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Major changes to Metrolink services as trams cancelled this Manchester Derby weekend

The Manchester Derby will kick-off at 4:30pm on Sunday 6 March, but fans are facing disruption in getting to the stadium.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th March 2022

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed a series of replacement and alternative travel options for football fans this weekend.

It’s the highly-anticipated Manchester Derby this weekend, with both the red and blue side of the city set to make their way to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 6 March for a 4:30pm kick-off, but unfortunately, significant disruption is expected on Metrolink services that football fans need to be aware of and plan around accordingly.

Due to what is branded as “essential engineering” taking place at Deansgate-Castlefield, TfGM has said that no trams will run between Chorlton, Stretford and Manchester city centre on Saturday and Sunday (March 5 and 6).

Services to Manchester Airport, Ashton, Eccles, and Rochdale will also be amended, with some set to terminate early.

As a result of these planned works, TfGM has confirmed that bus replacement services will instead be operating every 10 minutes on Saturday and 12 minutes on Sunday on the following routes:

  • Chorlton – Victoria
  • Stretford – Piccadilly via Cornbrook
  • Wharfside – Piccadilly via Cornbrook
  • East Didsbury Park and Ride – Etihad Stadium (Sunday only)

After the game, trams will not serve Holt Town and Velopark until crowds have cleared from the Etihad Campus stop.

Alongside the tram replacement buses, a bespoke shuttle bus service is also being laid on between the East Didsbury tram stop and the Etihad Stadium, especially for match-goers, with the double-decker buses set to depart from East Didsbury every 10 minutes from 2:50pm and 3:10pm, returning every 10 minutes from 6:30pm to 7pm from the bus stop on Ashton New Road outside the stadium after the game.

These shuttle buses will not stop anywhere en route, however.

For those who are planning on making their own way to the match via car, TfGM has also advised fans based off previous weekend matches at the Etihad, that Alan Turing Way, Pottery Lane, Ashton Old Road, and Mancunian Way all had an additional 12 minutes journey time 90 minutes prior to kick off.

Read more: Around 30 Manchester bus routes could be cut without sufficient funding

“Please consider leaving the car at home or re-routing your journey to avoid the congested areas,” TfGM said via its dedicated Manchester Derby travel advice page.

Significant disruption is expected on Metrolink services that football fans need to be aware of this weekend / Credit: Manchester City

Giving football fans more of an insight into the travel circumstances and what to expect ahead of Derby day, Danny Vaughan – TfGM’s Head of Metrolink – said: “Our contractor is replacing a critical set of points at Deansgate Castlefield over the weekend to improve the reliability of the network [but] unfortunately, it requires some disruption on Saturday and Sunday as trams from the south of the network will have to stop short of Deansgate Castlefield.

“A strengthened tram service will be in place for the Manchester Derby, with trams running between Bury and Ashton [and] there will be a six-minute double tram service from Piccadilly to Etihad.

“A bus replacement service will be in place throughout the works, with services running from Stretford and Wharfside stops to Piccadilly, and from Chorlton to Victoria, and an additional bespoke shuttle service from the Park and Ride at East Didsbury to the Etihad Stadium will be in place before and after the match on Sunday.”

He also added that he’d encourage people to check the TfGM website for the latest travel information “before travelling” over the weekend.

The Manchester Derby will kick-off at 4:30pm on Sunday 6 March / Credit: Flickr

Despite these Metrolink engineering works being in the pipeline for a few months now, some fans have still been angered by the disruption it will cause to what is always one of the most important days in the city’s football calendar, with many taking to Twitter to share their viewpoints.

One Twitter user wrote: “We’re all aware that essential work needs to be carried out on the system, but which shortsighted clown decided to do it on a Derby weekend?”

“How can you possibly justify engineering works on the Metrolink this weekend when it’s the Derby and tens of thousands need ti move around Manchester? Appalling mismanagement,” another Twitter user questioned TfGM.

You can find more information on travelling to the Manchester Derby this weekend via the TfGM website here.

Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)

News

You can star in your own series of Taskmaster in a castle near Greater Manchester this summer

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Are you ready to channel your inner comedian? Great, because Taskmaster is coming up north.

Well…sort of.

The beloved (and hilarious) show is bringing a family-friendly version to Beeston Castle and Gardens, which is a picturesque English Heritage site in the rural Beeston area of Tarporley in Cheshire, and you are invited to try your hand at the wacky tasks yourselves.

From now right up until Sunday 31 August, visitors can take part in the ridiculous challenges inspired by the hit TV show.

In partnership with English Heritage, it’s appropriate for all ages and a fantastic day out for all the family.

Contestants will pick up their score card on arrival before exploring the site and getting involved in tasks along the way.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the popular comedy show or a complete newbie, this Taskmaster experience guarantees a hilarious day out in the Cheshire countryside… and don’t worry, Greg Davies and Alex Horne won’t be judging your efforts along the way either – phew.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with the Taskmaster team this summer,” commented Beth Stone, who is the Head of Visitor Engagement and Experience at English Heritage.

You can star in your own series of Taskmaster near Greater Manchester this summer / Credit: Jim Holden (via English Heritage)

“From tasks such as becoming a monarch and making your own laws, to creating your own solstice, our visitors can expect a host of fun with a history twist at many of our properties, and of course, plenty of rubber ducks.”

Alex Horne, creator and star of Taskmaster, added: “It’s nice to go to nice places, but it’s even nicer to do fun things in those nice places – and this should ensure you can do just that for this summer at least.”

Read more:

To find out more, take a look at English Heritage’s website here.

Featured Image – English Heritage

News

Classical musician Hauser announces huge arena gig in Manchester later this year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Croatian cellist and former member of classical band 2CELLOS, Hauser, has announced a tour including an arena date in Manchester this year.

World-class musician Stjepan Hauser, known professionally as Hauser, is getting ready to pack his cello and cheeky smile as he embarks on ‘The Rebel Is Back’ tour.

Hauser has amassed a worldwide cult following of classical music lovers, by not only respecting the genre, but evolving it too by intertwining his cello skills into modern day pop hits.

The cellist has covered lots of current pop songs while part of musical duo 2CELLOS like ‘We Found Love’, ‘Despacito’, and ‘Viva La Vida’.

You can also expect to hear covers of some of music’s greatest compositions, including the timeless opera classic ‘Nessun Dorma’, and highly-adored ballet piece ‘Swan Lake’.

Recently, Hauser has teamed up with London Symphony Orchestra to reimagine Ennio Morricone’s ‘Le Vent, le cri’, taken from the 1981 French film Le Professionnel.

Hauser has performed in over 40 countries and played at some of the most prestigious venues across the world – including Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House.

He’s also become a social media sensation, capturing people’s attention via his videos playing his cello in a variety of interesting locations like a swimming pool, at the desert, and even on the famous Brooklyn Bridge.

Classical musician Hauser announces huge arena gig in Manchester later this year / Credit: Stefan Brending (via Wikimedia Commons)

You’ll be able to identify a lot of the tracks played out when Hauser visits AO Arena, as his upcoming album titled Cinema, features a wide variety of soundtracks and film theme tunes.

The highly-anticipated LP from Hauser contains ‘What Was I Made For?’ from Barbie, ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘A Time For Us’ from Romeo and Juliet, alongside lots more motion picture melodies.

The musician is quite familiar with Manchester city city centre too, Hauser studied at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester before taking the classical world by storm.

Read more:

Hauser is bringing ‘The Rebel Is Back’ tour to AO Arena in Manchester on 29 November, and you can find tickets HERE.

Featured Images – Publicity Picture via Simon Emmett

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