More Manchester Metrolink misery
Major disruption on Manchester's Metrolink due to points failure
Metrolink is running a revised service today (Thursday 20th October) and providing additional bus services after a major fault brought the entire network to a standstill.
Despite the initial expectation that a short network-wide shutdown would be required this morning to investigate the fault, engineers were unable to find the cause and further investigations are ongoing..
It comes ahead of a busy evening in Manchester city centre with United playing Fenerbahce in a Europa League match at Old Trafford, while Justin Bieber plays the Manchester Arena.
From 2.30pm the following Metrolink services will be running:
Altrincham – Piccadilly (double trams)
Altrincham – Bury (peak service until approximately 8pm)
Bury – Etihad Campus (double trams )
Eccles – MediaCityUK (no trams will operate beyond MCUK)
East Didsbury – Shaw and Crompton (peak service until approximately 8pm, when services will terminate at Manchester Victoria as per normal timetable)
East Didsbury – Deansgate-Castlefield (double trams until 8pm)
Airport – Cornbrook
Rochdale – Exchange Square
Ashton - Piccadilly
In addition, shuttle buses will operate along the Eccles line this afternoon until end of service. This will be on an approximate 10-minute frequency between Piccadilly and MediaCityUK, calling at all stops except Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter’s Square and Pomona.
Customers using Metrolink replacement bus services from 2.30pm should purchase a ticket before boarding the bus from a machine on stop or via the get me there app.
Metrolink tickets are being accepted on the following commercial bus services for the rest of the day: 263, 42, 142, 33, 67 and 100.
For football fans heading to Old Trafford, bus services 250, 255, 256, 263 and X50 are all within walking distance of the ground and run to and from the main Piccadilly Gardens bus stops.
Rachel Spencer, TfGM Head of Metrolink Customer Service, said: “I’d like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience experienced today.
“We are working closely with the Metrolink operator, who is responsible for network maintenance and is investigating the nature of the fault, to ensure a speedy fix to the points fault impacting the Eccles junction at Cornbrook.
“In the meantime, we’ve looked at the best possible service we can run tonight to make sure people can get home, or out to events at Old Trafford and in the city.
“We’ll be running a strengthened Metrolink service, with more double trams on the Altrincham, East Didsbury and Bury lines, and shuttle buses along the Eccles line.
“Additional shuttle buses will complement the usual enhanced commercial bus services that operate on match days.
“I’d encourage customers to keep up to date by checking our website and Twitter feed and allow a little longer than normal for their journey today.”
PL