Starting from Monday 24th October a temporary timetable has been in operation on Manchester Metrolink with a change in service pattern through Piccadilly Gardens because of a delay in engineering works due to take place on the delta junction. This has meant that trams from Ashton have been diverted to run to Crumpsall whilst the Eccles line has only been running as far as Deansgate-Castlefield. Trams from both Bury and Altrincham have also been unable to reach Piccadilly and so all services from these termini are running to each other. In this pictorial article, with photos from Steve Hyde, we take a look at some of these temporary operations at the end of October.
This temporary timetable is expected to be in operation until the end of November to allow for the delayed engineering works to take place. Originally scheduled to happen in October they have delayed as they are waiting for the supply of track to allow the replacement to take place on the delta junction. The works are now due to take place Tuesday 22nd to Tuesday 29th November. Until then the following revised services will continue to run:
- Ashton to Crumpsall
- Eccles to Deansgate-Castlefield
- Altrincham to Bury – every 6 minutes at peak times, every 12 minutes off-peak. No trams from either Altrincham or Bury will run to Piccadilly.
At Crumpsall 3101 is seen entering the turnback siding having completed a trip from Ashton via Victoria on one of the services diverted due to the track defect in Piccadilly Gardens which prevents the Ashton trams running to St Peters Square and Eccles. This extra platform was installed here in preparation for the extension of services from The Trafford Centre but has not yet been used for this purpose.
Taken from the disabled access ramp on the inbound side this shot shows 3101 ready to depart from the siding back towards Victoria and Ashton.
Still at Crumpsall but taken from the end of the outbound platform 3070 is seen crossing over from the outbound line to access the siding, again on a diverted journey from Ashton via Piccadilly and Victoria.
Having come to a stand alongside the platform 3070 now awaits its departure time back to Ashton.
Looking towards Victoria 3070 is seen alongside 3047 which is working a Bury to Altrincham service which will run direct to St Peters Square rather than running via Piccadilly.
South of the City the Eccles Line service is currently terminating at Deansgate Castlefield and here we see 3082 &3064 arriving at the centre platform where they will terminate before heading back to Eccles via MediaCityUK.
Now at the Cornbrook end of Deansgate Castlefield stop we see 3064 at the head of the Eccles service as 3133 arrives with an East Didsbury to Rochdale service.
Here 3098 arrives at Cornbrook with an Eccles to Deansgate Castlefield service. (All Photographs by Steve Hyde, 31st October 2022)