Metrolink trip to Bury Bolton Street

Hi again all,

Today was my first time ever riding on a Metrolink tram and also the first time I'd ever been to Bury. I also have a couple of questions (below). It'd be great if anyone could answer them. (Also, I'm not sure if this thread should go here, or in the Metro section.)

Anyway, I began my day by strolling down to Birkenhead Central station (station building just visible in bottom left of picture), and the hazy sky looked quite interesting this morning. I took the 08:04 from BKC to Liverpool.



I then took the 08:44 Stalybridge train from Liverpool Lime Street (156486), arriving in Eccles right on time, 09:36.


The great thing about inter-changing between rail and tram at Eccles is that you get to walk past this colourful shop:-


At Eccles Metrolink stop, I wondered why I couldn't buy a £4.50 day ticket and so instead just bought a return to Bury (same price - £4.50) as I was only intending to travel to Bury today.
And thus my first Metrolink lesson was learnt. I was later to learn that not all ticket machines are the same. At a casual glance they all look the same, but there are two types of machines (with corresponding descriptive text along the top, which I later noticed). One type of machine only sells singles and returns. The other type sells single, returns, day tickets & season tickets. Only one of the three at Eccles sells day tickets, and I had chosen a machine which doesn't.

So my first question is, why is it that some of the Metrolink machines can sell day tickets, but others can't?


The tram arrived, and my first ever Metrolink experience began on the vehicle below.


I'd not travelled on a tram since Sheffield in 1990s, and Blackpool in the 1980s, so it's fair to say that I was at once surprised by the nippy acceleration and speed, and the great experience of running down a main road, open to regular traffic on a rail vehicle seemed like a most enjoyable novelty to me.

Whilst I was on the tram, I looked at what I thought were my two tickets:-
(This one is mine)


(This one's not mine, I just picked it up from the machine, thinking it was).


It turns out one ticket was just a credit-card receipt left behind by a previous user. So, I only had one ticket for my return journey. I asked in the Bury Interchange travel centre if this was correct, and they said they weren't sure as they hadn't travelled on the trams. They are not Metrolink employees, so fair enough.

So my second question is - Is that correct, that unlike NR tickets which have both "OUT" and "RTN" portions, Metrolink returns only have one physical ticket for a return journey, which is valid for both legs of the journey?

Anyway, I elected to change at Cornbrook onto a Bury-bound tram, and took the following shots there:-







The tram which took me to Bury is below - it consisted of a double-length tram:-


Most of the trip to Bury had the expected feel of a conversion from Permanent way railway. And that's the thing about trams, it's suddenly a world apart from gliding through the streets of Manchester City Centre, and my brain thinks I'm simply on a normal train again.
I whip out my phone and fire up the GPS speedometer app. It tells me we got up to 56 mph on the northern stretches of the route.
(Incidentally the same app told me we got up 102mph between Newton-le-Willows and Patricroft on the class 156 train - isn't that a tad too fast? Must be an inaccurate app, I think. )

It is at Bury where I eventually learn of the different Metrolink ticket-machine types:-
Only the left one can issue day tickets.


As clearly stated on the machine, the right one can only do single and returns, not day tickets.


After taking some time in Bury town centre photographing the various sights, I eventually stroll on over to Bolton Street Railway station, where I took the following pics.

It seemed a hive of activity.






















I did not intend to ride on the heritage railway today (not enough time), but I'm definitaley going to go back and do this at some point, it looks like a most excellent experience.

Finally returned to Eccles via tram, but this time, changing at St Peter's Square, as I had noticed the Eccles tram was right behind the tram I was on. Pretty uneventful return home except that the tram was delayed by about five minutes, being held on the ramp leading up to Deansgate, with a driver apology as it was due to some "congestion" ahead. I was just happy that I'd got to go on two of the older type of trams on the way out and two of the newer trams on the way back. In any case, I didn't mind the delay in the slightest as it meant more time on the tram.

I thought overall that my first experience on the Metrolink system was excellent and will definitely be returning soon, and will buy a day ticket next time in order to ride the whole system (as it currently stands) when I get a chance.

Thanks for reading!

Having travelled on the Metrolink almost every other day just as an enthusiast and not to go anywhere, ive not actually figured out why some machines only sell some tickets, maybe one is just a quick ticket machine and the saver ticket machines take longer?

And yes, you only recieve one ticket, and a reciept if you want one, it has all the details on the ticket

I believe it has something to do with stopping a chicane of people buying season tickets every Monday morning from forming. I think there is something linked to the payment methods too... is it that notes aren't accepted by the single/return only machines? It takes longer to buy a season ticket than a single/return because you need to put your photocard number in. It shouldn't take longer to buy railzone or saver tickets, but I suppose its more likely to. And again, its more likely to take longer to use a note to pay than with coins or a card.

Whatever you do, they only ever give you one ticket, so that's that!

Oh and btw, I'm glad things went better for ELR on the saturday, because I went on sunday and there was very little there in the way of patronage... shame really. I hope they made their money back )

Good pics and report. Incidentally, I made almost the exact same journey a month or so ago (just via Manchester Victoria instead of Eccles), was surprised at how relatively simple it was. Must say it seems like ages since I was last at the Lancs... hope someone's been keeping the booking hall brass nice and brassoed!

Thanks very much all for the informative replies. You have certainly answered my questions!

Yesterday, I looked at the FAQ on the Metrolink website, and I tried submitting the above questions in the "General enquiries" form, but it had a "catchpa" on it which I must have entered incorrectly and it didn't go through. Instead my question somehow became deleted from the textfield when the page refreshed and I didn't get around to typing it all in again. Just as well, since it's not needed now I have read your replies.

I do agree that it makes sense for some machines not to offer season tickets due to the reasons you have given. Now I'm aware of this, next time I go I will certainly be sure to use one of the machines that can issue season tickets (and therefore a day ticket).

Also, I'm glad to know that having one physical ticket was correct for my return journey. At the time, I did have a slight concern that I may have accidentally left one portion of the ticket in the machine. I was going to ask some Metrolink staff about this at Bury, but in the event, I didn't notice them on the platform until my tram started pulling out.

Next time I go, I'll probably get a faster train straight to Piccadilly and change on to the tram there. I only went to Eccles this time, because I wanted to visit both the station and the Metrolink stop. (and take some photos of the town itself). Plus it's always nice to use the Chat Moss line sometimes, as going to Manchester, I find in practice I have tended to use the Warrington route far more.

As for the ELR, yes it looks like a fantastic heritage railway and I was truly amazed by the number of movements I saw during my brief time there.

I have to confess I didn't know of this railway's existence until recently. I was asked (on a purely amateur basis) to take some photos for a book to be published by the University of Bristol (which happens to be my old uni) of various places in-and-around the region. It just so happens that Bury Bolton Street railway station was one of the items on the list I have. It was also pure co-incidence that I happened to go there on that particular Saturday when there were so many class 37 locomotives there. As I didn't have time to read up on the ELR before going, I am unsure if this was a special event (which it certainly seemed like it was), or part of the "normal running" of the heritage railway.

I'm so glad I've been there now though, just learning about this heritage railway has made me want to go back at next opportunity and take the train to Rawtenstall!

I do hope that they continue to get the patronage needed to carry on running the railway for the foreseeable future.

Green Lane said:

Thanks very much all for the informative replies. You have certainly answered my questions!

Yesterday, I looked at the FAQ on the Metrolink website, and I tried submitting the above questions in the "General enquiries" form, but it had a "catchpa" on it which I must have entered incorrectly and it didn't go through. Instead my question somehow became deleted from the textfield when the page refreshed and I didn't get around to typing it all in again. Just as well, since it's not needed now I have read your replies.

I do agree that it makes sense for some machines not to offer season tickets due to the reasons you have given. Now I'm aware of this, next time I go I will certainly be sure to use one of the machines that can issue season tickets (and therefore a day ticket).

Also, I'm glad to know that having one physical ticket was correct for my return journey. At the time, I did have a slight concern that I may have accidentally left one portion of the ticket in the machine. I was going to ask some Metrolink staff about this at Bury, but in the event, I didn't notice them on the platform until my tram started pulling out.

Next time I go, I'll probably get a faster train straight to Piccadilly and change on to the tram there. I only went to Eccles this time, because I wanted to visit both the station and the Metrolink stop. (and take some photos of the town itself). Plus it's always nice to use the Chat Moss line sometimes, as going to Manchester, I find in practice I have tended to use the Warrington route far more.

As for the ELR, yes it looks like a fantastic heritage railway and I was truly amazed by the number of movements I saw during my brief time there.

I have to confess I didn't know of this railway's existence until recently. I was asked (on a purely amateur basis) to take some photos for a book to be published by the University of Bristol (which happens to be my old uni) of various places in-and-around the region. It just so happens that Bury Bolton Street railway station was one of the items on the list I have. It was also pure co-incidence that I happened to go there on that particular Saturday when there were so many class 37 locomotives there. As I didn't have time to read up on the ELR before going, I am unsure if this was a special event (which it certainly seemed like it was), or part of the "normal running" of the heritage railway.

I'm so glad I've been there now though, just learning about this heritage railway has made me want to go back at next opportunity and take the train to Rawtenstall!

I do hope that they continue to get the patronage needed to carry on running the railway for the foreseeable future.

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If you were there on the 13th, then it was most certainly a special event! The autumn diesel gala, in fact. The normal timetable(s) don't contain anything like the movements you would have seen, sadly. As for the 37s (unless I am wrong, which is possible) they only had two at the weekend? Somebody more knowledgeable can interject, but I think they have two in residence and both were in use for the gala.

It was a truly impressive event, but when I was there on Sunday, attendance was disappointing.

Green Lane said:

....The great thing about inter-changing between rail and tram at Eccles is that you get to walk past this colourful shop:-

....

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I bet you got some funny looks from the locals when taking that shot!

starmill said:

If you were there on the 13th, then it was most certainly a special event! The autumn diesel gala, in fact. The normal timetable(s) don't contain anything like the movements you would have seen, sadly. As for the 37s (unless I am wrong, which is possible) they only had two at the weekend? Somebody more knowledgeable can interject, but I think they have two in residence and both were in use for the gala.

It was a truly impressive event, but when I was there on Sunday, attendance was disappointing.

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Thanks for the further info. I was certainly lucky I went there purely by chance on that day then!

As for the class 37s, I've re-checked my photos and you are indeed completely correct. It looks like the other diesel locos which were there were class 40 and class 50 I think, not class 37. So I should have said "there were so many diesel locomotives there, including two class 37s." When I was there I heard someone say to his girlfriend, "with all these 37s, I'm spoilt for choice!", which was probably what led me to write the above, but yes, I'm sure now there were in fact only two of that class there when I was there.

As you say, I agree that the event was really impressive.

hairyhandedfool said:

I bet you got some funny looks from the locals when taking that shot!

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Indeed, I might well have done, as is often the case for thousands of photos I have taken over the last few years, and no doubt will again in the future.

Back on the trams yesterday

Hi again all. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to travel on the Metrolink network again. For completeness of this thread, I'll post my report here.

Although my original plans as stated earlier were to go to Piccadilly, in the event I chose again to go to Eccles via the Chat Moss route, having enjoyed going that way last time.

Again, I took the 08:44 from Liverpool Lime Street, arriving at Eccles railway station at 09:36. I then made my way to Eccles Metrolink station where I noticed that two of the three tickets machines there are able to sell day tickets, not one as I'd previously stated. This was fortunate as someone else was using one of those two machines and the tram was already in.

This time, I bought the day ticket as needed:-


I didn't photograph the first part of this journey as I'd already covered it in the pictures shown previously. Suffice it to say though that from Eccles, I again travelled to Cornbrook, where this time I changed on to the below Oldham Mumps tram, travelling to the current terminus:-

3013 at Oldham Mumps


The same tram returning after it has turned back




Welcome sign:-


I then walked through Oldham town centre (my first ever visit to the town), where I saw more signs about the future Metrolink expansion:-


From here, walking along Middleton Road, I passed what I think is going to be Westwood Metrolink station, currently under construction:-


I made my way on foot to Freehold Metrolink station (currently the next stop towards Manchester from Oldham Mumps):-


This quite prominent factory seems to dominate the skyline at this locality:-


Trams at Freehold:-






At freehold, there was apparently a minor delay:-


But it must have been very minor as I don't think the tram was delayed by anything more than about 90 seconds!

Next, by changing again at Cornbrook, I travelled to Altrincham:-






I had only passed through here before on Northern Rail services on a Cheshire day ranger, so it was good to actually see the "tram" side of the station first hand and also to actually exit the station here for the first time.

From Altrincham, I strolled down to the nearby Navigation Road station:-


Again, I had only previously travelled on the NR service through here.This time though, I boarded the one tram of the day that was completely and utterly rammed:-


Somehow I managed to squeeze in by the door. Although, I was fine getting a seat on all other trams, I'm happy to say.

I was relieved to alight that very busy tram at Trafford Bar:-


Where I walked briefly out of the station and back in the other side:-


Where I would take the next tram to St Werburgh's Road:-


Tram turning back:-




Brisk stroll to Chorlton Metrolink station:-




I would take the tram from Chorlton to Victoria, where after having been out of the house for something approaching seven hours a quick toilet break was most needed! Followed by a hasty return to the Metrolink platforms:-




Quick snap from the Metrolink platforms of 158908 at Manchester Victoria awaiting departure on a service to Leeds.


Due to the short November days, time was of the essence, so after what seemed like a bit of a wait, I hopped on to the next arrving Piccadilly service and my first time ever in the Piccadilly Metrolink station:-






After a few more tram photos, I crossed over to the other platform:-




Where I decided to get on the next tram, whichever one it was. This time it happened to be an Eccles one:-


I then realised I just needed to do MediaCityUK in order to complete my coverage of the current publicly-accessible Metrolink network. So again I alighted at what seemed to become by far my most frequent interchange station, Cornbrook:-


The low late-afternoon sun is apparent in these shots:-







My timing here wasn't great. After every other tram possible went through the station, the MediaCityUK one eventually arrived. Although whilst waiting I got a great feel of how frequent the Metrolink service really is. On both platforms, no sooner does a tram depart then a few moments pass and the next one is coming round the bend. Maybe this is why the electronic information signs at Cornbrook are inactive - would they be able to keep up?


Arrived at MediaCityUK. Although I'd walked around Salford Quays before, it was my first time at this station and at the new BBC complex.






The sun was now rapidly advancing towards the horizon and the light was beginning to fade a bit:-



From here, I took the short stroll back to Harbour City Metrolink station:-




Finally arrived back at Eccles, where I have to say my camera seems to make it look brighter than it actually was. In reality it was starting to get a little bit dark around 4pm:-




Finally, after a further mini-tour of Eccles Town Centre and a few more photos, I took the 16:46 back to Liverpool Lime Street. Eventually getting back home around 18:15 after a most enjoyable day! I feel I was quite lucky with the weather too.


So the only Metrolink line I didn't travel on yesterday was Bury as I'd done it four weeks previously. Yesterday's travels therefore completed my coverage of the Metrolink system as it currently stands. Of course, I'll have to go back as and when new stations are opened. The Metrolink system is already feeling quite large, and I look forward to its further expansion.

Again, thanks for reading!

<pendant> Did you do both of the chords to MediaCity UK? </pendant> :P

Crossover said:

<pendant> Did you do both of the chords to MediaCity UK? </pendant> :P

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No, but it's a good point and it sounds like a really good excuse to go back. I have only visited that chord on foot so far! Perhaps I should return on a Sunday.

Also I had been thinking that I only did one platform at Bury. Indeed, I've also only travelled on one of the two tracks between Freehold & Oldham Mumps etc..

I take it these sorts of things would be classed as "micro-grices"?

I'll have to be content with just passing through or visiting all stops on the current system for now.

But, I will return no doubt and perhaps do some of the above. Preferably after some more of the extensions have opened up. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

Microgricing tends to refer to rare crossovers and platform moves, not so much PSUL (Passenger Services over Unusual Lines) / curves and certainly not an entire stretch of line (like Oldham-Freehold)

MattE2010 said:

Microgricing tends to refer to rare crossovers and platform moves, not so much PSUL (Passenger Services over Unusual Lines) / curves and certainly not an entire stretch of line (like Oldham-Freehold)

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Thanks for the informative reply. I had seen the term on here a couple of times before, mainly in other trip reports. I wasn't sure of the exact meaning, but I'm grateful for your clarification.