St Peter Square Metrolink stop set to closed for 14 months from Summer 2015.

[familyguy99]

Metrolink have confirm today that final eight week closure at St Peter Square will start on Sunday 26th June to end of August, once this is finishes St Peter Square tram stop will reopened to passengers.

New look St Peter’s Square Metrolink stop set to open this summer

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is building a new, much larger stop in St Peter’s Square, a key destination on the new Metrolink Second City Crossing, currently under construction.

This summer sees the end of the 14-month construction project to build an expanded stop that is ready for more trams running through the city, more often.

As the work involved will take place close to the track, Metrolink services through the square will be suspended from Sunday 26 June to the end of August, meaning no north/south cross-city tram services will operate.

Metrolink tram service from Sunday 26th June to end of August.

Altrincham to Deansgate
East Didsbury to Deansgate
Manchester Airport to Cornbrook
Bury to Etihad (Peak time service only)
Bury to Ashton
Rochdale to Exchange Square
Shaw to Piccadilly (Peak time service only)

MediaCity to Deansgate - Service will only run in August

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=311

 

[edwin_m]

Isn't this an early completion? I think the previous plan was to close for a similar time, but not re-open St Peters Square stop until a few months later.

 

[Altfish]

Isn't this an early completion? I think the previous plan was to close for a similar time, but not re-open St Peters Square stop until a few months later.

No, I think this is currently on time, SPS will only half open with the First City Crossing lines reopening.
2CC will follow 6-months later. Although I wouldn't bet against that opening early.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Metrolink have confirm today that final eight week closure at St Peter Square will start on Sunday 26th June to end of August, once this is finishes St Peter Square tram stop will reopened to passengers.



Metrolink tram service from Sunday 26th June to end of August.



http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=311

Interestingly all Altrincham trams appear to be going to Deansgate-Castlefield, during the first closure of SPS alternative trams terminated at Cornbrook

 

[pemma]

No, I think this is currently on time, SPS will only half open with the First City Crossing lines reopening.
2CC will follow 6-months later. Although I wouldn't bet against that opening early.

Metrolink do seem to have the opposite approach to Network Rail. If Network Rail think it'll take 6 months they say 6 months, then revise it to take longer, while if Metrolink think it'll take 6 months they say 10 months so when they finish after 7 months they claim the work's been completed early. I think that started after Metrolink missed their target doing renewals on the Altrincham line a number of years back and had to make the 'unseasonal weather' excuse.

 

[Altfish]

Metrolink do seem to have the opposite approach to Network Rail. If Network Rail think it'll take 6 months they say 6 months, then revise it to take longer, while if Metrolink think it'll take 6 months they say 10 months so when they finish after 7 months they claim the work's been completed early. I think that started after Metrolink missed their target doing renewals on the Altrincham line a number of years back and had to make the 'unseasonal weather' excuse.

Yes they had a lot of bad publicity on the East Didsbury and Oldham/Rochdale, so they give pessimistic opening dates and easily beat them.

 

[WatcherZero]

Nope, they haven't changed their schedules to be more pessimistic. A lot of the early phase 3 work suffered from months of signalling delays despite completed infrastructure as sensors wernt picking up vehicles passing over top, one of the reasons being the M5000 underside equipment had higher ground clearances and wasn't disturbing the mass detectors as well as the T68's did. These signalling design issues were eventually sorted after a lot of experimentation with different sensor installation heights but they even experimented with fitting extra metallic mass to the underside of trams to help trip them. They also had programming issues with the control computer and lineside points controller computers crashing repeatedly.

These signalling issues were eventually licked and combined with the contractor completing work early (since they had increasingly experienced teams and was in their financial interest to redeploy engineers and plant to other lines early rather than have them sitting around for months between contractual dates or lost to other projects round the country). I.e if your contracted to build several lines, just completed one and not contractually obliged to start on another 3-6 months but have the resources available now you may as well start early and deliver it early. So if you have a team doing one job (excavation, foundations, concrete pouring, trackwork, etc) then you can just keep moving them on to the same job for the next line as soon as they are done on the current. Overlapping construction programmes rather the inefficiency of doing them consecutively.

 

[edwin_m]

Yes, the early problems were nearly all realated to the signalling system - I think there were also some concerns with interfacing to the existing block signalling on Bury and Altrincham lines or at least getting safety approval to change it. Although I wasn't out and about much on the new lines I got the impression most of the civil engineering work was ready long before it could actually be used.

The signalling issues were the sort of thing that only needed fixing once and then the solution could be rolled out quickly everywhere, hence once this happened routes started opening at a rapid rate.

 

[Altfish]

# Watcher Zero...So, can you name me another modern construction scheme that has come in a year early?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This coming period of approximately 8/9 weeks from Sunday, 26th June, when no trams at all will be running through the St Peter's Square area, will be one that regular travel-to-work and homewards return regular passengers using the Manchester Metrolink system will not be very happy about and the closure of the Eccles line will also commence on Sunday, 26th June to the end of August whilst rail maintenance works are carried out.

Travel through the central Manchester city core already has the Cross Street and Princess Street 2CC Metrolink works to contend with.

TfGM have organised drop-in sessions in the Manchester Central Library in St Peter's Square when people can discuss the full implications of these works concerning the St Peter's Square area:-
Wednesday, 1st June....1100 to 1400
Thursday, 2nd June......1600 to 1900
Friday, 3rd June...........0800 to 1100

TfGM have organised drop-in sessions when people can discuss the Eccles line closure at:-
Wednesday, 1st June...1100 to 1400.....Eccles TfGM Travelshop, 108 Church Street
Thursday, 2nd June.....1100 to 1400.....University of Salford Media UK Campus
Saturday, 4th June......1100 to 1400.....University of Salford Media UK Campus
Tuesday, 7th June.......1700 to 2000.....University of Salford Media UK Campus
Thursday, 9th June......1700 to 2000.....Eccles Library, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles
Saturday, 18th June.....1245 to 1530.....Eccles TfGM Travelshop, 108 Church Street

 

[snowball]

# Watcher Zero...So, can you name me another modern construction scheme that has come in a year early?

I'm not Watcher but the Norton Bridge flyover has just come in 18 months early.

 

[pemma]

I'm not Watcher but the Norton Bridge flyover has just come in 18 months early.

Did work start on the scheduled date?

Network Rail delivered platform 4 at Manchester Airport over a year in advance of the scheduled date but the schedule was revised so the work coincided with Metrolink work to prevent separate closures.

 

[WatcherZero]

Gotthard Base Tunnel completed six months early, Kings Cross concourse renovation completed March 2012 when was scheduled for completion March 2013.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

All very interesting, but can we return back to the topic of this thread, please.

 

[snowball]

Did work start on the scheduled date?

Network Rail delivered platform 4 at Manchester Airport over a year in advance of the scheduled date but the schedule was revised so the work coincided with Metrolink work to prevent separate closures.

To be more exact, NR advanced its start date but not by nearly enough to prevent separate closures of Outwood Lane, which still had to be dug up twice in succession to put bridges underneath. There's a photographic record by richardio123 and others in the Metrolink Extension thread on Skyscrapercity.

However the advance did enable the new Metrolink line, once opened, to avoid having to be closed again for the NR works.

 

[edwin_m]

Metrolink Phase 3 and Norton Bridge both made use of concrete structures prefabricated in a factory and assembled on site - platforms and bridges respectively. This relatively new technique may in part explain the early completion of the schemes.

 

[snowball]

Reports about Norton Bridge attribute a lot of the success to the alliance formed between NR and the contractors.

 

[familyguy99]

Just little reminded to people that line between Deansgate to Market St/Piccadilly Gardens (and along Eccles line) is closing for eight weeks this Sunday and replacement buses for Southern section will run as follow.

Replacement bus services from 26 June to early August

Three replacement bus services (X1, X2, X3) will run approximately every 10 minutes. Passengers will need to have a valid Metrolink ticket or pass before boarding the bus.

http://www.transformationinformatio...42-Bus-replacement-X1-X2-X3-service-2-web.pdf

•The X1 service will operate at peak times only (Monday to Friday, 7am-9.30am and 3.30pm- 8pm) calling at Piccadilly, Trafford Bar and Cornbrook.

•The X2 service will operate all day (to first and last tram times) calling at Piccadilly and Deansgate-Castlefield and most stops along the Eccles via MediaCityUK line.

•The X3 service will operate at peak times only (Monday to Friday, 7-10am and 3.30pm- 8pm) calling at Piccadilly, Trafford Bar, Cornbrook and MediaCityUK.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=329

 

[familyguy99]

Metrolink have confirm that St Peter Square stop will reopen on August bank holiday weekend (no date just let) and they also confirm that East Didsbury line will be getting six mins service but one every other will only run to Deansgate.

Changes to Metrolink services when new St Peter’s Square stop opens

Metrolink services are on track to return to Manchester’s St Peter’s Square at the end of August, after a multi-million pound transformation of the popular city centre tram stop.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is aiming to resume services through the square during the Bank Holiday weekend, subject to the successful completion of a thorough testing and commissioning process once construction work is complete.

At the same time, a full Eccles line service will be restored following extensive track replacement work to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of trams along the route for many years to come.

The St Peter’s Square stop opening will be good news for customers on the East Didsbury line, who will benefit from a six minute daytime service (0715–1930 Mon-Fri only and Sat 0930–1830). The Altrincham – Bury service pattern will also be restored.

Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, said: “We know there’s a great deal of interest from our customers in what services will look like when the new St Peter’s Square stop opens so I’m pleased to confirm the new service patterns now.

“We’ll start to see the benefits of the new stop even before the Second City Crossing opens, with more frequent services able to run to and from East Didsbury.

“There’s a lot to achieve in the coming week as our contractor prepares to hand over the stop for us to run test trams. We then hope to welcome our first passengers back to the vastly improved St Peter’s Square stop over the bank holiday weekend.

“I’d encourage customers to keep an eye out for the latest information at our website, on social media and on stops and trams before the Bank Holiday weekend.”

Metrolink services have been suspended through St Peter’s Square since 26 June to accommodate works to get it ready for services at the end of August.

The newly expanded stop has two platforms and services will initially run through the stop using the revamped original city crossing line which continues along Mosley Street.

Metrolink contractor M-Pact Thales (MPT) is continuing work on sections of the Second City Crossing. When the new line opens in 2017, the bigger, improved stop will allow more frequent services to run through the city and across the tram network.

The St Peter’s Square stop is part of Manchester City Council’s flagship redevelopment of the square into a major new civic space.

More than 20 new semi mature trees are being installed around the stop, which is the first on the tram network to have trees planted on its platforms.

Both platforms have two trees to offer shade and greenery alongside the specially designed green themed passenger shelters.

Yorkstone paving is currently being laid on and around the tram stop and square to complement the existing paving following major works by the council in 2014.

Some of these paving works will continue in the area after the tram stop opens for services at the end of August, to finally complete the whole of the St Peter’s Square area.

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=1042

Service pattern once St Peter Square stop reopened is follow.

• Altrincham – Piccadilly
• Altrincham – Bury (Mon to Fri 0715–1930 and Sat 0930–1830 only)
• Bury - Etihad Campus
• MediaCityUK – Piccadilly (Mon to Fri 0715–2000 and Sat 0900–1800 only)
• Eccles – Ashton-under-Lyne via MediaCityUK
• East Didsbury – Victoria (Mon to Fri before 0715 and after 1930. Sat before 0930 and after 1830. All day Sunday).
• East Didsbury – Deansgate-Castlefield (Mon to Fri 0715–1930 and Sat 0930–1830 only)
• Shaw and Crompton – East Didsbury (Mon to Fri 0715–1930 and Sat 0930–1830 only)
• Rochdale Town Centre – Exchange Square
• Manchester Airport – Cornbrook
• Firswood – Manchester Airport (0300 – 0600 only)

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/ServiceD...034 Tram frequency table END OF AUG 2016 .pdf

 

[Altfish]

St Peter's Square will look great when it's finished. It's already very impressive with trees in the platforms.

 

[miami]

Service pattern once St Peter Square stop reopened is follow.

Crucially doesn't say which line it takes through the centre!

Didn't realise that Airport had such a long-running service - only about 23 hours of downtime a week!

 

[Shrimper]

It's only SPS re-opening, 2CC will be a few more months yet (though is still on schedule). Therefore everything will route via Market St.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Didn't realise that Airport had such a long-running service - only about 23 hours of downtime a week!

The 0300-0600 Firswood to Manchester Airport schedule is to enable airport workers on very early shift starts to get to work.

 

[WatcherZero]

Crucially doesn't say which line it takes through the centre!

Didn't realise that Airport had such a long-running service - only about 23 hours of downtime a week!

Yeah, similar concept to the Night Tube. The Airport is sponsoring the earlier service hours to allow workers to get to work for the 4am shift change.

 

[Altfish]

St Peter's Square will look great when it's finished. It's already very impressive with trees in the platforms.

SPS and the old 1CC should reopen on Sunday

 

[PermitToTravel]

Crucially doesn't say which line it takes through the centre!

There's only one at the moment; I guess their timetable from Novemberish will specify which line

 

[familyguy99]

SPS and the old 1CC should reopen on Sunday

Metrolink comes together with opening of new-look St Peter’s Square stop

The Metrolink network will once again come together when the new-look St Peter’s Square stop opens to customers on Sunday (28 August).

The re-opening of the stop, which has been closed to passengers for 14 months, also signifies the return of twin track services through the square and north-south cross city tram links for the first time nine weeks.

At the same time, a full Eccles line service will be restored following extensive track replacement work to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of trams along the route for many years to come.

Services will resume subject to a thorough testing and commissioning process and people are being reminded to pay attention to the tram lines and their surroundings as test trams operate over the coming days.

In a multi-million pound project, the new-look stop has been moved towards the northern end of the square, near the relocated cenotaph.

Boasting two new island platforms and two sets of twin track, the stop will allow more frequent and reliable tram services to run through the city and across the tram network when the Second City Crossing opens next year.

Further finishing works for the Second City Crossing will be undertaken around the stop and the square.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=364

Tram testing have started running through St Peter Square (in daylight) today and users Freel07 and Pjm0512 have posted pictures of trams running in St Peter Square area over on Skyscrapercity Metrolink forums site.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=866944&page=2229

 

[Altfish]

Indeed St Peter's Sq tram stop reopened this morning