Manchester Metrolink master thread

[northwichcat]

Had a laugh at how Metrolink disruption appeared in the travel updates on a Newquest site

Trams not stopping on Manchester Metrolink due to broken down tram

Very helpful!

It appears it actually means no trams on the Media City spur. The Metrolink site update makes sense even with the spelling mistake:

Due to an earlier failed tram, services on the Eccles line have now resumed.

There is currntly no service to and from MediaCityUK.

Passenger are advised to use Harbour City stop.

 

[Manchester77]

metrolink disruption again. this time:-
taxi hit 3004 at St Peters Square
car hit 3021 at Exchange Quay

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I want to invent something like the lifts on Star Trek that go sideways.

Imagine if you could get in a lift at Piccadilly that went down, then sideways off to Victoria then up again.

If it could do that in 2 or 3 minutes (it's only a mile after all) that's no worse than the time it takes to get from Platform 1 to Platform 14 at Piccadilly.

Then the two stations would affectively become one big station

Ever read "The Time Machine" by H G Wells (Put me down as being a Morloch) ... or seen the original film version of "The Fly" (Heaven help us if things like spiders, flies or wasps decide to share our travel arrangements)...

 

[HSTEd]

So, for people routes such as the 43 which get a lot of people travelling Manchester Airport, Wythenshawe and Northenden to the Universities and Manchester, or 42/142/X57 between Didsbury and Manchester, what would you suggest - a bus run that'll get you as far as Fallowfield, and then onto this 'funitel' thing, or diverting people via the already busy Princess Road routes (in the case of the 43) or via Parrs Wood (in the case of the 42)?

The loadings on the 142/143 south of fallowfield drop precipitously, and if the loadings on the 42/43 over the same route dropped similarly, then you might be able to eliminate them entirely. Which is atleast 12 busses per hour gone.

You might even be able to start some of the 42/43s short in Fallowfield, which will save additional busses.

The vast majority of the traffic on the corridor is associated with the university.

And yes, you might be able to run a Airport-to-Stockport loop service stopping at wherever the Fallowfield station is.... or if you really wanted you could make the line longer and go all the way to the Airport.
Intermediate stations allow you to overcome the length limitations of cable cars (since you can have more than one loop and have the vehicles transfer between them) and you could cover the entire length of the route in probably 25 minutes even with several intermediate stops.

This is compared to the 44 minutes timetabled off-peak for the 43 and the 1hr07 timetabled in busier times.
Such a route would be massively cheaper than the only other viable alternative for non-road based mass transit in the corridor, which is a full blown underground railway.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Monorail! Monorail! MONORAIL!

Can I refer you to a proposal for a north-south monorail system in the Manchester area in the late period of the 1960's from an area of Middleton to Manchester Airport.

Manchester Corporation, the Ministry of Transport and British Railway made a joint project examination that was called "Manchester Rapid Transit Study".

A three-part volume was produced by the consulting engineering firms of de Leuw Cather and Partners in association with that of Hennessey Chadwick Oh Eocha. A copy of all these three volumes is currently kept in the archives of the Museum of Transport in Manchester.

 

[HSTEd]

In additional to my earlier proposal to simply extend the line all the way to the Airport, it would have important operational advantages in that you could concentrate the vehicle maintenance and storage facility adjacent to the airport where land is cheap, allowing the other stations to use the minimum profile system deployed in Koblenz..... I shall write up something more detailed and make a thread on this topic.

On another note: it is annoying to notice that Google Earth has not be updated to show imagery of the Droylsdon line yet.....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And yes, you might be able to run a Airport-to-Stockport loop service stopping at wherever the Fallowfield station is.... or if you really wanted you could make the line longer and go all the way to the Airport.

There is already an express service from Stockport bus station to Manchester Airport provided by the High Peak 199 service and the route for stopping buses covers Edgeley-Adswood-Cheadle Hulme-Heald Green-Wythenshawe is provided by the Stagecoach Manchester 369 service, which cover the direct Stockport to Manchester Airport corridor.

If there had been such a demand for the Airport to Stockport loop service that you so describe, this surely would have been addressed by the bus companies, but the Manchester to Manchester Airport routes 43 and 105 run by Stagecoach Manchester and the 44 route run by Bluebird give quite a good route coverage already in their routes.

 

[HSTEd]

There is already an express service from Stockport bus station to Manchester Airport provided by the High Peak 199 service and the route for stopping buses covers Edgeley-Adswood-Cheadle Hulme-Heald Green-Wythenshawe is provided by the Stagecoach Manchester 369 service, which cover the direct Stockport to Manchester Airport corridor.

If there had been such a demand for the Airport to Stockport loop service that you so describe, this surely would have been addressed by the bus companies, but the Manchester to Manchester Airport routes 43 and 105 run by Stagecoach Manchester and the 44 route run by Bluebird give quite a good route coverage already in their routes.

I was referring to cutting the 42/43 back to Fallowfield and running them as a loop to connect to a fallowfield station for such a "metrocable".
Not running a direct bus which as you say, already exists.

 

[familyguy99]

Off MEN website from problems in City Centre and Eccles line yesterday.

Metrolink lines reopen following incidents at St Peter's Square and Exchange Quay

There was disruption on two Metrolink lines today after separate incidents in the city centre and Exchange Quay.

A tram collided with a taxi at about 9.15am at St Peter's Square.

An ambulance has been called but no injuries have been reported as yet.

Altrincham services are turning around at G-Mex.

In a separate incident a tram has failed at Exchange Quay due a brake fault meaning all services on the Eccles/Media City line suspended.

Metrolink bosses apologised and closed the route while repairs were carried out to the stricken vehicle.

They were working to clear the line and reminded passengers that tickets and passes would be accepted on the number 33 bus.

Also reports that 3004 tram that were collided with Taxi was running up and down last night in City centre, so it look like they have fixed it very quickly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It seems that matters are moving forward on the East Manchester line in that driver training is said to take place later on October as part of current matters that will eventually see a service running part-way on the line to Droylsden, similar to that which happened with the part-way line service to Oldham Mumps on the Manchester to Rochdale line.

 

[Class377/5]

It seems that matters are moving forward on the East Manchester line in that driver training is said to take place later on October as part of current matters that will eventually see a service running part-way on the line to Droylsden, similar to that which happened with the part-way line service to Oldham Mumps on the Manchester to Rochdale line.

They have done overnight testing yesterday with TMS working it seems. The CIS even showed Bury Interchange as the westward destination at Edge Lane. Believe it was tram 3055 that did the trip.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They have done overnight testing yesterday with TMS working it seems. The CIS even showed Bury Interchange as the westward destination at Edge Lane. Believe it was tram 3055 that did the trip.

The line projection of Bury to Ashton-under-Lyne via Manchester city centre sounds to be quite a logical geographical projection.

 

[familyguy99]

Thanks to Johnny de Rivative who took this picture of PIDS working at Edge Lane stop and tram on test on EML.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=96211218&postcount=23715

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=96212452&postcount=23716

 

[Class377/5]

The line projection of Bury to Ashton-under-Lyne via Manchester city centre sounds to be quite a logical geographical projection.

Maybe but mixing it with another service could be a pain in the arse. Letting Eccles and MediaCityUK through services would be logically better fit. However too much road running (large amounts of on road travelling) might not be so good. Plus one on road incident could cut service on other half.

Thanks to Johnny de Rivative who took this picture of PIDS working at Edge Lane stop and tram on test on EML.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=96211218&postcount=23715

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=96212452&postcount=23716

He's waited long enough to see those PIDS work!

 

[Nym]

Maybe but mixing it with another service could be a pain in the arse. Letting Eccles and MediaCityUK through services would be logically better fit. However too much road running (large amounts of on road travelling) might not be so good. Plus one on road incident could cut service on other half.

Yeah, but one could do with more services between Picc and Vic, of course it won't make any difference if it's simply the current services extended to Ashton U Lyne.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Maybe but mixing it with another service could be a pain in the arse. Letting Eccles and MediaCityUK through services would be logically better fit.

I see a Bury to Ashton-under-Lyne service as providing something of a west to east service. There are enough South Manchester services already and don't forget the services to East Didsbury/Parrs Wood and to Manchester Airport will eventually give even more South Manchester destinations.

 

[telstarbox]

MEN article today suggests Metrolink will move to a new fare structure with four concentric zones:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...trolink-set-to-move-to-new-zone-ticket-prices

 

[jonesy3001]

That was on the SSC site last week, should rename them the Manchester evening old news!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That was on the SSC site last week, should rename them the Manchester evening old news!

A little unfair as SSC with its band of Metrolink devotees having the principle of updated news every hour on the hour amongst its cognoscenti whereas the Manchester Evening News has a news remit somewhat wider than that of the Manchester Metrolink system.

 

[telstarbox]

...including finding a tenuous excuse to link any story with United or City to drive up page views and argumentative comments!

 

[krisk]

Good to see trams out on test at Didsbury and out of Piccadilly station on the East manc line.

Personally cant wait till the new extensions are up and running, services to Didsbury and Ashton will be of great use to me and finally mean I don't have to give First Manchester anymore of my cash due to having a free metrolink pass.

 

[table38]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/transport/s/1591510_m60-and-m56-motorways-set-for-24h-closures

Drivers are being warned that two motorways will be shut in south Manchester for 24 hours next month as two new bridges are built.

The bridges are being erected across the M60 and M56 to carry a new Metrolink line to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport.

It means the M60 will be shut between Junctions 5 and 8 for 24 hours from 10pm on November 3.

The M56 will be shut between Junctions 2 and 5 from 10pm on November 24.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/transport/s/1591510_m60-and-m56-motorways-set-for-24h-closures

It will be at times like this when we see just how much road traffic is now being handled by both the M56 and the M60 motorways, particularly by heavy goods vehicles, when this traffic will be diverted back along the existing A and B roads in the area.

Incidentally, the new 4pp A4 sized SEMMS information sheet on the A6 (Hazel Grove) to A555 (Bramhall) link completion plus the A555 final continuation from Handforth to Manchester Airport has already been posted to the residents in the route corridor covered by this project. Exhibitions will be held in Hazel Grove, Poynton, Bramhall, Woodford, High Lane, Handforth, Heald Green and Wythenshawe, in November, on two dates at all these locations, details of which are shown in this leaflet.

 

[familyguy99]

Good progress on new Metrolink line to Shaw & Crompton

The first tram has crossed Oldham Mumps, ahead of services on the new Metrolink line from Oldham Mumps to Shaw & Crompton potentially starting early in the New Year.

Good progress is being made on the line, as demonstrated by the sight of the first tram crossing Oldham Mumps and travelling to the Derker stop as part of a thorough testing and commissioning process that is now under way.

Oldham councillors have also been invited to view progress on the Derker and Shaw & Crompton stops to see how the new line is shaping up.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Planning said: “The sight of trams crossing Mumps is a landmark, not just for this project, but for the wider changing face of Oldham and the regeneration of the town centre.

“It’s great to see the infrastructure for this line now in place. It’s vital now that the right testing takes place to ensure the safety and reliability of the service.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “The progress we’re now making on the extension to Shaw & Crompton and Rochdale Rail Station is positive and welcome and within the timescales we’ve been working to.

“The sight of the first tram crossing Oldham Mumps was an historic moment and a sign of things to come.

“That said, there are still some significant challenges involved, not least a very thorough period of testing and commissioning – and the weather conditions will also be a factor.

“So the work in the coming weeks and months will be crucial to maintain the programme so that people in Derker and Shaw & Crompton can benefit from the arrival of Metrolink early in the New Year.”

TfGM is working towards opening the new line to Shaw & Crompton first, which would not cause any delay to opening to Rochdale Rail Station.

In any event, services to Rochdale Rail Station are expected to open a few months later as further work is still required relating to the control system and commissioning.

Ultimately, all the lines will be controlled by the new tram management system, which is a crucial part of the expansion because it will allow more trams to run on the existing network.

The new system is being integrated onto sections of the existing lines – a complex operation that involves new technology working effectively with the existing outdated system.

http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_...x?articleId=80

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

^^^^ Some new picture that I took last Wednesday in Oldham Town Centre.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The line from Oldham Mumps to Shaw does pass through some open countryside and I note that the statement does make a note that weather conditions can have adverse affects. Experience gained during winter operations on the former heavy rail service can be learnt from here.

The new Metrolink station at Shaw is now situated on the other side of the road, outside the former Victorian cotton mills that were taken over by J.D.Williams for their catalogue logistics division.

 

[familyguy99]

Here some picture of tram at New Islington stop on the EML that I took today.


Metrolink 3052 (M5000)


Double M5000 trams at new Islington stop


3054 Metrolink tram


Two Metrolink trams at New Islington stop


Posted for Metrolink testing

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

 

[Class377/5]

Picture of a double tram at Rochdale has been shown on SCC. This now means all Phase 3a lines have had a live tram on them. However South Manchester is the first Phase 3b to have live trams.

The Big Bang seems to be alive and well with all this testing in one month on three different lines.

 

[familyguy99]

Picture of a double tram at Rochdale has been shown on SCC. This now means all Phase 3a lines have had a live tram on them. However South Manchester is the first Phase 3b to have live trams.

The Big Bang seems to be alive and well with all this testing in one month on three different lines.

^^^^ Here are picture of double M5000 trams at Rochdale if u haven't it on skyscrapercity site or on my flickr homepage.


tram at Rochdale


tram at Rochdale 2

(please note it was took by Metrolink worked or MPT as they send it me by email with this letter.

Dear Mr Me

Thank you for your email which has been passed to us send you a response.

You have asked about the opening dates and whether or not there have been tram testing on two of our new Metrolink extensions. Please see the responses below:

1) East Manchester Line to Droylsden.

East Manchester line to Droylsden – The roll-out of the new Tram Management System (TMS) will influence exactly when we can open the other new lines and the introduction of TMS is a very complex operation and this is the first time it has been introduced onto an existing, operational network in this country. The first application on Metrolink was the Eccles line which is now fully controlled by the new system from Pomona, through MediaCityUK to Eccles. However, the TMS requires a bespoke configuration at each interface between the “old” system and the new TMS; the solution in place on the Eccles/MediaCityUK line cannot simply be applied elsewhere on the network. Furthermore, the introduction of the TMS and the opening of new extensions represent significant change. Drivers and control room operators need to be trained before the opening, to become familiar with the new operating methods and routes, to enable the safe operation of each section. With the staged introduction of the TMS, the network is currently being managed by two systems and, careful consideration of Human Factors for control room staff and drivers is required.

In developing the bespoke requirements at the major rail junctions on the network, a number of technical complexities have emerged. The technical interfaces between equipment required to identify vehicle location, on board vehicle equipment, the control of the infrastructure and signals is complex and needs to be robust to ensure a safe operational system.

These complexities have required detailed rework and testing to meet requirements which have resulted in delays in migrating the system across the network, including the East Manchester line to Droylsden in the order of 3 months beyond the planned date of summer 2012. The delivery of the line will be kept under close review as TMS is rolled out across the system.

Apologies if the above response lacks the detail you require regarding a specific date. Unfortunately, this represents the most accurate and up to date information available at present. Rest assured, that further detail, including opening dates, will be available as the year progresses and will be widely advertised.

Over the coming months there will be an increase in activities along the route as we move closer to opening the new Metrolink line to Droylsden. Overnight dynamic tram testing is currently taking place with daytime testing to follow soon. Driver route training will follow successful dynamic testing from late October. This training will occur during the daytime and will ensure drivers are familiar with the new route and its junctions, signals and stops prior to opening to the public.

2) Oldham and Rochdale line.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is delivering an expansion programme that will see the Metrolink network triple in size with new lines to Rochdale via Central Park and Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury and to Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe as well as a second crossing through Manchester city centre.

As you may be aware, the first phase of the Oldham Rochdale Metrolink extension opened between Manchester Victoria and Oldham Mumps on 13th June 2012, connecting Oldham to destinations across Manchester via the operational Metrolink network. The next phase of works to be completed is the section of the Oldham Rochdale extension between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale railway station.

All the new lines will be controlled by a new tram management system ( TMS) which will ultimately operate across the current and extended network. This is a crucial part of the expansion because it will allow more trams to run on the network. It will also give drivers and controllers much more ability to manage individual vehicle schedules and movements

Due to technical challenges relating to the installation of the new signalling system (and integration of this system with the existing operational Metrolink network) a 3 to 6 month delay to the opening date beyond Summer 2012 is likely to arise. Civil works associated with the construction of the line are largely complete and work to overcome signalling issues is progressing well.

Please also see attached press release and photographs.

The line to Oldham town centre and Rochdale town centre are due to operate in 2014.

Please contact us again if you have any further enquiries.

 

[table38]

M60 bridge in place after the closure today http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1592913_new-metrolink-bridge-m60-closure-causes-traffic-misery

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

M60 bridge in place after the closure today http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1592913_new-metrolink-bridge-m60-closure-causes-traffic-misery

The resultant delays to motorists were only to be expected, as not just local journeys but other long-distance journeys use that "closed" section of the M60 as part of normal routing, especially HGV traffic.