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Olympics in Manchester

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exile

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A few comments on the transport arrangements....

- There didn't seem to be any "strengthening" of services on the Liverpool-Warrington-Manchester route so standing room only

- free transport from City Centre to Old Trafford

- however all trams on Eccles and Altrincham routes were full when they called at St Peter's Square. St Werburgh's services were OK but some passengers didn't realize these didn't stop at OT so you had to get off at Trafford Bar....

- from the northern side of the stadium the best option for returning was probably to go to Salford Quays (not Exchange Quay)

- and from the southern side, to go to Old Trafford

- some imagination could have been shown - using the Manchester United Stadium station, or Trafford Park (which is closed on Sundays but could have been opened specially)
 
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Thomas6187

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- some imagination could have been shown - using the Manchester United Stadium station, or Trafford Park (which is closed on Sundays but could have been opened specially)

LOCOG express security concerns about the Old Trafford Halt, due to the fact it emptys out within 10 feet of the stadium and into the tunnel area at the back of the South stand. As they couldn't control who board the train they say no to Trains

As for Trafford Park, it at the back of an industrial estate and about a 1.5 miles walk away, starting of in small alleyway
 

Solent&Wessex

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A few comments on the transport arrangements....

- There didn't seem to be any "strengthening" of services on the Liverpool-Warrington-Manchester route so standing room only

And this surprises you?
 

exile

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LOCOG express security concerns about the Old Trafford Halt, due to the fact it emptys out within 10 feet of the stadium and into the tunnel area at the back of the South stand. As they couldn't control who board the train they say no to Trains

Typical of LOCOG!
As for Trafford Park, it at the back of an industrial estate and about a 1.5 miles walk away, starting of in small alleyway

Actually 1.1 miles - 22 minutes - similar distance to, say, Salford Quays or Media City.
 

WatcherZero

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Tram wise theyve been strengthening the Altrincham services all week and trying to use the more reliable M5000's so we have seen them in service as doubles for the first time. Today they seemed to concentrate on strengthening the Eccles services so for the first time ever most of the Eccles services were doubles.
 

43167

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Seen reports about major overcrowding on the WCML today with people heading to Manchester for the football.

Virgin say it ran a normal sunday service.

Cant understand LOCOG's stand on trains to OT, as the security checks on thursday night were taking place at the turnstiles for people without bags, while those who did have bags were directed to a table where they checked.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Tram wise theyve been strengthening the Altrincham services all week and trying to use the more reliable M5000's so we have seen them in service as doubles for the first time. Today they seemed to concentrate on strengthening the Eccles services so for the first time ever most of the Eccles services were doubles.

Lessons learned after the shambles thursday night then which is good. Waited at Exchange Quay for nearly an hour for a tram, most were singles.
 

175001

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I used the free coach from Victoria. Brilliant. Every 3 mins, all double deckers and non stop! Got updates on my works phone later that evening services had been strengthened to 4 cars on a lot of services.
 

RailwayDan

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1820 TPX to Cleethorpes was overloaded, not helped with the 11 minute dwell time to switch ends as more people tried to cram in. First was declassified 5 minutes before departure.

The guard was excellent. Great announcements about alternative trains, platforms etc and also went round first class with the comments form for people to get their fare difference refunded.
 

snail

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- from the northern side of the stadium the best option for returning was probably to go to Salford Quays (not Exchange Quay)
MediaCity. Double units either arriving relatively empty from Eccles or starting there on a Piccadilly service. A little further to walk but you get a good view of the new complex. :D
 

sarniasiren

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We went to the games on Thursday. We caught a 2 car set at Deansgate which was very busy. On leaving headed back and at Talbot Road decided to go for the bus. Waited about 10 minutes and back into Piccadilly by 10-45.
We were impressed, seemed very well organised
 

Starmill

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I used the free coach from Victoria. Brilliant. Every 3 mins, all double deckers and non stop! Got updates on my works phone later that evening services had been strengthened to 4 cars on a lot of services.
Noticed a little tiny message on a Levenshulme information board yesterday that a service to Buxton "has 4 cars today instead of 2".
 

class17

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Anyone any advice on going to the Football at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening?

Going from Burscough. I was thinking of using the number 9 bus from Salford Crescent to The Lowrey and walking from there, thus avoiding the city.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Anyone any advice on going to the Football at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening?

Going from Burscough. I was thinking of using the number 9 bus from Salford Crescent to The Lowry and walking from there, thus avoiding the city.

With your return journey after the match in mind, the number 9 service from the Media City/The Lowry back to Salford Crescent railway station in the evening period is a 15 minute interval service, with the final journey commencing from there at 2317.
 

snail

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If I'm going to MediaCity that bus is very good. There shouldn't be any traffic problems on that route either as it uses quieter roads.

You should still get a train ticket to Manchester though, same fare and you can break your journey. It gives you the option of getting a tram back to the city centre afterwards (again, MediaCity isn't a bad option and travel is included in your Olympics ticket), the last 9 is about 11pm but may be busy!
 

class17

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Thanks Guys.

A very easy link from Salford Crescent. Coming back, we had about 30 minutes to get the last Southport train when we got to the Media Center. So we decided to catch what came first, bus or tram, the bus came first and of course the train leaves a little later from Salford Crescent.

The 4 of us doubled the passengers on the bus both ways, the return train (last one to Southport), a pacer and a sprinter, was about three quarters full to Bolton.

In general, a good performance by public transport. I think we could have booked through to Salford Quays, according to information at the bus stop.

Worth considering this route to the Lowry in future.
 

snail

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Worth considering this route to the Lowry in future.
If you do, note that Stagecoach are taking over from Maytree next month and extending their 50 service to replace the 9, over the same route. I wouldn't be surprised if the £1 single/£1.60 day rover fares go as well. :(

As for through tickets, was that an advert for the TfGM System One ticket or PlusBus? AFAIK, PlusBus is the only add-on you can get from outside the county that includes bus travel.
 
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