During August, the Altrincham and Eccles lines will be closed for essential system upgrades and work to connect up to new tram lines to MediaCityUK and Chorlton.
Metrolink services will be suspended from 1 August and start running again on Tuesday 1 September 2009.
Frequent replacement buses will run between all key stops as well as direct services. A simplified fare structure will be in place.
Replacement Bus Services during August 2009
What is the extent of the closure?
No trams will run on the Altrincham and Eccles lines from Saturday 1 August to Monday 31 August. The city centre stops will also remain closed for the ongoing multimillion-pound city centre track renewal project, which is scheduled for completion at the end of October.
What work are you doing on the Altrincham line?
We will be replacing the electrical overhead line system and some of the supporting structures. We will also be making extensive improvements to stops. We are doing this at the same time as the city centre track replacement project to lessen the impact on passengers. It has also been planned for the summer, when fewer people travel on the trams. While the line is closed, connections will also be built to the site of the new tram depot in Old Trafford and to the new South Manchester Metrolink line.
Why do you need to replace the overhead line on the Altrincham line?
The overhead line structure was installed in the early 1930s when trains ran along the route. It has been updated several times since and now needs to be completely replaced to modernise the system and ensure that Metrolink continues to provide a reliable service for passengers in the future.
What work are you doing on the Eccles line?
The Eccles line will be closed in August for work to be carried out at Cornbrook, Harbour City and Broadway stops. This will largely be track works to support the new extension to MediaCityUK. We will also be replacing overhead line gantries at Cornbrook.
How will the work affect Bury services?
Bury services will continue to run into Victoria. The replacement bus will connect Victoria with other key stops in the city centre and with the Altrincham and Eccles line bus replacement service.
What bus services will run while the lines are closed?
Bus replacement services will run on the Altrincham and Eccles lines and in the city centre during the line closures and passengers will be able to buy tickets on bus. All services will run during normal tram operating times.
A service will run between Altrincham and Victoria, via Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station, every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, and every 15 minutes at all other times. This will be supplemented by an additional service between Brooklands and Piccadilly. A service will run between Eccles and Piccadilly every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, and every 15 minutes at all other times.
For service information please call: 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p per minute, mobile and landline networks may charge additional tariff costs) - Open between 7am and 8pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am and 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. To write to us, address correspondence to: GMPTE, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BG, UK. You can also email us at publicity@gmpte.gov.uk.
