Metrolink service changes

Artist’s impressions of how the new Manchester Victoria Metrolink stop will look once its transformation is complete

Work on a major, multi-million pound transformation of the Manchester Victoria Metrolink stop is set to start today.

The nine-month project will see the stop completely redesigned and expanded to provide additional platforms and tracks, accommodating the new Second City Crossing and wider network expansion – in conjunction with the transformation of the railway station by Network Rail.

As a result of this work there will also be temporary changes to Metrolink services for the duration of the project.

The very first stage of work – from today to Sunday 23 February* – will see Metrolink services replaced with buses from Abraham Moss on the Bury line to the city centre and from Central Park on the Oldham-Rochdale line to the city centre.

Altrincham, Ashton, East Didsbury and Eccles services will run via Piccadilly.

Then, from Monday 24 February** onwards, trams will have to pass through Victoria in both directions on a single line of track. In order to safely maximise the number of trams that can run on the single line the stop will be temporarily closed to passengers.

Instead, passengers will be asked to use Shudehill, the next city centre stop along and just a short walk for connections with Victoria’s rail services and the Phones 4u arena.

Metrolink services will also change for the duration of the work:

• Instead of running to and from Bury, Ashton line services will run to Eccles via Piccadilly every 12 minutes. Rochdale and East Didsbury services will still run every 12 minutes but will not call or stop at Victoria. 
• Every Bury to Altrincham service will be served by double trams from start to end of service – boosting capacity at the busiest times. 
• A shuttle tram will run between Bury and Abraham Moss every 12 minutes, catering for approximately a third of all journeys made on this line. As a result, passengers travelling to stops between Bury and Abraham Moss should board the dedicated shuttle service, to ensure there is as much room as possible for city-bound passengers travelling in the busy morning and evening peaks. 
• Customers travelling between Victoria and Piccadilly rail stations can either use the free city centre Metroshuttle bus service (changing between Service 1 and 2) or alight at Market Street and walk to the Piccadilly Gardens stop (and vice versa) to complete their journey by tram. 

A comprehensive public information campaign will launch in the coming weeks to support passengers through the changes and to keep people up to date with the latest developments.

Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, said: “The Victoria project is incredibly exciting, it complements the wider transformation of the station but also plays an essential part of Metrolink’s Second City Crossing development and on-going expansion of the network.

“To ensure this is done in a safe manner, we have to run on a single line of track. Currently, 15 trams an hour call at Victoria in each direction – that’s 30 overall, which simply cannot be sustained when we’re running on just a single line.

“So we’re temporarily closing the stop and asking people to use the nearby Shudehill stop instead. We’re also making changes to services on the Bury line, which will be supported by running double trams on every service from Bury to Altrincham via the city.

“We’ve considered these changes very carefully and they will provide customers with the most effective, safest and least disruptive option. They also mirror demand we’ve monitored on the network.”

A Additional signage and ticket vending facilities will be provided at Shudehill, and Metrolink staff will be on hand during the busiest times. Additional measures will also be put in place to cater for demand during events at the nearby arena. The Victoria Metrolink stop works and associated enhancements are being funded by the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.

*Metrolink services Friday 21 February to Sunday 23 February (inclusive):
· Eccles to Ashton (every 12 minutes, via MediaCityUK on Friday and Saturday only)

· East Didsbury to Piccadilly (every 12 minutes)

· Altrincham to Piccadilly (every six minutes - every 12 minutes on Sunday 23rd)

· Bury to Abraham Moss (every six minutes - every 12 minutes on Sunday 23rd) – a replacement bus service will operate from Crumpsall to Shudehill and Piccadilly

· Rochdale to Central Park (every 12 minutes) – a replacement bus service will operate from Central Park to Shudehill and Piccadilly

**Metrolink changes from Monday 24 February for circa nine months:
· Manchester Victoria stop – temporarily closed until further notice; please use the Shudehill stop instead

· Bury to Altrincham, via St Peter’s Square (every 12 minutes) – increased capacity with double trams from start to end of service

· Bury to Abraham Moss shuttle tram (every 12 minutes) – catering for approximately a third of all journeys made on this line)

· Ashton to Eccles, via Piccadilly (every 12 minutes)