This pictorial article makes a brief stop at Victoria whilst Ken Jones was in Greater Manchester enjoying a rover ticket around the regions railways. In these photos – all taken on Wednesday 5th March 2025 – we look across from the railway platforms to see trams passing through, which included some from Ashton-under-Lyne which were being diverted this way and going to Crumpsall owing to city centre engineering works.
As we look over to the tramstop we see 3126 which is on the centre track. Normally the persevere of trams on the Manchester Airport route the tram was actually running a service to Etihad Campus. This was a service change during the trackworks with the usual Etihad Campus to MediaCityUK working coming here instead, whilst the Airport service was being terminated at Deansgate-Castlefield.
The flowers on the wall add a bit of colour as we see 3035 arriving at Victoria. Its not entirely clear because of the issues with getting clear electronic destination displays on photos but the tram is running to Crumpsall. This would have started back at Ashton-under-Lyne and will make rare use on the third platform at Crumpsall.
Unlike our previous two shots, 3122 is actually on normal route as its running to Shaw & Crompton and will have started back at East Didsbury. It will also have travelled via 2CC as it usually does. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 5th March 2025)