SF07
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Post by SF07 on Dec 12, 2012 20:40:28 GMT 1
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Dec 15, 2012 21:35:50 GMT 1
Good progress, and means that plans to open through to Rochdale in 2012 are not too far behind schedule really. Once the service is up and running through to Rochdale, I shall ride the full Oldham/ Rochdale and Droylsden sections.
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Feb 20, 2013 18:25:29 GMT 1
Following the opening of the East Manchester line to Droylsden last Monday (11 February), Metrolink/TfGM have announced today that trams will run through from Shaw to Rochdale railway station from next Thursday (28 February). Route learning has been taking place this week in preparation of the opening. www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=175 |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on May 14, 2013 11:10:53 GMT 1
Three major updates on the Metrolink network announced in the last week. First of all, Mosley Street stop will close after the last service on Saturday (18 May). This will prevent bottlenecking around Piccadilly Gardens and allow double M5000 trams to be used across the whole network (platform is too low for the second M5000 tram). Secondly, real-time information is now available on all city centre stops, informing passengers as to when the next tram will turn up (currently available on the lines to Chorlton, Droylsden and Oldham/Rochdale). With Mosley St closing, TfGM/Metrolink have installed a information display on the corner of Mosley Street/Piccadilly Gardens to inform passengers when the next tram to Altrincham is due and from which platform (Piccadilly Gardens or Market Street) Finally, the South Manchester line will extend from St Werburgh's Road to East Didsbury from next Thursday (23 May). The opening is more special given that Metrolink are actually opening the line to East Didsbury earlier than planned, given that the other new openings all opened later than planned. www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=223www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=225 |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 26, 2013 0:25:45 GMT 1
So, all that remains now to open is Ashton (winter 2013/14), Rochdale town centre (2014) then the Airport extension (2016).
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on May 26, 2013 11:08:53 GMT 1
So, all that remains now to open is Ashton (winter 2013/14), Rochdale town centre (2014) then the Airport extension (2016). Plus Oldham town centre route. After that, who knows. So many different suggestions as to future lines/extensions, such as Port Salford via Trafford Centre or from East Didsbury to Stockport or Ashton to Stalybridge being just some of them. |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on May 27, 2013 10:27:34 GMT 1
Plus Oldham town centre route. After that, who knows. So many different suggestions as to future lines/extensions, such as Port Salford via Trafford Centre or from East Didsbury to Stockport or Ashton to Stalybridge being just some of them. Oh yes, I forgot Oldham town centre. The other extensions I had heard touted were East Didsbury-Stockport (which would be handy for me near Heaton Mersey) and the 2nd Manchester city crossing. Apparently some residents of Marple even want Metolink extended there! |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Aug 20, 2013 18:39:46 GMT 1
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Post by michael1971 on Oct 15, 2013 20:49:05 GMT 1
line now open from Ashton since last Wednesday |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 16, 2013 22:21:27 GMT 1
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Oct 26, 2013 23:04:58 GMT 1
There is even a tantallising rumour that the extension to Rochdale Town Centre could open by Christmas. If so, I could just postpone from November. Due to the short-lived operation via Oldham Mumps ex-rail station, missing out on this section this year is not an option, but I would still prefer only to go once this year.
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 27, 2013 18:57:51 GMT 1
Was in Rochdale earlier this week and it does look ready, probably just some minor little things. Wouldn't be surprised if trams ran to Rochdale town centre by Christmas, but equally wouldn't be surprised if it was early next year. The Rochdale Online website did ask the question to TfGM/Metrolink at the end of July how long would it be, after some testing had taken place. They did say that 100 new drivers would need to be trained and all construction would be needed to be tested. Two big clues will come that trams will extend to the town centre: a) ticket machines are installed on the platform and b) the ghost running. The new stop at Queens Road (next to the depot) has also been rumoured as opening in December, so could be a busy month, if true. www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/81762/why-the-delay-in-opening-the-metrolink-extension-to-the-town-centreOldham is a little bit further behind Rochdale (understandable, as there's more work required). Oldham Central now looking a lot better, Oldham King Street probably needs some more work at the side of the platform and still a bit more around Oldham Mumps (new), along with the bus interchange. Plus the line needs to be fully connected at Werneth and Mumps. |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Nov 9, 2013 21:55:02 GMT 1
All these openings are to some extent being marred by weekend engineering works. For at least 2 weeks we had all services west of the city centre suspended. Now we have services for a few stops north of Piccadilly Gardens suspended, but local services around Bury and Rochdale Stn maintained. I suddenly doubt that I shall manage to ride the sections of interest on November 23rd. If not, I cannot bring myself to believe there would be engineering works on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year, would there?
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Nov 10, 2013 20:57:09 GMT 1
The weekend engineering works are a combination of trying to implement TMS (Tram Management System) at Cornbrook plus the building work at Queens Road and Victoria.
There will be more significant work at Victoria from next year, as part of the modernisation of the station, which will tie in with both the Ordsall Chord and the 2nd Metrolink cross-city line. It will see some trams not serving Victoria, as it will be temporarily reduced to one line through the station. This will mean having to change trams at Shudehill.
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Nov 15, 2013 20:28:32 GMT 1
Oldham town centre line set to open in the New Year, according to TfGM. This is due to the redevelopment work at Victoria will be delayed from January until late February/early March. This will see trams running along Union Street by late January/early February instead of the original plan of Spring 2014. The current line will close between Central Park and Rochdale railway station for a week to prepare the line for operation. It may also be possible that trams will also extend from Rochdale railway station to the town centre at the same time. www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=349 |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Nov 17, 2013 16:05:02 GMT 1
Thank you for confirming this change of plan for Metrolink in Oldham and Rochdale SF07. I now see it as urgent that I ride via Oldham Mumps ex-BR in December lest the replacement line opens in January. I would probably only go as far as Shaw then do Oldham & Rochdale town centre extensions on the same day, potentially next November.
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Post by sharksmith on Nov 24, 2013 23:24:24 GMT 1
I wonder if anyone could answer the following Metrolink question for me.
I tend to use the Whitefield park and ride for my weekend visits to the Greater Manchester area and have no problems getting a space even mid morning. Over the last few years however I've used an almost empty car park in Oldham for weekday visits but since said car park has reduced it's fee to £1 for 12 hours this car park is virtually full by 9.30 each morning. I wonder can anyone tell me how well used the Metrolink park and ride sites are during the week.
Living in Shipley I know I could park at the railway station most Saturday's but come Monday to Friday you need to be there for 7.30am to guarantee a spot, can I assume Whitefields car park might be as full on a Monday morning?
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Nov 26, 2013 20:42:29 GMT 1
I think some will be busier than others. Park and rides on the Altrincham and Bury lines will be busy. Going past Hollinwood every day, there does seem to be a few cars parked up there but not too overly busy. On the Metrolink website, it does list all the tram stops that have car parking and how many spaces there are. There will also be a new park and ride site at the new Oldham Mumps stop when it opens next year. www.metrolink.co.uk/stationinfo/Pages/default.aspx |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Dec 4, 2013 19:38:40 GMT 1
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Dec 17, 2013 19:55:42 GMT 1
Latest updates for Metrolink: Queens Road stop has now opened, as of 16 December, replacing the Woodlands Road stop, which closed on Friday 13 December, as it was only served weekdays. The stop is located next to the Queens Road depot. www.metrolink.co.uk/pages/news.aspx?newsID=63Also, a early sneak preview of a press release on another forum states that the Oldham town centre line will open on Monday 27 January 2014 with the current Oldham-Rochdale line closing for 9 days from Saturday 18 January 2014, to allow the town centre to be connected onto the existing line at Werneth and Mumps. The current line between Werneth and Mumps will be then decommissioned in the spring with the equipment such as platforms, tracks and overhead cables being transferred to be used elsewhere on the network (presumably the airport line). The tunnels will then be blocked off to prevent trespassers walking through. |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Dec 29, 2013 0:15:32 GMT 1
I rode from East Didsbury to Shaw, and from Ashton to Picadilly Gardens today. I could have travelled from Manchester (or St Werburgh's Road) to Shaw last Christmas but am so pleased I left it til now. I was able to see the new Oldham section not quite joined near Freehold, but joined just beyond Oldham Mumps. As you may already know, it will only have been possible to travel from Oldham Mumps ex-BR to Derker by Metrolink from 16Dec12 to 17Jan14.
I rode 2001 from Market Street to Old Trafford. Could this be my final T68/A ride? I was continuing to Sale, but due to delays the driver let us all off to wait for the next tram.
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Dec 29, 2013 23:12:16 GMT 1
Tracks not joined yet at Freehold, as you said, but only one of the lines so far joined at Mumps, which allows the trams access in and out. The only significant work left at Mumps is the bus interchange and car park next to the tram stop. Could be a race against time to get it completed by 27 January 2014 but certainly starting to take shape. Looks like there will be more testing along the route over the next week or two, as three trams are still parked at the new Mumps stop (3071/2/5). The T68s haven't got long to go. TfGM/Metrolink have been withdrawing them one by one. According to one website, the number of T68s in operation are now in single figures. So, I would imagine that within the couple of months, we will finally say goodbye to the T68 and be purely M5000s. Start of the year will also see more preparation work on the second city line along Corporation Street/Cross Street, as pipes and cables are diverted to allow installation of the tracks. The 2CC should open in 2017. www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=367 |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Jan 27, 2014 19:48:50 GMT 1
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Mar 24, 2014 22:38:12 GMT 1
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Mar 30, 2014 1:04:12 GMT 1
It is good that Metrolink is reaching Rochdale town centre, and fairly early this Spring at that. As it is, having been to Oldham as recently as December and now concentrating on travels further afield for the summer months, I doubt I shall ride it until at least November.
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