We return to “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now” after a brief break last week and we are again on 2CC in Manchester City Centre.
Manchester’s Second City Crossing (2CC) fully opened to trams on 26th February 2017 and provides a second route across the city between St Peter’s Square and Victoria. It was required for capacity reasons due to the number of different services which now run between these stops and also provides a useful diversionary route. Princess Street is at the St Peter’s Square end of the route.
14th October 2014 and before major construction work got underway this is the scene at the St Peter’s Square end of the route. The Whetherspoon’s pub in the background – The Waterhouse – is located in an 1877 built civic palace which was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, hence its name.
We now move forward to 8th March 2024 and trams have been running on this section of track for over seven years. 3035 is working a service to East Didsbury as it approaches St Peter’s Square. The track layout here was completely reworked for the opening of 2CC and now features a four track layout with two tracks going onto 2CC and the others to 1CC. The Victoria bound 2CC track is in the foreground. Manchester Town Hall is under renovation on the left and The Waterhouse is just the other side of the tram. (Both Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)