A new information campaign has been launched by the GMPTE to keep people up-to-date about a major project to upgrade the Metrolink track in Manchester city centre. This includes posters being put up at all 37 stops, letters being delivered to local residents and businesses and leaflets are being handed out at stops and GMPTE Travelshops.
Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink Director, said: “The city centre track is now 16 years old and is easily the busiest part of the network. Trams travel on some sections more than 250 times every day. We’ll be providing a free shuttle bus service while the Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens stops are closed. And we’ve included a map in the leaflets we’re handing out showing the quickest walking route between Piccadilly and Market Street. It is essential that this work is carried out so that Metrolink can continue to operate effectively. Unfortunately there will be some disruption while the work takes place but I hope people will bear with us.”
The work being undertaken in the city centre will see Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens stops closed for the duration with work commencing on Saturday 27th September and being completed by Friday 21st November. Further work on the city centre track will be done in 2009.
As previously reported trams will operate every 6 minutes between Bury and Altrincham and every 12 minutes between Eccles and Victoria. A free shuttle bus service will run between Fairfield Street (opposite Piccadilly Station) and Piccadilly Gardens (opposite Wetherspoons) every 10 minutes. Extra buses will be operated at busy times.
* Further details of alternative arrangements during the work can be found here.
Source: Manchester Metrolink