Sunday 28th January saw the introduction of a new timetable on Manchester Metrolink, the main highlight of which was the extension of services on the Manchester Airport line from Deansgate-Castlefield to Victoria (except for the early bird services). These services run via the original city crossing via Market Street and finally bring passengers from the Airport directly into the city centre.
As well as the changes to the Airport line the same day also saw services from MediaCityUK now running through to Etihad Campus (instead of terminating at Piccadilly) whilst those from Altrincham which used to run to Etihad Campus are now turned short at Altrincham.
The very first tram to run in service between Victoria and Manchester Airport was 3063. It is seen here arriving at Victoria from Trafford Depot at 0648 with the first departure just four minutes away.
Airport services will be using the centre track at Victoria (with platforms either side) which has now been fully commissioned for service. Here we see 3067 arriving from Queens Road Depot in preparation for forming the second service to the Airport.
3064 is seen at the top of Mosley Street approaching Market Street with a service heading to Victoria from the Airport. (Photographs x3 by Steve Hyde)
A bit later on in the day and back at Victoria we see 3103 standing ready to depart for Manchester Airport via Market Street. (Photograph by Martin Miller)
And at Northern Moor this is 3106 forming a service from the Airport to Victoria. (Photograph by Dave Ellison)
* A video of the first day from Martin Miller can be seen on You Tube.
* A full collection of photos of the first day of services to Victoria, and also some other January views of Metrolink, will be uploaded to British Trams Online soon.
Since these changes the East Didsbury to Shaw route has vanished from the network map
https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram/network-map
Although trams are still running on this route!
https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram/stops/east-didsbury-tram
I don’t know why that route would be shown as a separate route as it is just a short working of the Rochdale service.
If I’m not mistaken the Eccles services don’t call at Media City at certain times which would explain why the Etihad-Media City service is shown as a separate route.
I was always under the impression that the airport service would use 2CC when it was extended to Victoria.The idea being to ease congestion between St Peters Square and Market street.Ken you are right about the Media city service.The Etihad-Media city service only runs from probably seven in the morning till seven at night.Then after that the Eccles service calls in at Media city both ways till end of service.
Trafford depot used to supply all eight vehicles required for the airport line.But now it looks like Queens road depot are getting in on the act.I would think you are looking at maybe two more vehicles required now its terminating at Victoria.
It has always been shown as separate as there is a 12 minute service from Rochdale, and a 12 minute service from Shaw providing the 6 minute service from Shaw to East Didsbury.
I know they were shown separately when the Shaw service started but that was because the Shaw trams ran to the temporary Royal Exchange terminus on 2CC while the Rochdale trams continued to run via Market Street, so the services took 2 separate routes on leaving Victoria, but since 2CC opened completely it has been meaningless to show them as 2 separate services. Obviously they taken the new map as an opportunity to correct this.