In Pictures: Trafford Park line junction installed

Between 28th July and 10th August no trams on Manchester Metrolink ran between Cornbrook and Eccles to allow for the construction of the junction with the new Trafford Park line at Pomona. The work was completed on time allowing Metrolink services to resume as planned and in this pictorial we see the finished work at the junction on 17th August.

In addition to the work around Pomona other big sections of the line continue to be constructed. One big section set to be put into place soon is that of the steel work for the bridge over the Bridgewater Canal alongside Park Way in Trafford Park. This is due to be lifted into place over the weekend of 8th and 9th September.

Taken on Pomona stop shows 3064 crossing the junction on the way to Eccles.

Again at Pomona stop on the inbound side showing the new crossing taking the outbound Eccles line across what will be the inbound Trafford Park line along with the trailing junction between the two lines.

This shows the facing points in the outbound line at the west end of Pomona stop.

Taken at ground level on Pomona Strand we can see the steel beam spanning Pomona Strand which will support the first of the main spans of the new viaduct. The new spans are due to be lifted into place over the weekend of 1st and 2nd September.

This shot was taken from Trafford Road Bridge and shows the approach ramp and the new bridge piers in place in readiness for the spans. (All Photographs by Steve Hyde, 18th August 2018)

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4 Responses to In Pictures: Trafford Park line junction installed

  1. tram man says:

    Maybe its because i am a bit bias towards Metrolink ,but when i look at Steve’s photo’s of the extension to the Trafford Centre i always think Metrolink extensions always seem on such a bigger scale than other systems around the country.They always seem to include some major infrastructure projects like crossing motorways ,canals and rivers.I suppose thats just the geography of greater Manchester.

    Just a bit of trivia about Pamona tram stop.When it was first build as part of the extension to Eccles it was envisaged that it would be a major drop of stop for Old Trafford football ground.So the station entrance was built to handle large crowds on match days.Of course the crowds never materialised and football fans found it easier to alight at the next stop Exchange Quay.

  2. Steve_Hyde says:

    I would agree that quite a few of the recent Metrolink extensions have included significant civil engineering challenges tram man. But in fairness, the Nottingham Line 2 extensions were very bit as ambitious as anything Manchester was engaged in at the time. They included a number of major civil engineering works including the reinstatement of the bridge over Nottingham Station and the construction of the long viaduct past the Queens Medical Centre and University on the Clifton line.
    I also think that we must not forget the project ramping up in Birmingham which is set to result in significant expansion.

  3. tram man says:

    Yes you are probably right Steve.Its just i cannot relate to other systems like i can to Metrolink .Plus nobody seems to cover these extensions like you do.
    I hopped of the tram at Pamona the other day just to have a look myself.One thing i did notice was on the outbound side is two original signs attached to the old signal post.One is instructing drivers to select “street running without steps” and the second one is telling drivers to deploy phase two mirrors.Obviously a reference to the old T68a.
    On your third photo Steve,if you would have just panned round a bit to the left you would have captured these.Still,great photos though

  4. Steve_Hyde says:

    Hi tram man and thanks for the comment.

    In fact it is the construction process and the progress up to the eventual opening that interests me more than simply photographing the trams, although I have to admit to spending time doing just that.

    As for the the signals and signage, both of the Pomona signals used to have signage instructing drivers to change mode. This is obviously now redundant and has been removed from the inbound signal but but for some reason the outbound one has been left with the signs.

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