Work is to be undertaken from this coming weekend (Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July) at Cornbrook Junction to install the equipment to allow the Tram Management System (TMS) to be switched on to allow more frequent services to run through the area. As Manchester Metrolink has continued to expand – with further expansion to follow as well – the number of services which have been able to be operate have been dictated by the old signalling system but with the engineers now seemingly convinced that they have got to the bottom of the problems that have dogged TMS previously work is to recommence on installing across the whole network.
The first set of works at Cornbrook will be undertaken on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July and will see all trams from Altrincham, Eccles and East Didsbury being cancelled and replaced by buses in their entirety to Piccadilly Station. Trams will continue to operate from Bury to Droylsden and from Rochdale Railway Station to Victoria throughout the weekend.
Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Metrolink is in the midst of a major transformation that will see it treble in size by 2016. Allied to that is the need to upgrade the existing ‘block’ signalling system to a new line-of-sight system, particularly through the Cornbrook junction, which is at the heart of the network. Regular passengers will know that services through this area are already starting to experience congestion and the work being done over coming weekends is an essential part of addressing that once and for all and, in turn, improving their journeys.”
As well as this work introducing TMS at Cornbrook there is due to be major work around Victoria in the coming months which will cause further disruption for passengers – although this will not just be confined to weekends with single line working due to be introduced here from early next year causing changes to services.
Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, said: “We are also already building up to the major transformation of the Victoria Metrolink stop, which will be completed in earnest over several months next year. So it’s an incredibly exciting time, but the scale and breadth of the work being done will unavoidably require some temporary changes to weekend services. There’s no such thing as a quiet weekend in Greater Manchester – there will always be something happening somewhere – so the schedule of work aims, wherever possible, to strike the balance between getting things done as soon as possible but with the least impact.”
Well I hope the works go well. There will be a lot of nervous people at TFGM and Metrolink hoping that normal service can begin on time on Monday morning!
Does anyone know exactly what is going on this weekend? The article refers to ‘installation’ but a lot of equipment is already in situ but covered over with hoods. Is there any commissioning this weekend or just further installation?
I was down at Hagside level crossing on Tuesday afternoon and noticed the signal box was open and looked manned, with the crossing gates only opening when a vehicle wanted to cross and then the gates were closed again. I can not say I have ever seen this crossing box manned before so I wonder if its anything to do with the TMS commissioning or something to do with a signal fault around the Bury area?
Its been like that since the Control Centre transferred to Old Trafford. The remote control panel at Queens Road wasn’t moved across so they have reverted to using the local panel which was retained in 1992 when the crossing was converted to CCTV remote control. The cost of transferring the system to Old Trafford must have outweighed the cost of manning the box.
According to local paper the ‘Rochdale Observer’, trams will begin running along the new town centre Metrolink line this month on test, in what is described as “just the first stage in what will be an extensive testing and commissioning process.” But passengers still have to wait until next year to get on.
“This week contractors began to test the overhead power lines which run along the….. extension from Rochdale railway station to Smith Street. Testing will continue throughout the month, between midnight and 7am. As part of the work, a tram will run along the route later this month to test the line……. Scheduled test dates are July 15, 16 and 17, and the weekend of July 20 and 21.”
Lots of activity at Cornbrook yesterday and also down to the Quays whilst the system is tested. They even used a quadruple tram with the testing! I ventured onto Cornbrook platform and noticed that all TMS equipment was lit and the old more traditional signalling was hooded over.