Metrolink service problems

Rochdale train station

​Metrolink passengers are advised that there will be no services running through Victoria on Tuesday 1 July due to ongoing problems with overrunning engineering works by Network Rail.

Metrolink tickets and passes will be accepted on Northern Rail services between Victoria and Rochdale Railway station.

Until services through Victoria are restored, trams will run:

Rochdale to Central Park
Bury to Crumpsall
East Didsbury to Piccadilly
Eccles to Ashton-under-Lyne via MediaCityUK
Altrincham to Piccadilly

Replacement buses are being provided and will run between Crumpsall and the city centre and between Central Park and the city centre. Passengers need to have a valid Metrolink ticket before they board a replacement bus.

Metrolink tickets will also be accepted on the following service buses: 81, 82, 83, 88, 98, 135, 181 and 182.

The buses will not call at Victoria or Market Street but passengers will be able to alight at Shudehill or Piccadilly Gardens. Passengers need to have a valid Metrolink ticket before they board a replacement bus.

Engineers were working around the clock to get the line through Victoria back into action but it was clear late last night that it would still be closed on Tuesday.

Network Rail carried out major engineering works on behalf of Metrolink over the weekend but they overran into Monday. Only once those works are complete can Metrolink carry out vital inspection and testing operations before trams can run safely in passenger service.

Metrolink Director Peter Cushing said: "I'd like to thank all of our customers for their patience and understanding during what I know will have been a very frustrating commute for them on Monday and I'm sorry their journeys will now be disrupted by the overrun for a second day.

"We're putting more replacement buses on for Tuesday morning, aiming to double what we had on Monday, and we are working closely with Network Rail to get trams running again as soon as it is safe to do so."

Debbie Francis from Network Rail added: "Network Rail contractors have been working round the clock to try and restore services through Manchester Victoria. Additional resources have been on site thorough out the day, but unfortunately they have been unable to rectify the problem. Network Rail apologises for the inconvenience which this has caused."