Metrolink suffers with three collisions in a week

Well, they do say that bad things come in threes and that has certainly been the case for Manchester Metrolink over the past few days. There have been collisions at Piccadilly Gardens, Ashton Moss and Wythenshawe causing both damage to trams as well as disruption to services.

Incident number one was on Tuesday 5^th March when 3106 hit the rear of a coach shortly after departing from Piccadilly Gardens on its way to Ashton-under-Lyne. The tram was crossing Portland Street when it struck the very back of the coach which was fouling the yellow box junction.

The collision happened at 0923 and it was confirmed that there were no reported injuries although the tram was said to have received extensive damage. Whilst services were back underway from just after 1100 it had been necessary for the following changes to be made during the intervening period:

• Ashton to Piccadilly (usual Ashton to Eccles)
• Eccles to Exchange Square (usual Eccles to Ashton)
• MediaCityUK to Crumpsall (usual MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus)
• Altrincham to Queens Road (usual Altrincham to Piccadilly)
• Bury to Cornbrook (usual Bury to Piccadilly)

Then on Thursday 7^th March a car and tram collided close to Ashton Moss on the Ashton-under-Lyne line at around 0615. There were again no injuries reported with the tram involved being 3138 and the car seeing damage. Trams were disrupted with no service from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne.

The final collision involved a car and tram in Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe on Friday 8^th March at approximately 1520. Two fire engines attended the scene and had to cut the driver of the car from his vehicle before he was taken to hospital for treatment. The Bee Network confirmed that as a result of this collision there was no service between Sale Water Park and Robinswood and that this was expected to last until the end of the day.

The tram involved this time was 3097 and this was derailed as a result of the impact.