Metrolink set to return to Manchester Victoria station
Metrolink trams will roll back in to a new Manchester Victoria stop next month after a major overhaul to build new platforms and tracks.
The stop is expected to re-open to passengers by Wednesday 18 February, during a week of changes to Metrolink services that will allow an extended programme of work at Victoria and along Balloon Street to be completed.
The redesigned and expanded Metrolink stop will ultimately allow more frequent and flexible services to run through the iconic city centre railway station as part of the new Second City Crossing and wider tram network expansion.
During the project, managed and delivered by Network Rail as a key element of its redevelopment of the station, reduced services have been running through Victoria on a single line of track without stopping.
The final stages of the Metrolink project will require a sequence of changes to tram services over the course of next months half-term week.
Between Saturday 14 and Tuesday 17 February, no services will run to or through Victoria. The following services will run, alongside shuttle buses ferrying passengers into the city for drop-off and connections:
Bury to Crumpsall (with shuttle bus between Crumpsall and Shudehill & Piccadilly Gardens)
Oldham and Rochdale to Central Park (with shuttle bus between Central Park and Shudehill & Piccadilly Gardens)
Altrincham to Piccadilly
East Didsbury to Piccadilly
Eccles to Ashton, via MediaCityUK
Manchester Airport to Cornbrook
By Wednesday 18 February, trams from Bury and Rochdale will terminate at the new Victoria stop.
Services through Victoria to Shudehill, Market Street and beyond are expected to resume from the start of service on Saturday 21 February.
That milestone will result in the restoration of the six-minute service from Bury to the city centre and a direct Victoria to Piccadilly link.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: The completion of and reopening of the tram stop at Manchester Victoria is a milestone in the redevelopment of the station. To allow us to complete the work, there will be disruption to tram services between 14 and 21 February and we apologise for that.
However, the result will ultimately be a better tram service with better connections to the railway as part of the stunning new Manchester Victoria station.
Peter Cushing, TfGMs Metrolink Director, said: Were looking forward to welcoming our customers back on board at Victoria as the stations wider redevelopment enters its final stages.
Weve been working closely with Network Rail to ensure this important stop reopens as soon as possible because, although there will still be a lot of construction activity in the station when that happens, it will restore key services and connections for passengers.
There will be changes to services in the run up to the reopening during the traditionally quieter half-term period and well be publicising these as widely as possible.
With such a major programme of improvements across the Metrolink system at the moment, were grateful for peoples patience and this is reflected in the decision to freeze Metrolink fares this year.
The Metrolink network as a whole is benefiting from a £1.5 billion investment in new lines, new trams and stop improvements, and Manchester Victoria is a key part of the network-wide upgrade.
Last month, Greater Manchesters council leaders and transport bosses agreed that there would be no fare increase for Metrolink tickets in January 2015. The decision was made in light of the significant improvement work taking place across the Metrolink network.
Alongside the Victoria stop, major transformation work is also under way at the Deansgate-Castlefield stop, on the way for the St Peters Square stop, and the Second City Crossing (2CC) tramline is being built through the city centre.
The fare freeze will remain in place until the end of August 2015 for customers using paper tickets on trams and will remain in place until 2016 for customers who start using get me there smart tickets when they become available on Metrolink during 2015.
The Manchester Victoria Metrolink stop works and associated enhancements are being funded by the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.