Manchester Metrolink - Airport line

[snowball]

I'm of the view that Cornbrook is only temporary until Deansgate is finished, Deansgate offers a better terminus since you have direct heavy rail services to Piccadilly and other destinations, the free buses and none free buses as well as the same high frequency of trams.

The wording of the press release doesn't seem to support this view. Maybe D-C will be needed for turning trams on other routes when St Peter's Square is being worked on.

 

[Manchester77]

The wording of the press release doesn't seem to support this view. Maybe D-C will be needed for turning trams on other routes when St Peter's Square is being worked on.

Perhaps, will SPS we a Victoria style affair with only one line through the site and the station closed or will it we different?

 

[rebmcr]

How do you think that future users in the said area will feel, when they will be required to change trams at Cornbrook, when they receive this news ?

They probably won't like it very much at all!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Perhaps, will SPS we a Victoria style affair with only one line through the site and the station closed or will it we different?

Some spray paint has appeared on Oxford Street indicating the future alignment — I've not examined it in detail but it slews quite a bit south of the current running lines so I would imagine it could mainly be done with weekend closures.

 

[familyguy99]

As many of your will know (from SCC thread) tram testing took place on Airport line last night/early this morning with 3052+3061 double trams went from St Werburgh's Road to Sale Water Park on first gauge testing, testing will continued on Airport line (only as far as Sale Water Park) tonight and tomorrow night then it resumed again in Mid of July for testing to Wythenshawe. (that rumour off SCC thread)

 

[rebmcr]

As many of your will know (from SCC thread) tram testing took place on Airport line last night/early this morning with 3052+3061 double trams went from St Werburgh's Road to Sale Water Park on first gauge testing, testing will continued on Airport line (only as far as Sale Water Park) tonight and tomorrow night then it resumed again in Mid of July for testing to Wythenshawe. (that rumour off SCC thread)

Was that using the diesel MPV, or self-propelled from the OHLE power?

 

[familyguy99]

Was that using the diesel MPV, or self-propelled from the OHLE power?

They were running by they own power for testing on Airport line, Metrolink/MPT only ever use diesel locomotives for gauge testing on line to Oldham Mumps (temporary) and line to St Werburgh's Road as all rest have been tram running is own power.

 

[snowball]

The overhead wire is now up throughout the airport line, though still on temporary support arrangements in places.

 

[snowball]

On Skyscrapercity, martin2345uk has posted the first picture of a test tram going over the Mersey Valley viaduct. It's also the first daylight picture of a tram on the airport line.

 

[21C101]

The wording of the press release doesn't seem to support this view. Maybe D-C will be needed for turning trams on other routes when St Peter's Square is being worked on.

How feasible would it be to four track the route between Cornbrook and Deansgate along the old viaduct to Manchester Central and build a couple of terminal platforms.

I remember when it opened in 1992 that the tickets there had "G-Mex (Central)" on them.

If its going to be a terminus again perhaps Deansgate ought to be renamed Manchester Central?

 

[snowball]

How feasible would it be to four track the route between Cornbrook and Deansgate along the old viaduct to Manchester Central

Where there are two viaducts side by side, Metrolink chose to use the one that needed less repair work. The other has been continuing to rot for 20 years since then. So I think it would be expensive.

and build a couple of terminal platforms.

It's already getting a third platform, which should tide it over until the Second City Crossing opens. Then presumably both Cornbrook and D-C will revert to seeing only through services when in normal operation.

If its going to be a terminus again perhaps Deansgate ought to be renamed Manchester Central?

I would suggest not subjecting it to a second renaming for a purely temporary function.

 

[Manchester77]

How feasible would it be to four track the route between Cornbrook and Deansgate along the old viaduct to Manchester Central and build a couple of terminal platforms.

If its going to be a terminus again perhaps Deansgate ought to be renamed Manchester Central?

Not very because you'd need to strengthen the viaduct further, build new platforms at Cornbrook (and therefore remodel Cornbrook junction), refurbish the second bird cage, move all the OHLE on the main viaduct, remodel DGCF further and build more new platforms which would only be used every so often because Deansgate isn't planned to be a terminal for anything but merely providing terminating facilities should they be needed as well as provide more capacity into st. Peters Square for 2CC. It's already getting a third platform there's no need for further building

What is the point? Seriously, Deansgate-Castelfield reflects the area better than Manchester Central does. It's not going to be a terminus again, it will see trams terminate there during the SPS rebuild and in the event of disruption but there's not going to be a dedicated service terminating at DGCF. It'd be like saying that about Timperly, just because trams can terminate there doesn't mean it's going to be a terminus like Altrincham it's just to improve reliably and flexibility.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Though it would perhaps make sense for the heavy rail side of DGCF to have 'Castlefield' added so that the two sides match...

 

[Manchester77]

Though it would perhaps make sense for the heavy rail side of DGCF to have 'Castlefield' added so that the two sides match...

Indeed, Deansgate could do with a bit of universal rebranding since I quite often heard Deansgate (for GMEX)!!

 

[edwin_m]

Though it would perhaps make sense for the heavy rail side of DGCF to have 'Castlefield' added so that the two sides match...

Deansgate isn't a great name considering it's beyond the south end of Deansgate, which is a very long street and most of it is closer to Salford Central or Victoria.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Deansgate isn't a great name considering it's beyond the south end of Deansgate, which is a very long street and most of it is closer to Salford Central or Victoria.

Perhaps the heavy rail station should revert back to its former name of Knott Mill and Deansgate in that case.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's already getting a third platform, which should tide it over until the Second City Crossing opens.

Why do I always think of the return of Jesus when I see that particular line title...

 

[rebmcr]

Not very because you'd need to strengthen the viaduct further, build new platforms at Cornbrook (and therefore remodel Cornbrook junction), refurbish the second bird cage, move all the OHLE on the main viaduct, remodel DGCF further and build more new platforms.

You forgot "rip out the Cornbrook pocket siding".

 

[Manchester77]

You forgot "rip out the Cornbrook pocket siding".

Oh god yes another task to add to that list!

 

[Starmill]

You forgot "rip out the Cornbrook pocket siding".

It's really not a pocket!

 

[Manchester77]

It's really not a pocket!

Think that's what it try's to be but it's basically an extension of the city bound line however city trams move to the track next to it

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This week, there will be the final resurfacing works being carried out in the Shadowmoss Road and Ringway Road areas. One tends to forget that this thread title is "The Airport Line".

 

[gnolife]

Small update: Tram testing has reached as far as the M56 bridge in Wythenshawe, having seen a double tram parked up while being driven under.

 

[Starmill]

From the car:

 

[familyguy99]

Here couple of video off TFGM YouTube channel from cab view of tram ride from Sale Water Park to St Werburgh's Road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDHr_E_8sq4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyWjTbEs38o

 

[familyguy99]

For anyone who doesn't know tram testing took place to Wythenshawe Town Centre (I think they went as far as Robinswood Road stop but not sure) last week (July 29th to Aug 5th) and small rumour on SCC website that testing to Airport may happen by end of this month so good progress is happening with testing on Airport line.

 

[snowball]

It's already getting a third platform, which should tide it over until the Second City Crossing opens.

Why do I always think of the return of Jesus when I see that particular line title...

Second City Crossing or Second Coming, either way, St Peter's Square will be a likely place to see it!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

For anyone who doesn't know tram testing took place to Wythenshawe Town Centre (I think they went as far as Robinswood Road stop but not sure) last week (July 29th to Aug 5th) and small rumour on SCC website that testing to Airport may happen by end of this month so good progress is happening with testing on Airport line.

I believe that Shadowmoss Road will see some line testing by the trams next week, from what I have heard.

 

[Manchester77]

DSCF5294 by d33206hg, on Flickr
Tram at the airport!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

DSCF5294 by d33206hg, on Flickr
Tram at the airport!

A dangerous precedent to set, as those Southport-bound passengers who are inured to onwards rail travel from Manchester Airport by Pacers will assume that "Newton Heath's Finest" have had a new change of colour scheme...

 

[Manchester77]

Indeed let's hope they aren't scared off in thinking an M5000 is a MereseyTravel pacer!!

 

[gnolife]

I wonder why they feel the need to put Manchester Airport as opposed to just Airport on the front - or is there something in planning for an extension to Stansted?