Article updated 30/04/2025
Manchester Metrolink services haven’t had a great day after an issue with the overhead at Deansgate-Castlefield. Originally described as the loss of power, it was later confirmed that 3132 lost its pantograph leading to the problems.
No trams have been able to run across Manchester City Centre from mid-morning on Tuesday 29th April 2025 after power loss. All services from the outer reaches of the network were terminating short of the city centre, with the Ashton line suspended in its entirety.
The problems started at around 1015 with 3132 suffering a loss of power and damage to a pantograph (severe damage to the pantograph). Following the incident no services could get into Manchester City Centre with them being terminated short, whilst the Ashton line was initially suspended in its entirety. .
From around 1015 to 1500 following revised service operated:
- Bury to Victoria
- Rochdale to Victoria (the Shaw & Crompton service not operating)
- East Didsbury to Firswood
- Manchester Airport to Firswood
- Altrincham to Old Trafford
- The Trafford Centre to Wharfside
- Eccles to MediaCityUK
No trams were running on the Ashton line.
Then after 1500 and expected to be for the remainder of the day services ran:
- Bury to Ashton-under-Lyne
- East Didsbury to Firswood
- Manchester Airport to Firswood
- Altrincham to Cornbrook
- Eccles to Cornbrook
- The Trafford Centre to Wharfside
- Rochdale Town Centre to Exchange Square
Ticket acceptance was put into place on all Bee Network bus services, and on rail services between Ashton/Manchester Airport/Eccles/Altrincham and the city centre.
Ian Davies, TfGM Network Director, said: “We are sorry to anyone whose journey has or will be impacted because of today’s disruption. Power has now been restored, and the cause has been identified as damage to overhead lines near to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.
“Specialist engineers will be making repairs today and staff will remain out on the network to assist passengers with their journeys. We have had to make some changes to services while the repair work takes place, and I’d encourage people to continue to check the Bee Network app, website and social channels for the latest information and advice for the remainder of the day.”
Update 30/04/2025
The repairs were completed by the end of Tuesday 29th April but normal services didn’t resume until the start of Wednesday 30th April to allow stranded trams to be returned to depot and full testing of the repairs to take place.
Following completion of the work, Ian Davies, confirmed the reasons for the issues: “Specialist engineers have been working hard on site throughout the day to repair the damage as quickly as possible and get the network back up and running. The incident was caused by a damaged pantograph — the part that connects the tram to the overhead line, which in turn damaged the wires and triggered a safety shutdown. Engineers repaired the damage and will be sending recovered parts away for technical investigation.”