Monday 5th July will see a new timetable being introduced on Manchester Metrolink which is described as a step towards a pre-pandemic timetable, although it still isn’t quite where we were in March 2020. The blanket 10 minute frequency at peak times we’ve seen on all lines since the middle of last year will be replaced by a 12 minute frequency all day, every day but in addition the intermediate services on some of the lines will resume.
For lines such as those out to Manchester Airport and the Trafford Park line this new timetable means there will be fewer trams running during the bulk of the day ( five instead of six an hour) but their early morning and evening services will be running at an improved frequency. It’s the lines such as those out to Bury, Altrincham and East Didbsury which will see a major improvement with the intermediate services, which haven’t run since last March, being reintroduced. The Ashton line also seems the resumption of its intermediate service but this will only be operating from MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus rather than all the way to Ashton for now.
The current service – trams every 10 minutes on all lines until 1900 Monday to Saturday, every 20 minutes at all other times – will continue to run until Sunday 4th July after which the new timetable will be introduced.
Speaking about the new timetable, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said: “While patronage is still someway off pre-pandemic levels, our traditionally busier lines are the ones where we are seeing the biggest increases and these changes not only mean we can cater for this demand now, they enable us to meet future growth. We will monitor our passengers’ travel patterns closely and continue to be flexible in our approach, ensuring our services and trams support people as they return to work, the shops, bars and restaurants and major events.”
TfGM have said that there will be a flexible approach to the use of double trams on the network so that they are utilisied where they are needed the most. All available trams will continue to be used in service – including new trams as and when they are commissioned.
Services on the new timetable will run as follows:
- Altrincham to Bury
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0900 to 1830
- Altrincham to Piccadilly
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000
- Bury to Piccadilly
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000
- East Didsbury to Rochdale Town Centre
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000
- East Didsbury to Shaw and Crompton
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0900 to 1830
- Eccles to Ashton-under-Lyne
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000
- Manchester Airport to Victoria
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000
- MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 2000
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0900 to 1830
At all other times the Eccles to Ashton-under-Lyne service runs via MediaCityUK
- Trafford Centre to Cornbrook
Monday-Thursday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0000
Friday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Saturday: Every 12 minutes 0600 to 0100
Sunday: Every 12 minutes 0700 to 0000