The past few months may have been quiet on the Manchester Metrolink extensions front but there will shortly be more action as commissioning and testing of the East Manchester line between the current terminus of Droylsden and Ashton-under-Lyne gets underway later this month. As a result of the testing there will be some permanent changes to traffic regulations along the line to allow the trams to operate smoothly.
From Monday 15 July a westbound reserved tram lane (painted a bright red to make it obvious to motorists) will be introduced on Droylsden Road between Lumb Lane and Williamson Lane. On the same date there will be further changes for motorists with right turns banned for eastbound cars from Droylsden Road in Kershaw Road, westbound cars from Droylsden Road into Moss Street and westbound cars from Droylsden Road into North Drive.
Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, said: “We’ve made excellent progress with the new Metrolink line to Ashton and are well on track for opening the new line this winter, as planned. People living or travelling along the route will start to see some changes to road-markings soon as we get ready for trams and cars sharing the highway. We’ll be starting a comprehensive testing and commissioning programme to get the line ready for passenger services soon. That will include overnight tram tests between Droylsden and Ashton, followed by daytime testing and training to familiarise tram drivers with the route. As always, we are writing to all local residents and businesses to let them know the progress we are making and what to expect in the coming months.”
This section of the East Manchester line is due to open in winter 2013/4 and will see new stops opening at Audenshaw, Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Ashton-under-Lyne. When commissioning and testing commences during July it will not be the first time that trams have travelled on this section of tramway as M5000s 3059 and 3061 undertook initial testing runs in early March 2013.
Had heard it said on more than one occasion that the line to Ashton is planned to open in September.
Well the East Didsbury extension is claimed to have opened several months early so I wouldn’t be surprised.
The first tram ran all the way to Ashton in March – so why the delay in actually progressing to opening?
For a number of reasons but mainly because once the gauging run has taken place there is a lot of work to be completed which is relatively invisible to the casual observer. A lot of this is associated with the control system and in the case of Ashton of course this had to await the transfer to Old Trafford which was quickly followed by the East Didsbury opening.
According to TfGM website pubic services to Ashton start on Wednesday 9th October subject to successful completion of testing