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Piccadilly Gardens cordoned off by police following ‘serious incident’
Sam Ridgway -
10th January 2020
Sam Ridgway -
10th January 2020 News
Major Greater Manchester tram line to shut all this weekend for ‘essential’ track replacement
Emily Sergeant
A major programme of planned and coordinated work to replace tram tracks in Greater Manchester is finally set to be rounded off for the year.
But first, one of the region‘s major tram lines will need to shut for a full weekend.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that essential maintenance will be carried out on the Ashton line for three days this extended weekend, and during this time, no trams will run between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne, and a replacement bus service will operate between the affected stops.
It comes after work to replace ageing tracks between Piccadilly Station and Piccadilly Gardens was successfully completed in early August.
TfGM worked with Metrolink operator KAM to keep trams running from Piccadilly to Ashton throughout the 11-week closure, however on this occasion, it will not be possible to do so and the line will have to shut to the public.
Taking the tram on Fri, Sat or Sun?
— Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) September 1, 2025
No trams will run between Piccadilly Gardens & Ashton-under-Lyne, due to works.
A bus replacement service will serve the affected stops.
Service changes: Piccadilly Gardens – Eccles/MediaCityUK, Altrincham – Bury.
👉https://t.co/tRTmJbfXmY pic.twitter.com/NnkRK12saN
All essential maintenance works that have been carried out and completed this year form part of a long-term plan to ensure ‘safe and reliable’ services – with TfGM having invested nearly £150m to ‘maintain, upgrade, and improve’ the Metrolink network through to 2027.
During this closure, additional work will also be carried out across the Ashton line network – including drainage works at locations in Droylsden and Audenshaw.
“This is the final piece of this year’s planned track replacement programme, and we would like to thank everyone for bearing with us while these essential upgrades have been carried out,” commented Danny Vaughan, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.
“As more people choose to get on board the Bee Network, it’s important we continue to invest in our tram system to keep it safe, reliable and accessible for years to come.”
Read more:
- Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost
- Greater Manchester residents urged to ‘switch to the Bee Network’ in 2025
- Andy Burnham reveals plans to build underground tram and train line in Manchester by 2050
No trams will run between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne from Friday 5 – Sunday 7 September.
Find more information and live updates on the planned works here.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour, which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The Yorkshire-formed band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, their hometown of Sheffield, as well as London and Birmingham, before visiting the music capital of the North.
You see the UK leg of their European tour in full down below:
- June 13 – Rättvik, SE
- June 16 – Helsinki, FI
- June 19 – Zurich, CH
- June 23 – Dortmund, DE
- June 26 – Belfast, UK
- June 28 – Glasgow, UK
- June 30 – Sheffield, UK
- July 02 – London, UK
- July 04 – Birmingham, UK
- July 06 – Manchester, UK
- July 30 – Wacken, DE
- Aug 02 – Dubai, AE
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
With more than 110 million albums worldwide, there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday, 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday, 5 September
You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Read more:
- American rock band Alter Bridge announce massive Manchester gig
- Biffy Clyro announce massive Manchester comeback on upcoming European tour
- The top 13 biggest gigs in Manchester music history
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)
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