Manchester Metrolink services to the Airport will start running at 0300 from Monday 21st March to help staff working on the early shift which starts at 0400. The first extra early trams will depart Firswood at 0300 arriving at the Airport by 0340; in plenty of time for staff needing to start work.
Trams will run every 20 minutes until 0600 and then services will run to their current frequencies (every 12 minutes at most times with this dropping to every 15 minutes early and late on Sundays).
Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, explains more: “Not only will this change have a direct and beneficial impact on current employees who live in close proximity to the line, it will open up job opportunities for many others in a way they’ve never experienced before. It is therefore absolutely essential that they have an accessible and frequent form of transport that they can rely on to get them to and from work – something Metrolink will undoubtedly offer with this extended service along its multi-award winning Airport Line.”
It has also been confirmed that the Airport services will be extended back to Deansgate-Castlefield later this year (currently services only run to Cornbrook).
Just think of those poor drivers signing on at 2-30 in the morning.Think I would rather do a night shift.
I stand to be corrected but I seem to remember that once the line is fully open then a limited all night service was to be introduced. Night shift required?
Night shift work is common place on buses!
Roger you are quite right it was always the plan to run the airport line 24hrs.It was just a bit of tongue and cheek reply.At the moment a driver would have to get up at say 1-30 in the morning to arrive for a 2-30 sign on,unless they are going to tag on a couple of hours to a late turn.So once the 2CC is open and it terminates at Vic it will probably go to a proper night shift turn.The only problem is most of the infrastructure work is done at night.But I suppose once the serviced is advertised then they have to put replacement buses on during any engineering works.