Manchester Metrolink master thread

[Phil6219]

Is that a typo for love or loathe - I couldn't decide!

Definitely loathe, was quite tired when I typed that

Phil :Cool:

 

[familyguy99]

More good news for Oldham Town Centre line were driver training have begin today for that line.

Metrolink driver training on new Oldham town centre line

Work on the new Oldham town centre Metrolink line will take another step forward this week, as tram drivers get their first training sessions on the route.

Driver route training is another important stage in preparing the new line for passenger service, and familiarises drivers with the new route and its junctions, signals and stops.

Oldham’s new town centre Metrolink line is on course to open ahead of schedule, early in the new year.

It will have four new stops – Westwood, Oldham King Street, Oldham Central and Oldham Mumps, with the latter integrating tram and bus services and providing a new, free park and ride site for Metrolink passengers.

During the testing and the training periods, people can use roads and pedestrian crossings as normal.

Peter Cushing, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Metrolink Director, said: “It’s great news that we can work towards opening the new line to Oldham town centre sooner than expected, and driver training is a crucial stage in getting ready for passenger services.

“Obviously the training makes sure that drivers are fully familiar with the route, but also means we can iron out any issues in a live environment before we open the line for our customers in the new year.”

There will be a weeklong closure of the existing line between Central Park and Rochdale Railway Station before passenger services on the new line can open.

This will enable the permanent “tie-in” works associated with the track and overhead line equipment to be completed and shadow running test trams to operate on the remainder of the line.

More details on the timing of the closure, accompanying replacement bus services and the actual launch date for the town centre line, will be provided closer to the time.

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=360

^^ rumours off SCC thread last week was that Oldham Town Centre line will be opening around February time so it seen that ORL (Central Park to Rochdale) will be closes for week around first week of February then if Oldham Town Centre do open in mid of February.

 

[edwin_m]

^^ rumours off SCC thread last week was that Oldham Town Centre line will be opening around February time so it seen that ORL (Central Park to Rochdale) will be closes for week around first week of February then if Oldham Town Centre do open in mid of February.

The connections at either end of the town centre aren't going to be junctions, so when both tracks are connected to the town centre at both ends they will also be disconnected from the route through the tunnels. So the temporary Mumps station has to close at the start of the weeklong closure and the town centre section has to start when the line re-opens.

 

[Boysteve]

Today I checked metrolink website at 12 noon and it said services were 'good' and that 8 doubles were in use on the Bury-Alty directs and 3 doubles E'Dids - Roch. I caught a tram about 12:45 from Exchange Quay into the city but at Cornbrook it was all happening! A double T68 in the reversing loop with staff alongside, a mix of T68's and M5000's in service but stationary on the outbound line approaching Cornbrook. And then a tram showing 'Alty' as it's desination then reversed back into the Alty bound platform, I have never seen this before. As I then travelled from Cornbrook to Deansgate we passed about 5 in service trams stationary on the opposite track.
Out of curiosity I checked the metrolink website an hour later and it said that their had been an earlier tram breakdown with some residual delays on the Alty route. But the doubles were now 3 Bury - Alty direct, 5 Picc -Alty and still 3 EDids to Roch. So it seems that 5 double diagrams were swapped from Bury to Alty to Picc to ALty as a result of the earlier distruption. Is this common?

 

[Manchester77]

Yeah to even out the service they can often switch trams around the doubles on PIC-ALT will have probably become directs again at Altrincham. The turnback siding at Cornbrook adds great flexibility and is a good place to dump defective trams until they can be removed at the End of Service.

 

[familyguy99]

The connections at either end of the town centre aren't going to be junctions, so when both tracks are connected to the town centre at both ends they will also be disconnected from the route through the tunnels. So the temporary Mumps station has to close at the start of the weeklong closure and the town centre section has to start when the line re-opens.

I think you misread what I posts as I mean Metrolink may closes ORL (from Central Park to Rochdale) on 3rd February (example) and reopen it again going through Town Centre on 10th February but it could be sooner then that we just have to wait and see.

Anyone who what to see picture that I took this afternoon in Oldham Town Centre of 3070/3071 trams doing testing in Oldham Town Centre can do via this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolink_work/sets/72157632535235149/

 

[edwin_m]

I think you misread what I posts as I mean Metrolink maybe closing ORL (from Central Park to Rochdale) on 3rd February (example) and reopen it again going through Town Centre on 10th February but it be sooner then that we just have to wait and see.

Anyone who what to see picture that I took this afternoon in Oldham Town Centre of 3070/3071 trams doing testing in Oldham Town Centre can do via this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolink_work/sets/72157632535235149/

I agree that is what will happen, I just thought your previous post suggested there might be a gap between the week's closure and the re-routeing through the town centre.

Thanks for posting all your photos.

 

[34D]

Is the last date for T68 and T68A still Tue 17th Dec, as per upthread? Do we expect a reasonable turnout this Sunday and next?

 

[Manchester77]

Totem has gone up at Benchill

 

[familyguy99]

Is the last date for T68 and T68A still Tue 17th Dec, as per upthread? Do we expect a reasonable turnout this Sunday and next?

I sure someone mention that T68A (2001 & 2003) trams will still be in use until early 2014 but saying that, I sure read on SCC thread that 2001 tram got withdrawn on Thursday but not too sure if this is true.

As for T68 trams I believe they will be gone by 17th December and don't think they will be out tomorrow or follow Sunday as Metrolink mostly use M5000 trams in service on Sunday service, you most likely to see T68 out and about on Monday maybe Eccles line.

 

[34D]

Any gen for T68 farewell arrangements?

 

[Manchester77]

Queens road is opening on monday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Queens Road is opening on Monday

What news is there about the closure of Woodlands Road ?

 

[Shrimper]

Closing with last service on Friday (presumably normal service arrangements apply, so just before 4pm)

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?worksID=72

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Closing with last service on Friday (presumably normal service arrangements apply, so just before 4pm)

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?worksID=72

I suppose that will mean that Woodlands Road will be seeing many of the SSC stalwarts tomorrow...

 

[507 001]

Woodlands road does indeed close tomorrow.

I called there for the last time ever this morning

Nothing has been mentioned about the withdrawal of T68s in work, usually things like that become canteen gossip pretty quickly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Woodlands road does indeed close tomorrow. I called there for the last time ever this morning

At least it reached its centenary.

 

[Phil6219]

I'm actually rather surprised nobody has mentioned what happened at Whitefield yesterday, when a body was discovered hanging under the stairs at the station.

Manchester Evening News Article

Seemed that Metrolink went about handling it in a sensible manor with minimized disruption by keeping the trams running but not calling at Whitefield.

Will refrain from making remarks about waiting for trams...

Phil

 

[Manchester77]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=109685310&postcount=28579

Last tram at Woodlands :cry:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=109685310&postcount=28579

Last tram at Woodlands :cry:

The official sign on the first image says that Monday, 16th December is the closing day yet there have been reports that Friday, 13th December would see the last services.

Which is the correct closing date ?

 

[Manchester77]

Woodlands Road was only open weekdays 1000 to 1600 so today was the date of the last tram

 

[507 001]

I'm actually rather surprised nobody has mentioned what happened at Whitefield yesterday, when a body was discovered hanging under the stairs at the station.

Manchester Evening News Article

Seemed that Metrolink went about handling it in a sensible manor with minimized disruption by keeping the trams running but not calling at Whitefield.

Will refrain from making remarks about waiting for trams...

Phil

Yeah, it was very sad. I was on duty that morning on bury-Ashton's so had to drive through whilst the station was closed.

 

[Darren R]

Another 'Lanky' station bites the dust :cry:

(although admittedly not one of their finest!)

 

[185]

Queens Road new stop is open. It's a grim place :P

 

[507 001]

Queens Road new stop is open. It's a grim place :P

and that's just because you've got to mingle with us

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So what happens to the "Via Woodlands Road" tram displays?
I always thought "Via Victoria" would be much better, as nobody knows where Woodlands Road is/was.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I always thought "Via Victoria" would be much better, as nobody knows where Woodlands Road is/was.

To be fair, one or two of us did...

 

[507 001]

So what happens to the "Via Woodlands Road" tram displays?
I always thought "Via Victoria" would be much better, as nobody knows where Woodlands Road is/was.

Not going to be used any more. Bury/Ashton via woodlands road is a different code to bury/Ashton via Piccadilly/Victoria.

They didn't hang about, all the signs are gone and the ticket machines have been switched off at WDL

 

[edwin_m]

So what happens to the "Via Woodlands Road" tram displays?
I always thought "Via Victoria" would be much better, as nobody knows where Woodlands Road is/was.

Surely the point of "via Woodlands Road" was to identify the trams that stopped there during the period when some didn't. "Via" isn't strictly accurate in this case, as it is still "via" even if it doesn't stop there, but I guess "stopping at" wouldn't fit on the display.

 

[Darren R]

Surely the point of "via Woodlands Road" was to identify the trams that stopped there during the period when some didn't. "Via" isn't strictly accurate in this case, as it is still "via" even if it doesn't stop there, but I guess "stopping at" wouldn't fit on the display.

That seems to make sense. I often wondered why trams suddenly started displaying "via Woodlands Road" - it always seemed strange and rather random, especially with the station up for closure. It must have confused a lot of people!