The tram service between Piccadilly and Ashton-under-Lyne was suspended for a couple of hours on the morning of Sunday 18th January after a car was abandoned on the tracks at New Islington.
The BMW was abandoned when on the ramp down from New Islington stop into the tunnel which takes the tramway towards Sheffield Street turnback and Piccadilly Station undercroft. It had to travel some distance along a tram only section in order to get to where it was. The three occupants were seen abandoning the car after it became stuck just after 1000.
Metrolink staff attended the scene and had to call a tow truck to remove the car. This took around two hours with services resuming not long after 1230.
During the disruption no trams ran from Piccadilly to Ashton-under-Lyne with would-be passengers advised to use local bus services instead to complete journeys.