As we approach the last few days of the closure of Manchester Metrolink’s original city crossing between Piccadilly Gardens and Victoria we return to the area to see some recent progress on the trackworks. These aerial views are taken from the Arndale Centre car park and look down as new track is laid.
These month long works got underway on Tuesday 25th March and have seen track renewal taking place at Market Street and High Street/Church Street – both areas which are usually well used by trams.
The works have led to service amendments with all trams from Altrincham running to Bury via Exchange Square, whilst the Manchester Airport service has also been diverted by way of 2CC instead of its usual route on 1CC. But perhaps the most intriguing change has been trams from The Trafford Centre being extended beyond their usual Deansgate-Castlefield terminus to Etihad Campus, with the usual MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus service suspended and all Eccles to Ashton workings going via MediaCityUK (and more doubles running).
The works are schedule to be completed on Wednesday 23rd April with normal services back up and running from Thursday 24th April.
Looking down at the works we can see that current work has been on the road junction between High Street (the road which trams run along) and Church Street (coming in from the left). With new track going down the concrete road surface is to follow. In the distance we can just see Primark which is where the tramway goes to the left to the stop at Market Street.
Straight down to where the new track is being laid. (Both Photographs by Reece Hughes, 18th April 2025)