Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps to open Wednesday 13th June

It has been confirmed that the Manchester Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps will open to passengers from the start of service on Wednesday 13th June, subject to the usual provisos of the satisfactory completion of testing in time. This will be the latest stage of the major expansion of the Metrolink network to be completed and will hopefully be followed over the next year by further route openings.

At 0524 on Wednesday 13th June the first tram for Oldham Mumps will depart Victoria calling at all eight of the new stops on the line at Monsall, Central Park, Newton Heath & Moston, Failsworth, Hollinwood, South Chadderton, Freehold and Oldham Mumps. This tram will then form the 0600 departure to St Werburgh’s Road and from then on a 12 minute frequency will be operated (it is planned that this will eventually increase to a tram every six minutes). Journeys between Oldham Mumps and Manchester City Centre will take approximately 25 minutes.

As mentioned above trams the Oldham Mumps line are to be an extension of the current South Manchester line service with trams running between St Werburgh’s Road and Oldham Mumps via Victoria. Later on in 2012 it is planned that services will be further extended with the opening of the line between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale Railway Station and then in summer 2013 the South Manchester line is due to be extended from St Werburgh’s Road to East Didsbury.

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, was in understandably buoyant mood:
“This is an historic day for Oldham and the Metrolink network. From next week, people will be able to make brand new journeys from brand new stops on brand new trams and tracks. For the first time, people will be able to travel to and from Monsall, Central Park, South Chadderton and Freehold on this line, so we are opening up new and exciting opportunities. Of course, Oldham is a brand new destination for Metrolink and I encourage everyone to take a tram ride to see all the great things the borough has to offer. Today also marks the latest stage of a massive expansion of the Metrolink network that will bring our trams to even more new destinations and open up even more opportunities for businesses and communities. It’s a very exciting time but, like any major project, it is
not without its challenges and I am grateful for the patience that has been shown as we work through them to deliver these new lines.”

Tickets to any of the stops in Manchester City Centre (up to and including Deansgate-Castlefield) will cost £3.20 for a peak anytime single (off peak return is £3.50 and anytime return £4.80) from stops between Oldham Mumps and Hollinwood and £2.30 for a peak anytime single (off peak return £2.80 and anytime return £3.40) from stops between Failsworth and Monsall.

The stops at Monsall, Central Park, Freehold and South Chadderton are brand new constructions for Metrolink whilst the stops at Oldham Mumps, Hollinwood, Failsworth and Newton Heath & Moston were former destinations for the heavy rail service which have been fully rebuilt for the purposes of Metrolink.

Cycle stands are being provided at Freehold, Hollinwood, Failsworth and Newton Heath &
Monsall as part of Metrolink’s commitment to improving cycle parking facilities across the network. A 200 space park and ride car park will eventually be provided at Holinwood (currently under construction) but in the meantime 100 spaces will be available for the exclusive use of Metrolink passengers.

Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, was also delighted about the news: “To have Metrolink up and running will be a hugely significant and exciting day in the history of our
borough. The arrival of the tram has been a long time coming and we must make sure we keep to the agreed timetable for the town centre route as it is central to our future prospects. This is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken here and we believe it will act as a catalyst to create new jobs and opportunities. Work continues now on the town centre extension and Oldham Council is firmly focused on trying to deliver major improvements on that front. This includes the proposed redevelopment of the Old Town Hall, for example, plus the Hotel Future scheme and improvements to the public realm
which will help us to forge a new family-oriented leisure economy. It is essential to our plans to get people to see Oldham differently – as a place with excellent new infrastructure and opportunities, but also a place that is ‘open for business’ and has a real commitment to making things happen.”

The section of line serving Oldham Mumps is, of course, just a temporary line as in 2014 it
is planned that the new loop serving the Town Centre will be ready for opening. This will see stops provided at Westwood, Oldham King Street, Oldham Central and a new Oldham Mumps.

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9 Responses to Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps to open Wednesday 13th June

  1. nigel says:

    Surely this will have an impact on the Bury line as of course it has to cross onto the same lines into Victoria. On Thursday gone the first service tram from Bury was held on a red just before the new cross over whilst a tram went out on test on the Oldham loop!

    Obviously I can understand the initial euphoria of local dignitries and lets hope for them they do not suffer the continual problems the Bury line suffers from.

  2. DAODAO says:

    The opening of this line will restore (in a modern guise) the historic cross-city transport service from Chorlton to Hollinwood previously provided by Manchester Corporation (as tram 23 and later bus 82). Splitting of bus services in Manchester post-deregulation into 2 major separate companies severed the cross-city connections, with only Metrolink now able to provide such services.

  3. GLYN says:

    about time to, i wonder if the Droylsden route wil be next to open.

  4. Ken Walker says:

    Very good and about time too! But why are the off-peak singles dearer than the peak time ones?

  5. John Stewart says:

    Could Councillor Fender explain the difference between “new” and “brand new” in view of the frequency that he uses the pair of words? There is none, “brand” means nothing and adds nothing. It is no more than a silly modern cliche to insert this word whenever “new” is used. Can we all try to grow out of it?

  6. Phil says:

    Brilliant. I’m looking forward to travelling on it as the buses from Oldham to Manchester have been so slow since the axing of the Limited Stop services.
    When the new town centre extention opens on 2014 (construction is well under way) I will be only 2 minutes walk from Westwood stop.
    Best new is that it is not terminating at Victoria, but going through the city centre.
    One disappointment – cannot find any park & ride at Mumps.

  7. Ralph Oakes-Garnett says:

    Now is the time to make a big fuss about the plans to lift the existing first mile or so of the Oldham track once Oldham centre is operational. Many people from Rochdale and Shaw areas are expressing concerns that they will be forced to experience going through Oldham centre when many wish to go to Manchester centre. Many have expressed that it is easier to go from Rochdale by existing routes. It seems that the oppurtunity to have an express route missing out Oldham centre is deliberately bing missed. Rather similar to those of us in Saddleworth that have to experience a long tour of Oldham centre on the 184 bus. The only direct link to Manchester being the X84 at peak time. However those running Metrolink ie Tf Manchester know better. Choice is the key word but as is the case so often in politically correct Britain we are not given it.

  8. Ralph Oakes-Garnett says:

    Well done Metrolink today in ensuring things went well on the opening of the Oldham line earlier today very impressed much better than the Blackpool debacle on the first day in April.

  9. Ken Walker says:

    I live in Milnrow. The tram currently takes 25 minutes Oldham Mumps to Victoria, so say 30 minutes Oldham to Market Street/Piccadilly Gardens. When the Oldham town centre route opens we can add say 10 minutes for going through the streets. Milnrow to Mumps used to take 12 minutes by train, so at least 15 minutes by tram. That means Milnrow to Manchester city centre at least 55 minutes by tram (Interestingly a couple of years ago we were being told Rochdale to Manchester by tram would be 35 minutes!)
    The 181/182 bus takes an hour from Milnrow to Piccadilly Gardens. The peak return fare by tram Oldham to Manchester is £4.80. The bus fare Milnrow to Manchester any time of day is £4.50. There won’t be much incentive for travelling by tram at this end of the route! Incidentally I’ve heard a rumour that the trams on the Oldham line are limited to 40mph maximum and 10mph over bridges. Has anybody else heard of this?

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