The Metrolink tram network is facing disruption tonight, with the Bury line – which happens to run past Parklife festival – completely suspended.
Transport for Greater Manchester announced that there had been severe damage to an overhead line at Victoria station.
It means that no tram services will be operating from Heaton Park or Bowker Vale, which service the massive Parklife festival.
Instead, gig-goers are being advised to use the dedicated shuttle buses – or to brave the walk back to the city centre.
And while tickets are being accepted on local bus services while the trams are down, it’s a Sunday service with only limited buses available.
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It’s expected that the Bury line will remain shut down until the end of service on Sunday 11 June and may still be down into tomorrow morning.
Repairs are being undertaken throughout tonight and into tomorrow morning.
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Other services are being impacted by the overhead line damage, including the Oldham and Rochdale line which is part-suspended, and other services which are delayed and being re-routed.
Metrolink trams at Manchester Victoria. Credit: TfGM
Parklife shuttle bus services will run into the evening as required to replace trams, with extra staff on hand.
Services from Soccer Aid at Old Trafford are also affected, with passengers advised to change at Cornbrook for journeys onwards.
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TfGM’s Interim Chief Operating Officer, Alex Cropper, said: “We apologise for the disruption to Metrolink services this evening and in particular, to those passengers attending Parklife and Soccer Aid who are affected. We are working hard to resolve the issues as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption to passengers.
“Additional staff will be on hand to support passengers across the network. Passengers are advised to check TfGM’s website for the latest travel updates for Sunday evening and Monday morning.”
Metrolink tweeted: “The Bury line remains completely suspended and is expected to remain suspended until the end of service on Sunday 11 June.
⚠️ The Bury line remains completely suspended and is expected to remain suspended until the end of service on Sunday 11 June.
⛏️ Repairs will take place through tonight and into tomorrow morning.
— Manchester Metrolink 🚊 (@MCRMetrolink) June 11, 2023
“Repairs will take place through tonight and into tomorrow morning.
“No tram services will operate from Heaton Park or Bowker Vale stops this evening after @Parklifefest. For return journeys back to the city centre, please walk or use the shuttle bus service. The bus station is located inside the park, accessed via the North Gate exit.
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“Bus ticket acceptance is in place on the Bury and Rochdale lines this evening.
“However as it is a Sunday night there are a limited number of services operating.”
Tram lines impacted over Parklife weekend
Oldham/Rochdale line is currently suspended between the city centre and Newton Heath and Moston.
East Didsbury line will operate to Exchange Square.
Eccles line will operate to Ashton.
Manchester Airport line will operate to Cornbrook.
Ashton line is experiencing delays.
Altrincham line is experiencing delays.
Bus services accepted trams and travel passes
Tickets and passes can be used on the 17, 18, 41, 52, 53, 56, 66, 90, 95, 97, 98, 112, 117, 118, 119, 135, 156, 163, 524 bus services for the Bury line.
Tickets and passes can be used on the 57, 59, 76, 76a, 81, 83, 114, 149, 181, 182, 409, 411, 415, 471 bus services for the Rochdale line.
Tickets and passes can be used on the 7, 76, 76a 171, 172, 216, 219, 230, 231 bus services for the Ashton line.
Featured image: TfGM
News
Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Daisy Jackson -
11th June 2023 
