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The Metrolink is changing as Manchester prepares to reopen its shops

New measures are being introduced to help the Metrolink accommodate rising numbers of passengers when lockdown eases.

The Manc The Manc - 11th June 2020
Wikimedia Commons

Many retailers are set to welcome back customers on 15 June – leading to a subsequent increase in staff and shoppers boarding Greater Manchester’s tram network.

Metrolink officials have confirmed that a number of changes are being made to accommodate higher numbers of passengers as lockdown eases.

According to Mayor Andy Burnham, this will include the creation of “a timetable with enough space for social distancing”.

Here’s what you need to know about how the Metrolink will be operating.

David Dixon / Geograph

From Monday (15 June), it is compulsory to wear face coverings on board the Metrolink and any other form of public transport. Young children and those with breathing difficulties are the only people who are exempt from this rule.

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Passengers will need to remain 2m apart wherever possible (platform signage and ground stickers have been installed) and use contactless payment when purchasing a ticket.

A “rigorous anti-viral cleaning regime” is also in place, with trams cleaned nightly.

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Hand sanitiser dispensers are also due to be added at stops in the future.

 Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels

Single tickets will no longer be available on the “get me there” mobile app from 15 June, as Metrolink attempts to tackle fare dodgers who only buy tickets on their phones when they see inspections taking place.

However, a new Clipper tram ticket can be purchased from Monday – allowing customers to buy a book of tickets and use them whenever they need to.

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For commuters, a contactless early bird bonus has been designed to help them save money when travelling before 7am on weekdays.

From 22 June, the Metrolink will be adding extra trams to its service to make social distancing easier, with frequency increased to 10 minutes.

For more information on Transport for Greater Manchester’s Safely Opening regime, visit the TfGM website.

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Huge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signs

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Huge bakery chain Gail's confirms move to Prestwich - but spells village's name wrong in signage

After months of swirling rumours, bakery group Gail’s has finally confirmed it’s moving to Prestwich – but locals have spotted a glaring error at the first hurdle.

The popular artisan bakery will be moving onto Bury New Road, right in the heart of the suburb and directly opposite the new Rudy’s pizzeria.

Prestwich locals have been hearing whispers of a Gail’s arriving for a few months, and finally the London-founded cafe has stuck up signs to confirm it’s on the way.

But the sign contains one crucial mistake – it’s spelled Prestwich wrong.

The red window displays now read ‘Hello Preswich. We’ll be baking here soon’.

One local messaged Gail’s to point out the error and to say it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.

Gail’s has since confirmed it’s in the process of fixing the signs.

The arrival of both Gail’s and Rudy’s has already caused a stir in Prestwich, which has always been fiercely independent and has only a handful of chains within it (Greggs and Costa are perched by the tram stop).

In fact, one local business-owner shared a moving statement about his concerns for the future of local businesses just a few weeks ago.

Gail's has confirmed it's opening a bakery in Prestwich
Gail's has confirmed it's opening a bakery in Prestwich
Gail’s has confirmed it’s opening a bakery in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group

First formed in the early 1990s as a wholesale-only operation, Gail’s opened its first cafe on Hampstead High Street in 2005.

Today the brand has more than 100 sites spread across London, Oxford, Brighton and further afield, and is known more as a customer-facing cafe and bakery.

It’s famed for its freshly-baked loaves, cinnamon buns, ham and cheese croissants and coffees, and is likely to go down a storm in Prestwich.

But the signs have been causing a bit of a stir in the wrong way this weekend – in a local Facebook group, one person commented: “Not locals who own it then.”

Another described it as an ‘epic fail’.

And one person said: “Oh the DRAMA of it all.”

Someone else joked: “I cannot wait for Gais to come to Preswich.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Met Office issues snow warnings for large parts of northern England from this evening

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greater Manchester could be waking up to a winter wonderland as weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued across northern England.

Expected to arrive anywhere from 6pm this evening (18 November) and last until around 10am tomorrow morning (19 November), the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice for large parts of northern England – indicating that “snow may bring disruption to a central swathe of the UK during Monday night and Tuesday morning”.

Weather forecasters say that although most snow is likely to accumulate on higher ground, with five-10 cm on ground over 200 metres, and possibly 15-20 cm over 300 metres, there is a chance that snow may settle at lower levels “within the warning area”.

The Met Office also said that this possible five-10 cm at lower levels is likely to be “more disruptive”, particularly if travelling and if the snow coincides with rush hour, but the likelihood for that is still “uncertain” at this stage.

Greater Manchester could see snow from this evening as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning / Credit: Geograph | Pexels

As the rain, sleet, and snow begin to clear on tomorrow morning, ice may form on surfaces that are untreated.

“We have issued yellow warnings for snow and ice as cold weather moves in from the north,” explained Andy Page, who is a Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office.

“This brings snow showers and some ice to parts of Scotland on Sunday night, and then the potential for a spell of snow to lead to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning.”

He further added that “gusty winds” in the east also remain a “potential hazard”.

“Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely, so it is important to stay up to date with the latest forecast,” he concluded.

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In addition to the severe weather warnings, a Cold Health Alert has also been issued by the UKHSA, and it covers the north of England and the Midlands right through until Thursday.

Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)

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