Delays after contractor hits cable at St Peter’s Square

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had the work at St Peter’s Square got started in earnest then Manchester Metrolink services came to a standstill after a contractor struck an uncharted cable during excavation works. The incident meant that a complete power failure was experienced at approximately 0830 on Monday 29th June leading to Metrolink services being suspended for approximately 30 minutes (with the Eccles line being affected for longer). Delays were also caused to traffic as a tram was stranded blocking London Road when the power failure hit. A statement was released apologising for the delays caused with Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink Director, commenting: “I want to apologise to those people affected by this morning’s incident. This caused significant and unacceptable disruption for commuters and I want to make it clear that I will be taking this up at the highest level with the contractor to understand how it happened, and to ensure it does not happen again. Repair work will take place overnight.”

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3 Responses to Delays after contractor hits cable at St Peter’s Square

  1. tram man says:
    Friday 3 July 2015 at 17:22

    It mentions a uncharted cable struck by contractors.I would have thought something as important as power cable that can knockout most of the metrolink system should have been charted.I know a lot of work has gone on over the years at st. peters square.Most of the work seems to involve moving all the utilities,water gas and electric,so when they come to dig it up in the future they know exactly where it is.

    • Ken Walker says:
      Friday 3 July 2015 at 22:02

      I was told that it was an ENW cable, but nevertheless as you say they should surely have known about it if it was so near to the tramway. Maybe it’s a case of for uncharted cable read embarrassing cockup that we don’t want to talk about!

  2. Erik Ickerbobs says:
    Saturday 4 July 2015 at 20:26

    A tram derailed at Chorlton. Just found that on the news.

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