Work to repair Rochdale to Oldham tramline to take five weeks

Work now underway on Rochdale and Oldham tramline impacted by land movement

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said that repairs to the section of track between Rochdale and Oldham are expected to take five weeks.

Trams have been suspended on the line since 10 July 2024.

Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.

To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back (‘slewed’) into its original position. The overhead line poles also need to be repaired. Due to the complexity of the work, it is expected to take up to five weeks to complete.
 

Read more: No trams between Rochdale and Oldham due to “land movement”Published: 10 July 2024

The detailed ground investigations will establish whether further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.

TfGM’s network director for Metrolink, Pete Sommers, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.

“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.

“We will of course keep passengers updated and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”