For this edition of “Old(er) and New” we head out of the city centre and find ourselves at Old Trafford.
This image features a double T68 with 1024 leading 1017 with a service from Altrincham to Bury, which will call at Woodlands Road as the digital destination display kindly confirms for us. Both of these trams have are now scrapped, although 1024 didn’t go straight to that fare with it initially stored for UKTram at Long Marston. They are just calling at Old Trafford which is another stop which includes staggered platforms which this showing the citybound one. The stand beyond the platform is at the cricket ground.
Things haven’t changed a huge amount by 17th March 2025 for the stop as we see a double M5000 calling. 3034+3030 will run into Piccadilly rather than the Bury service we saw last time but apart from that it’s the same capacity for the working for those wanting to go about their daily business. The stand at the cricket ground remains in place, although there has been other development at the ground in the intervening 13 years. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)
It would have been good if Metrolink could have devised a way of stabling a couple of doubles Manchester bound. They can bring sets out from the depot for Altrincham services but with no way of crossing them over they are stuck with a 12 minute service towards the city centre. For well attended events the wait can be up to an hour.