‘Essential’ track replacement work means no trams will run between two key Manchester stops this summer

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Tram travelling though Manchester city centre / Credit: TfGM

No trams will run between two key Manchester city centre stops this summer while “essential” track replacement work is carried out.

In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that trams will not be run between Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens for a total of 17 days.

Beginning from this Saturday (22 June), a replacement service will instead operate between the two stops up until Tuesday 9 July.

A signposted walking route will also be put in place, taking pedestrians about five minutes.

Trams on the Ashton line will operate between Ashton and Piccadilly station, and then any passengers wanting to make an onward journey will need to walk or use the bus replacement service to get themselves over to Piccadilly Gardens.  ​  

On top of this, London Road will also be closed to traffic leaving the city centre where the Metrolink tracks cross the street close to Piccadilly station, and although a signed diversion will be in place for all traffic heading away from the city centre, via Portland Street and Princess Street, with an alternative diversion via Store Street, TfGM say people should expect there to be “increased traffic”.

A higher volume of traffic is anticipated on Fairfield Street, Store Street, Princess Street, Newton Street, and on the inner ring road, while the works are carried out.

In a bid to mitigate the impact on some of the region’s busiest and most-frequent bus services during the 17-days of track replacement works, TfGM has confirmed that the buses that normally use London Road to leave the city centre will, instead, be re-routed.

They’ll be re-routed via Chorlton Street and Fairfield Street to “avoid congestion hotspots”.

‘Essential’ track replacement work means no trams will run between two key Manchester stops / Credit: TfGM

Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Metrolink Director, is encouraging anyone travelling to “plan ahead” and “leave plenty of time” for any journeys.

“During these essential works, we will be doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum with replacement bus services and signed diversions for vehicles and pedestrians,” Mr Sommers continued.

“We also have support from our traffic signals team to ensure city centre traffic flows as freely as possible.”

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Find out more about the planned tram improvement works on the TfGM website here.

Featured Image – TfGM