It has been confirmed – that subject to final testing and commissioning – a full tram service will resume through St Peter’s Square on Sunday 28th August bringing to an end a 14 month closure of the stop. Major rebuilding works have been taking place here with a relocated and enlarged stop having been constructed which will be used by passengers for the first time over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The rebuilding of the stop has been necessary to cater for the forthcoming Second City Crossing and has seen two island platforms constructed at the north end of St Peter’s Square near the relocated Cenotaph. Initially all trams will continue to run on the existing city crossing tracks although once 2CC opens in 2017 two sets of twin tracks will be in use.
Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “I’m delighted we’re going to be able to re-open the St Peter’s Square stop and reconnect the network over the bank holiday weekend, as planned. A significant amount has happened over the last nine weeks and it has required a huge undertaking by the contractor M-Pact Thales (MPT) to transform St Peter’s Square from a construction site into an operational tram stop in that time. To be able to restore services to and through the stop is a significant milestone and over the coming weeks there’ll be further work to the stop and wider area as the finishing touches are applied alongside the city council’s ongoing works. Once complete, St Peter’s Square will undoubtedly be the jewel in Manchester’s crown.”