Another week of woe for Metrolink passengers

2012 has not exactly got off to a good start for Manchester Metrolink with a number of
tram breakdowns and points failures causing delays and disruption for passengers – all this hot on the heels of fare rises. With the anger of passengers starting to reach high levels with these continued problems, Transport for Greater Manchester have even gone so far as releasing statements apologising for what they describe as “unacceptable” delays.

The disruption this past week has been as follows:

  • Tuesday 17th January – points failures at both Cornbrook and Trafford Bar which caused delays for the Altrincham, Eccles/MediaCityUK and St Werburgh’s services.
  • Wednesday 18th January – a tram broke down at Piccadilly Gardens causing widespread disruption.
  • Thursday 19th January – a tram broke down on Mosley Street causing disruption for the Altrincham, Eccles/MediaCityUK and St Werburgh’s Road services.
  • Friday 20th January – a tram broke down at Prestwich during the afternoon causing delays to trams to and from Bury.

TfGM have put the blame on the broken down trams to the older T68 vehicles, reiterating
their stance that they wish to replace them as soon as possible with the new Bombardier M5000 trams which seem to have settled well into service.

A spokeswoman from TfGM said: “We do understand how frustrating it’s been for
passengers as there have been a few problems over the last few days which have been un-related. We do always try and get things moving again as quickly as possible.”

With the continued expansion of the Metrolink network these high profile delays are the
last thing that is needed with many potential passengers being put off using the system because the disruption is leapt upon by the local media who seem to always be on the look out for stories to do with Metrolink. It can only be hoped that the start to 2012 will soon be improved on the Metrolink network and that these few weeks will soon be looked upon as a freak period when nothing seemed to go right!

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