Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) programme of engineering works to maintain and improve the Metrolink network will continue this summer across several sites, ensuring tram journeys in GM remain safe, reliable, and accessible. Over the next year maintenance, renewal, and improvement work will triple across the network, with almost £150m being invested to maintain and upgrade the network through to 2027.
Many of the works this summer will take place in Manchester city centre. TfGM and partners will be doing everything possible to try and keep disruption to a minimum, with plans for Metrolink replacement bus services for impacted tram stops and signed diversions for vehicles and pedestrians for any planned temporary highways closures. The list of confirmed engineering works so far are:
Victoria: 2 June.
- Engineering work on crossovers is planned to take place with no trams running into or through Victoria impacting the Bury and Oldham - Rochdale lines, with trams terminating at Abraham Moss and Monsall respectively. A Metrolink replacement bus service is planned to be in place.
London Road: 22 June to 9 July
- Due to essential track replacement work no trams will run between Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens. A Metrolink replacement bus service is planned to be in place. Trams on the Ashton line will operate between Ashton and Piccadilly Station – passengers wanting to make an onward journey will need to connect with other tram services at Piccadilly Gardens.
- London Road will be closed southbound between Store Street and Fairfield Street with signed diversions in place.
- An advanced diversion will be in place from Newton Street, via Portland Street - Princess Street - Whitworth Street - Fairfield Street noting that the present traffic restrictions on Portland Street will be temporarily suspended during the works.
- For traffic that misses the advanced diversion, a secondary diversion will be in place via Store Street - Boad Street - Sheffield Street - Travis Street - Fairfield Street.
- Bus services that normally use London Road outbound will be re-routed departing from temporary stops on Piccadilly and Chorlton Street. Signage will be on affected stops and the Bee Network webpage and app to direct passengers.
Altrincham line: Single day closures on 30 June and 14 July
- Due to essential track maintenance work no trams will operate between Altrincham and Piccadilly. A Metrolink replacement bus service is planned to be in place.
Shudehill: 24 July to 7 August
- Due to essential track replacement work no trams will run between Market Street and Shudehill. Services in the city centre are planned to operate via Exchange Square and a Metrolink replacement bus service is also planned to be in place between Piccadilly and Victoria.
- Shudehill will be closed in both directions between Thomas Street and High Street with a signed diversion in place.
- Advanced signage will be on Rochdale Road and the inner ring road with a local diversion signed via Miller Street - Corporation Street - Withy Grove. From High Street, a local diversion will be signed via Withy Grove – Corporation Street – Angel Street – Rochdale Road.
- Normal access to the Arndale car park will be maintained via High Street and from Rochdale Road customers should follow the diversion via Miller Street - Corporation Street - Withy Grove.
- Bus services that normally use High Street, Withy Grove and Shudehill may be re-routed and information will be on affected stops and the Bee Network webpage and app to direct passengers.
Piccadilly Gardens (Phase 1): 4 to 19 August
- Due to essential track and points replacement work no trams will run between Market Street and Shudehill. Trams will continue to operate between Piccadilly and St Peter's Square. A Metrolink replacement bus service is planned to be in place.
Piccadilly Gardens (Phase 2): 27 August to 17 September
- Due to essential track and points replacement work no trams will operate between Piccadilly Gardens and St Peter's Square. Trams will continue to operate between Piccadilly and Victoria. A Metrolink replacement bus service is planned to be in place.
- These works will also restrict highway access into Piccadilly Gardens bus station from Mosely Street, affected bus services will be diverted via York Street – New York Street – Portland Street.
The latest customer information for planned Metrolink engineering works can be found on the TfGM website https://tfgm.com/tram-improvement-works and customer updates for disruptive works are communicated across customer webpages, social media channels, newsletters, on-stop passenger information displays, on-stop passenger announcements, and on-stop posters. Residents, premises, and businesses in the immediate vicinity of any planned engineering work will receive notification letters advising of any out-of-hours noise or environmental disruption. If you require further information regarding these Metrolink works, please contact TfGM’s Customer Relations team on 0161 244 1000 or email hello@beenetwork.com