There were delays on Metrolink services to Altrincham on Monday 1st December during the rush hour after a tram, which had been sent out as an “ice breaker” to clear the wires of ice, broke down at Timperley.
The tram involved had to be shunted into sidings out of the way and whilst this manoeuvre was undertaken two trams had to be terminated at Old Trafford whilst a further tram was turned short at Timperley.
A Metrolink spokesman said: “We had an extremely heavy frost and there were unexpected difficulties in clearing the tracks. The ice-breaker, which is simply an empty tram sent out to clear the way, broke down and the situation was worst between Brooklands and Timperley. Other trams were finally able to get through but it meant quite serious disruptions to services, which then had knock-on effects to service north of the network. We put out announcements at stations but, unfortunately, it probably meant a lot of people were left to catch buses or make other arrangements to get into work."
* Metrolink services were also delayed in the early morning of Tuesday 2nd December due to ice. The affected route this time was Bury but Metrolink said that all services were running normally before 0700.
Source: Manchester Evening News