There will be major changes for Manchester Metrolink services for a week starting on Sunday 20th March with rail replacement works due to take place at Piccadilly Station and in Piccadilly Gardens outside Primark. Between 20th and 26th March there will be no service at all on the Ashton line whilst the original city crossing will be closed seeing trams which usually travel that way being diverted via 2CC.
During the period Sunday 20th to Saturday 26th March the following services will run:
- Bury to Altrincham via Exchange Square (additional peak time services will run on this route with the usual Bury/Altrincham to Piccadilly services not running)
- Rochdale Town Centre to East Didsbury via Exchange Square
- Shaw & Crompton to East Didsbury via Exchange Square (peak time only)
- Airport to Victoria via Exchange Square
- Eccles to Deansgate-Castlefield
- Trafford Centre to Cornbrook
There will be no services at all on the Ashton-under-Lyne line and the stops at Shudehill, Market Street, Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly will be closed with no trams calling. The service changes listed above means that 2CC via Exchange Square will be exceptionally busy – at peak times it usually has 10 trams an hour but if usual frequencies are maintained the extra services will see this increase to 25 an hour in each direction!
Bus replacements will run:
- Ashton-under-Lyne to Deansgate-Castlefield via Piccadilly
- Victoria to Piccadilly
Daniel Vaughan, TfGM Head of Metrolink, said: “We’re very sorry for the inconvenience we know this closure of the Ashton line will cause but will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption by running a like-for-like replacement bus service. The works to install new rail track will be condensed into one six-day closure, rather than a number of shorter, more disruptive closures over different weekends, and extra staff will be placed in key locations and at key times to help people get around or answer any questions. I’d encourage customers using the network to plan ahead and allow extra time when making their journey.”
A full service is due to resume across the network from Sunday 27th March.
- Full details including alternative arrangements for travel can be found at https://tfgm.com/city-centre-works