action.

It would also allow for them to iron out some of the kinks if there are any.

24 minute headways to start could be useful for the odd passenger to begin with, increasing to 12 in a proper ribbon cutting ceremony in a year or so once this has cleared up.

 

[Ianno87]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...news/trafford-park-tram-line-opening-17951741

Metrolink bosses are in crunch talks on how the trams will run from next week - and whether the opening of the Trafford Park line should go ahead.

As the coronavirus crisis continues to escalate, along with Government guidance on measures to limit the spread, transport bosses are preparing to take the next big steps over public transport in Greater Manchester.

Quite unsurprisingly, whether or not the line opens tomorrow is under review.

 

[Denco3]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...news/trafford-park-tram-line-opening-17951741



Quite unsurprisingly, whether or not the line opens tomorrow is under review.

It's no longer under review, that article was written on Thursday

 

[MarkyT]

24 minute headways to start could be useful for the odd passenger to begin with, increasing to 12 in a proper ribbon cutting ceremony in a year or so once this has cleared up.

Difficult for passengers to remember departure minutes for a particular hour though, and 12 minutes extra wait if you get it wrong. Better to degrade to 2tph with an irregular interval, say 24 and 36 mins, adding up to an 60 minutes though, so departure minutes remain the same every hour.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I do wonder what percentage of industrial companies near to the line of this new line are likely to remain open during this Coronavirus outbreak which will have non-driving staff who rely on public transport to come and go to work.

 

[pdeaves]

It's no longer under review, that article was written on Thursday

So what is the outcome? Opening or postponement?

 

[Ianno87]

It will be opening:

https://twitter.com/MCRMetrolink/status/1241384103892717569?s=20

The new Trafford Park Line will open tomorrow as planned. This is to help critical workers and those who do need to travel for essential reasons like medical appointments. We'd like to reassure you that there is a rigorous cleaning regime in place.

Though given the current situation I'd ask anybody reading this not to rush off and ride it for the sake of gricing. There'll be plenty of time for that once this has all died down.

 

[Gathursty]

1) I'm not too fussed about joining at Pomona or Cornbrook but I get the point that a true end-to-end journey would begin at Cornbrook.
2) In light of Coronavirus, I'll ditch the desire to be passenger number one. It's not appropriate and I don't really need to make an excursion to the Krispy Kreme Cafe given my provisions at home.

Best of British!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Don't reveal the time of the first tram and nobody will be there in anticipation

Then again that might drive a crowd out at midday knowing that services will have started by then!

 

[Chester1]

There was a limited amount of online coverage of the opening. The first tram ran at 6:31am on Sunday, quite possibly with no passengers! Lowest key opening of any transport link! I can see why they went ahead though, if they can manage to run a Sunday service across the network it will maintain social distancing on all public transport in the area.

 

[Jozhua]

I might be riding my bike down that way anyway, as part of my exercise, I'll take some pics of a tram from a distance perhaps. (I was already planning this before I realised about the tram opening!)

Depends what the headways are, can't be bothered to sit round for too long to see a M5000 screech round the corner lol.