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
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.
Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)
News
Avanti West Coast staff set to strike on major days over festive period
Emily Sergeant
Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on some major days over the festive period, it has been announced.
Train managers who are members of the RMT Union will stage industrial action on New Year’s Eve and 2 January 2025 after “overwhelmingly rejecting” the train company’s “inadequate proposals” on rest day working arrangements.
On top of this, strikes will also go ahead on Sundays between 12 January and 25 May too.
According to the union, up to 400 members are involved in the dispute with Avanti, and 83% of those voted against a suggested deal.
Strikes were previously planned for 22, 23, and 29 December as well, but they were suspended last week after a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members.
Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on several major days over the festive period / Credit: Avanti West Coast
“Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums,” explained an RMT spokesperson. “Sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”
In case you weren’t familiar, Avanti’s West Coast Main Line operates six routes along the west of the UK, including from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, as well as services from London to other major cities such as to Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Holyhead, Wrexham, and Liverpool.
Avanti has warned its customers that the strikes will likely cause “significant disruption” on the West Coast Main Line.
The train operator took to X to assure that its plans will be confirmed “as soon as possible”.
The RMT union has announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, along with all Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025. We’re looking at how this industrial action will impact our services and we’ll confirm our plans as soon as possible.
“The RMT union has announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, along with all Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025,” the statement reads on X.
“We’re looking at how this industrial action will impact our services and we’ll confirm our plans as soon as possible.”
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson also added in response to the industrial action being called yesterday: “We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable, revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers.
Daisy Jackson -
11th June 2023 
