No trams will operate between two city centre stops after crack in line discovered

Metrolink services will not be running between two city centre stops while repair works take place, until further notice.

Trams will not be running between Victoria and Exchange Square while work is carried out to fix a crack in the line, TfGM have confirmed.

The crack was discovered on the approach to Victoria Station, which forms part of the Metrolink’s Second City Crossing, connecting Victoria to Exchange Square and St Peter’s Square.

Temporary services were introduced to ensure safe operation, but on further investigation, it has been decided the section of track will need to be removed.

Repair or replacement works could take several months to complete. This means some other services will be reduced to allow engineers to fix the line. 

Over the coming weekend (Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st) Metrolink operator KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) will remove the crossing and install a temporary new section of rail, with decreased crossing capability, to ensure the ongoing safe operation of the network.

From Saturday morning (January 20th), no trams will operate into Victoria from either Exchange Square or Market Street and Shudehill.

The following changes will be in place:

• All trams from Bury and Rochdale will operate every 15 minutes to Victoria, with additional double trams on both lines.
• All trams from Altrincham will operate to Piccadilly (after 6.30pm trams from Altrincham will operate to Etihad Campus via Piccadilly).
• All trams from East Didsbury will operate to Exchange Square.
• Trams from Manchester Airport will operate to Deansgate-Castlefield.
• Trams from the Trafford Centre will operate to Cornbrook.

Pre-planned service changes for other parts of the Metrolink network on Sunday (January 21st), including a delayed launch of services in the morning, will also take place.

As a result, there will be changes for trams to Altrincham, Bury, East Didsbury, Rochdale, Eccles, Manchester Airport and Trafford Park. 

The following changes will be in place:

• Trams from Bury and Rochdale will operate to Victoria.
• Trams from Altrincham and Eccles via MediaCityUK will operate to Piccadilly Gardens.
• Trams from East Didsbury will operate to Exchange Square.
• Trams from Manchester Airport will operate to Deansgate-Castlefield. Trams from the Trafford Centre will operate to Cornbrook.

From Monday, January 22nd, most services will return to normal except for services to and from East Didsbury, Shaw and Crompton and Rochdale Town Centre, which will continue to operate via Market Street and Shudehill until further notice.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink said ‘providing a safe and reliable service’ was the ‘number one priority’ and that ‘unfortunately’ the damage to the cracked rail is ‘complicated’.

He continued: “While we currently have no clear timeframe for how long the work will take, everyone involved is fully committed to completing the works as quickly as possible for the benefit of our passengers.

“Metrolink passengers using services between East Didsbury and Rochdale will still be able to get through the city centre by going via Market Street and Shudehill and we will have staff on the ground to help anyone who needs it.”