There will be another new timetable introduced on Manchester Metrolink from Tuesday 2nd January 2024 which will see more trams running to Etihad Campus as well as further double units operating on the Bury and Altrincham lines.
It was back on Monday 25th September this year that the intermediate Etihad Campus service was reintroduced with trams running from there to MediaCityUK at peak times. This means that the section between Piccadilly and Etihad Campus now enjoys a tram every six minutes until 2000 weekdays and 1830 on Saturdays.
But this will now be further improved as from Tuesday 2nd January 2024 the Altrincham to Piccadilly service will be extended to Etihad Campus after 2000 on weekdays, 1830 on Saturdays and also all day on Sundays. So, the section from Piccadilly to Etihad Campus will now see a more regular service seven days a week from 0700 to the end of service.
Not content with this enhancement in the service Metrolink will also be providing more double units on the Altrincham-Piccadilly/Etihad Campus and Bury-Piccadilly services. Doubles will run from the start of service on both the Bury and Altrincham lines and when the Altrincham service is extended to Etihad Campus this will also be served by doubles. This is the case on Monday to Saturdays with Sundays seeing the “majority” as doubles.
This news comes just as passenger demand on the Metrolink network has recovered to pre-pandemic levels in the lead-up to Christmas. In the full week from Monday 11th December 2023 there were 940,000 trips on the trams (112% of pre-pandemic levels) and Wednesday 6th December saw 160,000 trips made. In fact the weeks of 20th November (100%), 27th November (103%) and 4th December (110%) also saw passenger numbers reach at least pre-pandemic levels.
Probably unsurprisingly the five busiest stops in the four weeks between 20th November and 17th December are all surrounding the city centre: St Peter’s Square, Deansgate-Castlefield, Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly and Victoria – all of which have seen increases in passenger numbers when compared to the previous four weeks.
It has also been confirmed that late night trams – also reintroduced from September – will continue to run. This sees services until 0100 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Andy Burnam, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I am delighted that Metrolink will be introducing extra capacity and frequency onto the Altrincham and Bury Metrolink lines, which provides a vital connection for people travelling between the north and south of our region. These changes, combined with the late-night trams, will provide a real boost to regular passengers while also presenting a compelling case for those who perhaps don’t travel on trams as frequently to use Metrolink, which plays a central role in our integrated Bee Network public transport system.”
Danny Vaughan, TfGM Head of Metrolink, added: “With demand for services on the Altrincham and Bury lines increasing, this new timetable will provide the frequency and capacity needed to meet, sustain and continue to grow patronage on these routes. This shows that TfGM and the Metrolink operator are committed to enhancing the service for the benefit of our customers.”