Manchester Metrolink is encouraging passengers to properly plan their journey today, as fewer trams are in operation across the network.
Due to a shortage of vehicles and ongoing engineering works after 43 trams were found to have been damaged and thus “can’t be used” during routine overnight maintenance checks, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that it will be running a ‘Sunday timetable’ today.
A 12-minute service is in place, with only single trams operating, meaning disruptions are expected due to less capacity.
TfGM said the disruption is set to continue for some time, with a statement released also announcing that the reduced service will be in place “until further notice”.
The statement also confirmed that further checks on other vehicles are continuing, and that the Metrolink operator is “working as quickly as possible” to bring the trams back into service and identify the infrastructure fault that has caused the damage.
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⚠️ Due to vehicle availability services will run on a Sunday timetable today.
🚌 Ticket acceptance is in place on commercial bus services
🚄 Ticket acceptance is in place on local rail between Victoria Stn and Rochdale
— Manchester Metrolink 🚊 😷 (@MCRMetrolink) July 26, 2021
Due to the shortage in services, TfGM has said that Metrolink ticket acceptance is in place on local commercial bus and train services instead.
Providing more of an insight into the situation, Alex Cropper – Interim Head of Operations at TfGM – said: “The operator has had to launch a much-reduced service after finding damage to over 40 trams during overnight maintenance and we’re sorry for the inconvenience this will cause to people’s journey today.
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“Engineers are now carrying out inspections to identify what has caused the damage – but given the size of the network, this might take some time.
“I’d like to reassure everyone that we are working extremely hard – in already very challenging circumstances – to resolve this issue, but it will have an impact on both the frequency and capacity available on the network.
“Staff will be out to support passengers, and we have put ticket acceptance in place across the network so customers can use local bus and train services to make their journey.”
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Passengers must wear a face covering, unless exempt, if using the Metrolink network / Credit: TfGM
TfGM has vowed to keep people updated throughout the day, but has encouraged passengers to plan their journeys in advance and, if they can, “consider walking, cycling, or using other modes of transport” instead.
Passengers must wear a face covering, unless exempt, if using the Metrolink network.
Today’s shortened timetable also runs in parallel to ‘improvement works’ on the network this week, with no trams operating between Piccadilly and Eccles while works take place until 31 July, and additionally, work at Victoria Station means trams on the East Didsbury and Rochdale lines will not stop at Exchange Square, and will be diverted to Shudehill and Market Street instead.
Manchester Metrolink has also been experiencing a large amount of staff absences in recent weeks due to COVID-related circumstances, with one in five of the network’s workforce said to be off in mid-July.
“Currently just under 20% of the workforce are absent, which is having an impact on the number of services we are able to run,” TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said on 15 July.
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“We’re sorry for any delays, but hope passengers understand and bear with us at this time.”
Free roses are being handed out at a Manchester train station this Valentine’s Day
Danny Jones
In an effort to spread the love this Valentine’s Day, free roses are being hands out to commuters at a Manchester train station this week.
Add that to the ever-growing list of why we absolutely adore this place.
Not everyone is coupled up come the most mush day of the year, nor do they need to be – self-love, Galentine’s and even just a whoelsome pint or two with the boys – but it’s nice to see Greater Mancs going out of their way to make things nicer for each other.
In our eyes, in a relationship or otherwise, this day is just about sharing the love with everyone and if you happen to arriving or leaving Manchester (excuse me, why would you ever?) from Victoria station this Friday, you could be in for a lovely little surprise.
The brains behind the touching little gesture is the city’s legendary live music and entertainment space, AO Arena.
Although many arrive at the venue via the Trinity Way Tunnel on the other side of Arena, the AO is already directly attached to Victoria by a simply set of stairs, meaning you can arrive in the city centre via train or tram and arrive directly at your destination.
It’s also one of the busiest stations in the North West, so for commuters looking to start the day with a little love, whether that be to treat their significant other, brighten a colleague’s day or just make themselves feel good, these roses are set to be handed out on Valentine’s Day morning.
100 of the most romantic flowers will be up for grabs from 8am at Manchester Victoria Station on a first-come, first served basis, naturally, Simple as that – but it gets better…
There is also an exciting chance to win a handful of surprises, including free tickets to a show at the arena, which will be given away with a select few lucky roses.
This year marks an extra special milestone for the AO Arena, as they are celebrating thirty years of spreading joy in the city as Manchester’s longest standing large music venue.
With that in mind and tying together the arena’s history and love for entertainment, each rose will be individually wrapped in a special 30th birthday edition print.
This design features the names of all artists and acts who have performed there over the last three decades; consider it just a small token of AO‘s love and affection for 0161, wrapped in nostalgia.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Manchester – you’ll always be ours x
Hundreds turn out for dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of people and their pets gathered on the Blackpool seafront for a terminally-ill guide dog’s final walk.
‘Ginger prince’ Labrador retriever Ian had been working hard guiding his owner, Mark, through the world and providing him with the independence needed to take on each day, and was not long off his retirement and getting to spend the rest of his days in a loving home.
One Ian got to around 10, he was set to hang up his harness and go on to live with his former Puppy Raiser, Gemma Fairhurst, along with her family and her other guide dog pups in training, so that Mark would still get to keep in touch with Ian and Ian would get to pass on his wisdom and teach the youngsters how it’s done.
But sadly, this plan won’t become a reality, as Ian was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Hundreds turned out for a dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront / Credit: Gemma Fairhurst (via GoFundMe)
Vets told Mark and his wife Kerry around Christmas 2024 that Ian would sadly only have four-eight weeks to live.
Once Ian’s owners got in touch with Gemma to tell her the devastating news, she knew she had to do something to honour and celebrate him – and ultimately, raise funds for Guide Dogs to name another puppy Ian once he’d passed.
So, Gemma and Mark planned one last special walk for Ian along the Blackpool Promenade – the place he called home.
More than 200 people and 80 dogs joined in the walk / Credit: Sarah Summerton (via Guide Dogs)
“He’s led such a wonderful life and brought happiness to Mark and Kerry, but also to everyone that he’s met,” Gemma explained in her fundraiser.
“For me, he’s changed my life, and in many ways, he’s saved my life. He gave me the strength to carry on and he’s given Mark love and support that cannot be measured… so I’d like to raise the money it takes to name another guide dog, and the most perfect name I can think of is Ian.
“The cost to sponsor and name a guide dog is £5,000, so that’s what I’m trying to raise.”
The ‘big old doggy walk’ took place this past Sunday (9 February) from 2pm, and was open for any and everyone who would like to come along… and come along they did, as more than 200 people and 80 dogs arrived to walk along the seafront.
The walkers all contributed towards the ‘5,000 steps for £5,000’ target, with Ian leading the way at the front and being pushed along in a special troller by Mark and Gemma.
For the last leg of the journey, Ian even got out of his stroller and walked along the Promenade himself, with the walkers creating a guard of honour for him.
Ian’s story touched the heart of so many people across the North West, that Gemma absolutely smashed her target of £5,000, and at the time of writing, has raised more than £7,230 to name another guide dog puppy Ian.
Gemma said she’d been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she’s received, and that people from all over the region turned up – including other guide dog puppies she raised in the past.