As you may have read in the comments section as part of our recent article about track repairs on Portland Street, the Manchester Evening News is reporting that services may resume between Victoria and Exchange Square from early May. The story was published with quotes from Danny Vaugan (TfGM’s Head of Metrolink) which suggest than an end to this disruption may be on the way.
It was back on 16th January 2024 that the initial discovery of the cracked rail just outside Victoria Station was reported, and ever since then revised services have been running. This has led to no trams able to operate between Victoria and Exchange Square in either direction and as from 12th February the East Didsbury to Shaw and Crompton service was revised to only run East Didsbury to Exchange Square (the East Didsbury to Rochdale Town Centre service goes via Market Street and Shudehill).
The complex nature of the replacement piece of track that is needed to be fitted here (its been replaced by straight rail to allow services to continue to run to Shudehill) has meant there is a long lead-in time for its manufacturer but if the Manchester Evening News article is to be believed it is almost ready for fitting.
Danny Vaughan commented: “Repairs to the complex crossing have been completed and final checks are in progress ahead of reinstalling the rail. TfGM is working closely with the operator and our engineering partners to reinstate full operations through Victoria in early May in a way which will result in the least amount of disruption for passengers.”
It is stated that repairs have been made to the damaged crossing (although clearly this will be off-site and not with it being put back in place) with final checks in progress.
There is now an advertised closure at Victoria on Monday 6th May (Bank Holiday Monday) which does seem to suggest that work will be undertaken (although we have thought that before!).
All day on 6th May trams from Bury will terminate at Queens Road, from Rochdale Town Centre will end at Monsall and those from Manchester Airport will only go as far as Cornbrook. There will also be replacement buses running Queens Road-Victoria-Shudehill-Piccadilly Gardens-Piccadilly and Central Park-Monsall-Victoria.
Victoria engineering works: No trams will operate through Victoria on Bank Holiday Monday 6 May as engineering works take place. The Bury, Rochdale, East Didsbury and Airport lines will be affected, and bus replacement services will be in operation between affected stops. More info at https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works/victoria-works