In this edition of “Old(er) and New” we go into Manchester City Centre for two images taken in roughly the same location.
Trams run alongside London Road for a short distance just after they have come through Piccadilly Place and before they go across the road and into Piccadilly Station undercroft. And that is where this photo is taken on 19th July 2013 as T68 1024 approaches Piccadilly with a terminating service (destination display already changed to say its not in service). By this time 1024 was in the last month of its operating life as it would be officially taken out of service on 10th August 2013. It would then go for scrap on 30th July 2014.
Moving on to 17th March 2025 and its almost exactly the same location where we see M5000 3134 approaching the camera. Its working a service to Etihad Campus so will be call at Piccadilly and then continue its journey, a major difference to the previous shot where Piccadilly was the terminus. Apart from that as we look around the tram we can see very little difference. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)