Good pics F.A. I'm with you on the concrete lift shafts. Are the top bits real brick, or even worse, preformed concrete pretending to be brick?

When I saw the other stops 'under construction' other posters were sayng they'll build the sides from brick, infill with rubble and sand, then do the surface and I wonered why the didn't use the precast concrete parts. But they are! I like pre-fab as well as concrete. :)

It is precast concrete with a brick face (same stuff the trafford centre is made out of) with the joints filled in with mastic :mad2:

I imagine that they will use precast as much as they can, lets face it, its quick and therefore saves money on labour. Nothing wrong with it realy but not realy jubilee line standard is it?

Maybe I'm not lookng at the picture correctly, but it looks as if you will be crossing the track where the trams will be coming in to the station, not stopped at it?

Track level crossings are now very much in vogue, Motor, throughout the new extensions, and pending 'Line of Sight' working across virtually the whole system. Nearly all the foot crossings are across the 'stationary' or departure end of the platform, but a few are not, and I guess this is analogous to the situation in Picc Gardens etc, where pedestrians can wander about the whole track delta on foot, and rely on the motorman's Line of Sight and warnings to avoid collisions.

There has been some discussion about whether for this reason, Trafford Bar should be avoided as an interchange between the Chorlton and Altrincham lines. Especially as (unlike St Werburgh's) it is not an island platform, and the interchange route via the overbridge, including the pavement of the external highway, is long and convoluted. No plan has been published, but I noticed recently on the future network route diagrams, that Trafford Bar does in fact have the little icon for 'Line Interchange'. So I guess they must be planninng a track crossing here also at the Southern end, which has trams in 3 directions! However, the icon itself is very inconspicuous, simply being a black little crow instead of a grey one.

Well, JDR and future.architect have covered the Firswood/OT end, and apologiesforthedelay has got the St. Werburgh's end. Time for me to cover the in-between bits.

I got a dawn coach on Monday so I could spend a couple of hours in Manc - I hadn't slept, hadn't eaten, had a suitcase in tow and my camera had lost a fight with a Chinese takeaway over the weekend... nevertheless, I persisted!

Starting where apologies left off: St Werburgh's, eastbound. Rails stretching well into 3B and crossovers in place (won't those get in the way of the turn-off towards the airport?).

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1805.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1801.jpg

St. Werburgh's westbound. Cycle crossing clearly in view.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1799.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1806.jpg

View from cycle path. Thanks to a hairy encounter with railway staff and the BTP in the Midlands a few weeks back, I was reluctant to get any nearer to the workers.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1797.jpg

Between St. Werburgh's and the Chorlton stop, looking back where I came from.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1796.jpg

Wilbraham Road bridge, looking south. Not much to see really, but it is tidy. The trees are much greener than last time. There's scaffolding on the bridge's south face - preparation work?

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1792.jpg

Northbound, overlooking the stop.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1793.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1795.jpg

Brantingham Road: southbound (2), northbound (1).

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1807.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1810.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1812.jpg

Manchester Road, southbound. Not much to see at all!

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1813.jpg

...and nortbound.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1818.jpg

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1821A.jpg

On account of time constraints and being just a little too tired to carry on, I stopped here. I could faintly see a lift shaft and what looked like platform sections up at Firswood, so I was happy enough!

(Below is a zoom of that last shot - of course, future.architect's images [#3499] give a much clearer view)

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1821B.jpg

Credit to all those who have posted images, info or even just words of support - it's always a joy to come back here!

Great pics Nymanic!!! Thanks for sharing :banana:

Im not a fan of concrete as a finished product, I dont believe it ages well in appearance and looks terrible when wet. Using prefab certainly makes construction easier but will make repairs or resurfacing harder as an entire section would need to be replaced rather than a little repaving job.

Great pics Nymanic!!! Thanks for sharing :banana:

Yeah Nymanic, great to see people from from other places take such an interest.

Nice pix Nymanic

Will be back for 24hrs end of August and can't wait to see how much more is done by then!

:-)
Mark

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1805.jpg

Can anyone explain the logic behind have the points here? If it was me designing the tracks, I'd have the switch-over going from left to right (as we look at it) and before the stop. That way the tram would pull into the correct platform to depart from straight away without any faffing around.

This way the tram has to stop at one platform to empty the passengers, then drive on a bit, then the driver has to swap cabs, finally the tram pulls forward into the correct platform to collect new passengers.

Am I missing something? :dunno: I suppose if there was a late running tram the first one could be loading on one side while the second one let people off, but it doesn't seem an important consideration to me.

Timing, will park up after releasing passengers to wait for its scheduled time to start back.

This isn't a real terminus remember, it's just a temporary one until Didsbury and hopefully Airport services are both operating through it which might make a difference to what they plan. Presumably in future it'll be used like the Timperley turnback is, in case of trouble on the lines beyond it. I think the Timperley one works in a very similar way; they always empty the tram before it reverses direction. Not sure why though.

Yeah I added 'for two years' but the edit didnt post.

Soupcon, I don't think it matters which track is used for layovers as long as it is a stub end terminus, and as others have mentioned, it is only a temporary terminus anyway.

Nymanic, there's plenty of room for the Airport turnout, it is right up by the overbridge at Mauldeth Road West, near the single orange-clad track worker in your shot.

All very exciting, many things happening at once all over the place !! :cheers::banana::cheers::nuts:

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/Nymanic/Metrolink%20-%20December%202009%20onwards/IMG_1805.jpg

Can anyone explain the logic behind have the points here? If it was me designing the tracks, I'd have the switch-over going from left to right (as we look at it) and before the stop. That way the tram would pull into the correct platform to depart from straight away without any faffing around.

This way the tram has to stop at one platform to empty the passengers, then drive on a bit, then the driver has to swap cabs, finally the tram pulls forward into the correct platform to collect new passengers.

Am I missing something? :dunno: I suppose if there was a late running tram the first one could be loading on one side while the second one let people off, but it doesn't seem an important consideration to me.

The reason for the trailing crossver rather than a facing one is that the trailing layout can be provided without the need for any powered points. It merely requires spring operated points to allow the tram to pass through and then run back into the platform. As others have said it's only temporary as a terminus and will eventually only be for emergency use.

Are they laying track past St Werburgh's Road, does that mean that the line to east Didsbury is being built now. I thought they'd stopped that.

Are they laying track past St Werburgh's Road, does that mean that the line to east Didsbury is being built now. I thought they'd stopped that.

East didsbury is still on, although it is 2 years behind the rest of the chorlton line and is classed as a separate project. As such it will be a while before you see track laid past the mauldeth road bridge, but the line to east didsbury is due to open in 3 years.

Are they laying track past St Werburgh's Road, does that mean that the line to east Didsbury is being built now. I thought they'd stopped that.

No Brenda - still ongoing - thank the Lord!

Very much doubt that the Airport line will come to fruition while the Tories are in power tho...

How about the on street bits in Oldham and Rochdale? Are they stiff going to be built?

How about the on street bits in Oldham and Rochdale? Are they stiff going to be built?

Yes, due to open in 2014 aparently

The reason for the trailing crossver rather than a facing one is that the trailing layout can be provided without the need for any powered points. It merely requires spring operated points to allow the tram to pass through and then run back into the platform. As others have said it's only temporary as a terminus and will eventually only be for emergency use.

Thanks for the replies guys - this answer makes sense to me. :)

How about the on street bits in Oldham and Rochdale? Are they stiff going to be built?

Brenda, in relation to Phase 3b, my understanding is that under the new funding arrangements, the Airport line and the street bits in Oldham and Rochdale will be funded locally, and therefore not subject to approval or interference from the government.

My memory also is that the Government's contribution to Phase 3b, namely the extensions to Ashton and East Didsbury, were approved or 'signed off' by Sadiq Khan of the last Labour administration in about March 2010.

THE BAD NEWS is that the new Coalition announced that it was looking again at funding approvals made since January 2010 by the previous government.

THE GOOD NEWS is in a document posted by Link Road showing that Ashton and East Didsbury will be confirmed:-

http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/system/files/North_West_RFA_budgets.pdf
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1051297&page=31#612

However, other schemes seem to have fallen off the list, including cross-city bus routes and the Rochdale Interchange, which will be a devastating blow to that town.

I am not sure what the funding arrangements will be for the Second City Crossing.

I think 2CC was to be done with borrowing but due to open in 6 years time they had a couple of years to look at its funding.

2CC was bundled in with the Airport Line wasn't it, as it will only become necessary when that line is built?I imagine that everything unfunded will go back into the GMTF waiting list while other sources of funding are sought.

Presuming that phase 3 is completed as planned I think Greater Manchester needs to have a serious look at the way it's been developing transport infrastructure and what it can learn from this process for the future. Yes we will have most of the tram network we wanted, but it will be fully open 10-15 years after it was supposed to be and likely to still suffer from the overcrowding issues that have dogged Metrolink since it opened. The idea of the region dedicating its attentions to a grand phase 4 fills me with dread simply because the chances of getting funding for it are next to none.

Instead of looking at Metrolink in isolation I think we need to concentrate on the transport network as a whole and linking the entire conubation into it through regular reliable publis transport. This could be through relatively cheap initiatives like sensible marketing of all services and better ticket integration/smartcards, to more complex things like planning a BRT network across the poorly served areas of the city that directly links into the Metrolink and rail at key points (so BRT along Wilmslow road connects to Metrolink at St Peters Square and in Didsbury Village, while a line along Kingsway through to Longsight will connect with both at Piccadilly and at East Didsbury). That doesn't mean no Metrolink schemes should be developed, but that they need to be the relatively cheaper schemes that improve the whole network like tram-train or more carriages rather than brand new high spec lines.

2CC was bundled in with the Airport Line wasn't it, as it will only become necessary when that line is built?I imagine that everything unfunded will go back into the GMTF waiting list while other sources of funding are sought.

I thought it was, at least arguably, necessary as part of phase 3. Don't Media City trams have to terminate at Cornbrook until 2CC is built?

I thought it was, at least arguably, necessary as part of phase 3. Don't Media City trams have to terminate at Cornbrook until 2CC is built?

To get the most out of phase 3 yes, but I think the Airport Line makes it neceassary rather than desirable. On the mediacity route only mediacity itself won't be directly served from the city centre before 2CC is completed, but on the Airport route everything south of Hough End won't be connected to the centre without 2CC. Since the major purpose of the airport line is to connect deprived Wythenshawe to the city centre this is considerably to its detriment.

I think Phase 3 has demonstrated its easier to get the lines funded in small sections than one big project and I hope they take that continental lesson into phase 4 and beyond, focus on £100-200m ~5-10km stretches and try to have a conveyor belt approach to them with one always under construction and a new one opening every 2 or 3 years (once the money becomes available again).

I'm careful not to be too sacreligous here, so aplogies for the offense I'm about to cause...

As a way of increasing funding hows about:

1. Adverts on the outside of trams

2. Paid sponsorship naming of trams

3. Paid sponsorship and naming of stops (as per arenas and sports stadia)

I'm careful not to be too sacreligous here, so aplogies for the offense I'm about to cause...

As a way of increasing funding hows about:

1. Adverts on the outside of trams


Done on the old ones at least, billboards along the top, doubt they bring in much revenue however as it only costs something like a pound a day each to rent them, however with the shear number it must add up. Internal advertising boards on the old ones as well but no advertising on the new ones. Dont know whether thats permanent, also dont know whether advertising will persist after the old ones are repainted.


2. Paid sponsorship naming of trams


Again done on the old ones many years ago, dont think there were many takers even in the good times. 3x Trams named Virgin Megastores as well as WH Smith, 2x Sony Centre Arndale.


3. Paid sponsorship and naming of stops (as per arenas and sports stadia


Cant think anywhere in the UK this is done, though sometimes universitys contribute to the appearance and signage of their nearest station. Some Metrolink stations have train station style wall mounted advertising boards (6 sheets?) however.


Anyway if your interested this is the rate card for advertising on Metrolink:
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/rate_cards/BusandTram_rate_card.pdf


Available Metrolink adverts:

Escalator Panels
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Escalator%20Panels%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Exterior Headliners
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Exterior%20Headliners%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Interior Double-siders
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Interior%20Double-siders%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Interior Headliners
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Interior%20Headliners%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Interiors (Portrait)
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Interiors%20(Portrait)%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Metroliners
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Metroliners%20-%20Manchester%20Metrolink.pdf

Metrolink Exterior Super Roofs
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Metrolink_Exterior_Super_Roofs.pdf

Metrolink 40_ x 30_ (Portrait)
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Metrolink%2040_%20x%2030_%20(Portrait).pdf

Saloon Windows
http://www.cbsoutdoor.co.uk/Global/UK/documents/production/library/Tram/Saloon_Windows_-_Manchester_Metrolink.pdf

Cant think anywhere in the UK this is done, though sometimes universitys contribute to the appearance and signage of their nearest station. Some Metrolink stations have train station style wall mounted advertising boards (6 sheets?) however.




Gillespie Road in London was sponsored and renamed 'Arsenal'.

I'm careful not to be too sacreligous here, so aplogies for the offense I'm about to cause...

As a way of increasing funding hows about:

1. Adverts on the outside of trams

2. Paid sponsorship naming of trams

3. Paid sponsorship and naming of stops (as per arenas and sports stadia)

It's a silly silly idea, but if we're talking about raising money, how about allowing people to BUY sections of Metrolink track? Kind of like Coronation Street selling cobbles, people can buy parts of the railway for ...a fiver?

I certainly wouldn't do it but I'm sure they're people who would!

It's a silly silly idea, but if we're talking about raising money, how about allowing people to BUY sections of Metrolink track? Kind of like Coronation Street selling cobbles, people can buy parts of the railway for ...a fiver?

I certainly wouldn't do it but I'm sure they're people who would!

You can buy/donate sleepers for heritage lines, Peak Rail and ELR did it years ago, and Ecclesbourne Valley Railway http://www.one-last-push.org/ still do. You can even buy into the Class 139/PPM project @ http://www.lctltd.co.uk/news.html

Likewise if the people of Leigh want a railway station or a tram line, they should put their money where their mouth is! Wasn't public subscription big in Victorian times?

Really!? You mean people actually BUY the railway?

Anyway yeah Leigh should really pay for it ... however you can't just go round DEMANDING money off them - because not everyone would use the Metrolink, so they would say they wouldn't have to pay. Even people who probably would take the Metrolink quite often would still refuse to pay.

Anyway, you'd have thought that once Metrolink install their 4 new lines that their income will be multiplyed? Therefore it won't take as long to save up for another line. And if this 'new line' goes to the Trafford Centre, then you'd start seeing the Metrolink become very rich indeed.

Even a line to Bolton is possible. I posted it on one of the threads in the Manchester Forums some time back. First already run a double-decker service from the City Centre to Bolton every TEN MINUTES - and every one I've seen has been packed full. Think of all the money Metrolink are missing out on :ohno:

error

Thanks for your contributions/comments on the idea Watcher, Voldemort and Linkroad. I think we're a reasonable clever/thoughtfull/creative bunch on here, instead of us getting upset there is no more money (from the usual sources) to carry on extending the network, lets put the effort in to come up with alternative funding ideas. No prize or reward for the best idea, just a Metrolink we can be proud of!

Couple of shots from today, just went up on my break and a couple on the way home

Starting first behind Piccadilly...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000416.jpg

Piccadilly turn back siding now has points.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000417.jpg

Looking back to the sidings and Picc

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000418.jpg

The road is still in place for now between the mills and tunnel. On that note the tunnel is getting deeper, not sure how far under the road it goes.

Onwards to the Oldham line connector.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000426.jpg

Some of the viaduct seems to be missing ?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000425.jpg

Closeup

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000427.jpg

and the other side Queens road tunnel appears to have gained its OHL bases and it would seem our since departed poster Dune has had his idea put into practice. The inside of the tunnel is now coated in concrete.

Oh yeah. I went to have a look at the other end of the tunnel, where Johnny went the other week but the track hasn't been extended any further. Just a little bit all on its lonesome for now. Cant be long till they lay through the tunnel I'm sure.

Brilliant shots Local Lad! Interested in whats going on with the Collyhurst viaduct, weak section maybe!?

Probably decided they needed to redo the brickwork there, theirs another covered section further up on the left where they may be doing the same as I see fences have been put up. On the opposite side on the right another section has scaffolding along the side but I dont see any missing part from this distance.

I was out and about yesterday looking round a few locations and took a few photos. I'm afraid they're not up to the quality of many folks efforts but nhere they are anyway. There are now 5 M5000s at Trafford, I assume they are 3001, 13 ,14, 15 & 16.
The photo showing the crossover at Harbour City seems to indicate that there is still quite a bit to do down there. Obviously they still have to fit point machines here before anything can run on the new branch.
As others have said all Eccles duties now seem to be in the hands of M5000s.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36758159.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36758151.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757531.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757515.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757499.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757493.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757478.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757470.jpg

Cracking shots Laddie & Freel, and nice to see the special pointwork behind Piccadilly - has it joined up into the Undercroft yet? Sheffield Street is closed for two Sundays so they may be geting nearer to the full alignment there. Along Ashton new Road they seem to be doing all the straight bits first, but there is now track at right angles across Clayton Lane by St Cross.

14.06.10 :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_5926.jpg

By the canal at Clayton :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_5927.jpg

Eastlands Westbound :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_5932.jpg

New trackbase at the other platform, looking down under the branch railway line bridge, towards Holt Town :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_5935.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36757493.jpg

Probably the closest shot of the new stop so far.
For those that criticise the city centre stops bare concrete these have brickwork under the platform edges. With all those trees in now it looks greener than Pic Gardens.

Dont know why you would want to cross platforms but having the rear of the stop raised (with a little fence around the buffer stops) makes it fairly easy without having to cross at track level. I guess since both are used a tram might arrive on the opposite one your waiting on (if not paying attention to the screens).

I don't get why there are four PID's?

Surely 1 per platform would suffice.

Johnny, the track still isn't connected at present. They still need to move the drivers mess room from in front of the buffer stops in the under-croft. Good shots at the stadium. Interesting to see that the bank before the tunnel seems to have plants growing out of it already :D

Freel. Interesting photo of the points at Media city. A while back it was mentioned that the idea for a stand alone media city service had been scraped and all services to Eccles and to Piccadilly will call at Media city. So as you say these points would need to be motorised to enable the Piccadilly bound trams to return to the correct line. Even if the stand alone Mediacity job still runs they still need working on.

Even with a normal daylight hours shuttle service was always intended that in evenings and weekends all trams would stop there so they would have to be motorised.

I don't get why there are four PID's?

Surely 1 per platform would suffice.

The usual specification for all light rail or tram stops is 2 per platform. They must be readable from anywhere on the platform. This really dictates the need for 2 signs per platform given the length of around 60 metres. Remember the Disability Discrimination Act details all these issues.

Johnny, the track still isn't connected at present. They still need to move the drivers mess room from in front of the buffer stops in the under-croft. Good shots at the stadium. Interesting to see that the bank before the tunnel seems to have plants growing out of it already :D

Freel. Interesting photo of the points at Media city. A while back it was mentioned that the idea for a stand alone media city service had been scraped and all services to Eccles and to Piccadilly will call at Media city. So as you say these points would need to be motorised to enable the Piccadilly bound trams to return to the correct line. Even if the stand alone Mediacity job still runs they still need working on.

Yes thats right. I would imagine that under normal designs for tramways the set shown on my photograph would be sprung in the crossover direction with outbound trams trailing through them. I doubt they will actually be powered as such. The only sets needing power will be the one entering the platforms and the set facing trams leaving the branch for either Eccles or Piccadilly. At these locations the driver (or signalling equipment) will need to make the decision on the direction as the tram approaches.
I recall that mention of a day time 9 minute service to Eccles via Media City too. I wonder whether it's happening, it would make more sense than the shuttle from Cornbrook. I can't see BBC types changing at Cornbrook, they'll just get a taxi from Piccadilly. It's not the best location as I was remined on Sunday afternoon in the pouring rain with a howling gale!

Remember that the cornbrook - media city shuttle will serve the entire quays, not just the BBC.

It'll provide a higher frequency service for anyone traveling at peak times from the city centre or Alty, so long as passengers understand that you should get on the first tram to Cornbrook and change. I think it will make a significant difference to anyone who works at the quays but that is't coming from the Eccles direction.

The shuttle service could also be used to increase frequency for united games.

Remember that the cornbrook - media city shuttle will serve the entire quays, not just the BBC.

It'll provide a higher frequency service for anyone traveling at peak times from the city centre or Alty, so long as passengers understand that you should get on the first tram to Cornbrook and change. I think it will make a significant difference to anyone who works at the quays but that is't coming from the Eccles direction.

The shuttle service could also be used to increase frequency for united games.

Don't tell the Media City developer about the increased facilities for the rest of the Quays!
Seriously though I agree that any improvement is good news, I just question whether it will serve the declared purpose. Passengers off the Altrincham Line will benefit as they will get a better chance of an empty tram.
A 6 minute service into the Quays will be good as long as Stagecoach manage to improve the connection regime at Cornbrook.On two journies requiring a change between the Eccles and Altrincham Lines at Cornbrook on Sunday the connecting trams departed before anyone had chance to cross the platform and that was when there was only a 12 minute service on each route. There needs to be much more attention to detail.

Remember that the cornbrook - media city shuttle will serve the entire quays, not just the BBC.

It'll provide a higher frequency service for anyone traveling at peak times from the city centre or Alty, so long as passengers understand that you should get on the first tram to Cornbrook and change. I think it will make a significant difference to anyone who works at the quays but that is't coming from the Eccles direction.

The shuttle service could also be used to increase frequency for united games.

On the London Underground people are encouraged to take the first available tube train and get off at the interchange station rather than wait longer for the direct tube train. This ensures safety in numbers at the interchange station.

Hopefully the BBC staff will look to get out to Cornbrook in the first instance on any tram.

The only bad point being the longer journey time for any passengers wishing to travel onwards to Eccles, but the increased number of trams should help slightly.

Freel do know how the the new 'tram operating system' is coming along? It looks like all the trams have gained their GPS Ariels at least.

The only bad point being the longer journey time for any passengers wishing to travel onwards to Eccles, but the increased number of trams should help slightly.

Freel do know how the the new 'tram operating system' is coming along? It looks like all the trams have gained their GPS Ariels at least.

The last I heard was that the route from GMex through Cornbrook to Eccles was to be the first section to change over mid August. That would make sense if Media City is to open in September giving 4 or 5 weeks trial running. From the Trafford Bar side of the diveunder at Cornbrook on to Altrincham will stay signalled until later in the conversion process. I don't know which section was to be second but would guess probably the City Centre. There aren't many signs of installation away from the Media City branch though. I did notice what I think are probably the transcievers for the mesh radio system on some OLE poles around there along with one of the new point mechanisms and some track circuiting connections. A small set of photos are here.
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796561.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796552.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796384.jpg

.On two journies requiring a change between the Eccles and Altrincham Lines at Cornbrook on Sunday the connecting trams departed before anyone had chance to cross the platform and that was when there was only a 12 minute service on each route. There needs to be much more attention to detail.

This has also happened to me twice in recent weeks, once at 1330 on a Saturday and again at 1439 on a Tuesday. Both times I arrived inbound from Alti and the internal announcements said "Change here for the Eccles line" etc; both times the Eccles tram was waiting with its doors open, and both times the motorman shut them in the faces of the passengers halfway across the platform.

Now some of us may be aware that Cornbrook is not advertised, nor with the present block signalling is it probably able to be timetabled, as a 'cross-platform interchange.' But in these situations, the public in general only experience the apparent petulance. And on top of all the adverse reports, and increasingly tabloid-style exaggerations in the MEN (e.g. this Sunday's bustitution Alti-Timp was going to be "tram misery" again), it is unnecessarily disastrous PR, for drivers to behave in this way. There always seems to be a fair bit of layover time at Eccles, and on both the above occasions it would only have cost another 5-6 seconds to be pleasant.

End of rant! :cheers:

Cheers for that Freel. I guess that they are in no rush to do either ends of the Altrincham or Bury sections seeing as these lines will be receiving no extra services. I'm interested to know what style signals will be used on the junctions out on the main lines such as at the flying junction at Trafford bar and the junction for the Oldham line. I'm thinking perhaps super sized LED style junction indicators similar to what's already in place in the centre of town.

Happened to me a few time as well Johnny. I never bother to run for Metrolink because it will always leave on you! Saying that they had some serious shunting going on at Vic yesterday with a double set being held untill a terminating tram came from Bury on the other platform, so they can do it when they want to!

The last I heard was that the route from GMex through Cornbrook to Eccles was to be the first section to change over mid August. That would make sense if Media City is to open in September giving 4 or 5 weeks trial running. From the Trafford Bar side of the diveunder at Cornbrook on to Altrincham will stay signalled until later in the conversion process. I don't know which section was to be second but would guess probably the City Centre. There aren't many signs of installation away from the Media City branch though. I did notice what I think are probably the transcievers for the mesh radio system on some OLE poles around there along with one of the new point mechanisms and some track circuiting connections. A small set of photos are here.
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796561.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796552.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/36796384.jpg

Does that mean that they will be fitting the information screens at the same time? The whole Eccles line has ariel thingies attached to the lamp posts or overhead poles about every 4th or 5th one which I presume is for the GPS and therefore information screens? Where will they be on the other lines as I haven't seen any?

One hesitates to be a grumpy old person again, but the irritation mounts after another bit of scaremongering in to-day's MEN (and from David Ottewell to boot, one of its most erudite reporters) :-

"Plans to electrify tracks across Greater Mcr have apparently been shelved by the government."
But when you read on, all it amounts to, is Earl Attlee admitting there are "problems about expenditure on electrification in the current economic climate" (as there are about everything), and Network Rail admitting that it's an area where "it could look" to save huge sums. (No mention of the huger benefit-to-cost ratios).
But both these are classic examples of someone not knowing the answer to the question, and therefore giving a reply that hedges all bets. In other words, a non-story.:ohno:

After the MEN's rumour-mongering two weeks ago about the re-examination of the Ashton and E Didsbury projects, the pubs and cafés of Droylsden are now full of people saying "All this work, inconvenience and expense, and now it's all to be scrapped." People don't tend to analyse the detail before jumping to a conclusion. Worse still, these rumours can actually prime the public into a mindset of resignation, and facilitate a less hostile reception for 'bad news' which may not even have been coming in the first place! :nuts:

However, in fairness, tomorrow's Tameside Advertiser (now also a MEN subsidiary), is running a much more positive piece on the subject :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/IMG-9.jpg

Does that mean that they will be fitting the information screens at the same time? The whole Eccles line has ariel thingies attached to the lamp posts or overhead poles about every 4th or 5th one which I presume is for the GPS and therefore information screens? Where will they be on the other lines as I haven't seen any?

The new information screens will rely on the new signalling system. The aerials are part of the system to allow continuous communication between the trams and the control system. GPS is used on the tram to allow the tram to position itself. This information is used to track all the trams around the network by radio. The The screens will only be fully accurate when the whole system is converted to TOS because with only the section from GMex to Eccles converted they will not be able to see trams approaching from Piccadilly. The system will get better as more is converted.
I would expect to start seeing transcievers between GMex and Cornbrook shortly (if they aren't already there). I imagine they will be fitted to OLE masts and lighting columns on stops just as on the Eccles line.

The new information screens will rely on the new signalling system. The aerials are part of the system to allow continuous communication between the trams and the control system. GPS is used on the tram to allow the tram to position itself. This information is used to track all the trams around the network by radio. The The screens will only be fully accurate when the whole system is converted to TOS because with only the section from GMex to Eccles converted they will not be able to see trams approaching from Piccadilly. The system will get better as more is converted.
I would expect to start seeing transcievers between GMex and Cornbrook shortly (if they aren't already there). I imagine they will be fitted to OLE masts and lighting columns on stops just as on the Eccles line.

I hope they get a shift on with it. I was really looking forward to seeing the PID's in use this summer.

Just a quick one I took on the way in to town.

Should soon be seeing some rails coming out of Queens Road Tunnel, Ballast is going down now. Hoooorah!! The big hole in the viaduct remains on the other side.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000429.jpg

Work seems to be going on at a pace on Ashton New Road/Manchester Road now, was down there earlier this week and there's now track down just south of Kershaw Street in Droylsden, also not to sure whether its connected but work seems to have started in the Triangle Junction near Snipe Retail Park

One question I have though is does anybody know when Pollard Street is due to reopen to traffic only I'm sure its got tarmac down down aswell as the tram tracks so cant be long off reopening unless I'm missing something

Theres a construction update saying they will be pouring concrete on Pollard Street/Caruthers Street junction today and the work may overrun into the night.

3b extensions raised in Transport Questions this morning, no specific assurances given by the transport minister, however did mention an announcement by the treasury shortly.

Been a busy morning, Coucher resigned, two re-franchisings delayed fro a year and two year, yesterdays refusal to commit to electrification making many newspapers, rumours Thameslink consultants have been temporarily laid off. Probably why theirs two sessions of Transport questions tommorow :nuts:

Work seems to be going on at a pace on Ashton New Road/Manchester Road now, was down there earlier this week and there's now track down just south of Kershaw Street in Droylsden, also not to sure whether its connected but work seems to have started in the Triangle Junction near Snipe Retail Park

One question I have though is does anybody know when Pollard Street is due to reopen to traffic only I'm sure its got tarmac down down aswell as the tram tracks so cant be long off reopening unless I'm missing something

Hi M60lad - the sign on the bus stops on Pollard Street said 'Closed for 18 months from 5 January 2009' - so perhaps another month ? But I think the main issue is now getting from Merrill Street to Holt Town - tracks have still to be joined across that complicated junction.

Michael & Watcher, I have got BBC Parliament on, in a reply to the MP for Denton about Ashton 3b extension, Norman Baker gave a strong hint that there would be a favourable announcement 'later this morning' . . . breath suitably bated!

Hi M60lad - the sign on the bus stops on Pollard Street said 'Closed for 18 months from 5 January 2009' - so perhaps another month ? But I think the main issue is now getting from Merrill Street to Holt Town - tracks have still to be joined across that complicated junction.

Michael & Watcher, I have got BBC Parliament on, in a reply to the MP for Denton about Ashton 3b extension, Norman Baker gave a strong hint that there would be a favourable announcement 'later this morning' . . . breath suitably bated!

Well we aren't on the projects suspended or cancelled so presumably it has been reaffirmed, if so i think a few :banana::banana: are appropriate

All ive got is the headline on Transport Briefing (dont have a subscription) 'Major projects survive £2bn cull, 12 projects valued....(Subscription required)

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6874

All ive got is the headline on Transport Briefing (dont have a subscription) 'Major projects survive £2bn cull, 12 projects valued....(Subscription required)

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6874

Found it, pretty much spin. 24 projects totalling £2bn across the WHOLE of government where decisions have SO FAR been made. This represents only a fraction of the cuts.


The full list of projects cancelled:

Stonehenge Visitor Centre: £25m

Local Authority Leader Boards: £16m

Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited: £80m

Rollout of the Future Jobs Fund: £290m

Six month offer recruitment subsidies: £30m

Extension of Young Person's Guarantee to 2011/12: £450m

Two year Jobseeker's Guarantee: £515m

Active Challenge Routes - Walk England: £2m

County Sports Partnerships : £6m

North Tees and Hartlepool hospital: £450m

Local Authority Business Growth Initiative: £50m

Outukumpu: £13m

List of projects suspended:

Libraries Modernisation Programme: £12m

Sheffield Retail Quarter: £12m

Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Programme: £23m

University Enterprise Capital Fund: £25m

Newton Scholarships: £25m

Health Research Support Initiative: £73m

Leeds Holt Park Well-being Centre: £50m

Birmingham Magistrates Court: £94m

Successor Deterrent Extension to Concept Phase Long Lead Items: £66m

Search and Rescue Helicopters: £4.6bn (Successor Deterrent Extension to Concept Phase Long Lead Items will be reviewed as part of the broader Trident value for money review, which will report in the coming weeks. Search and Rescue Helicopters will be reviewed as a matter of urgency)

A14 Road: £1.1bn

The Metrolink extensions to Ashton and Didsbury are to go ahead, after the projects were left off a list of stalled or cancelled schemes published by the Treasury today.

That means the £120m government contribution towards the £170m cost of the scheme is safe, and the work will now continue.

It’s a correct and principled decision by the new coalition. While Didsbury has a Lib Dem MP (John Leech), Ashton is a Labour heartland. There is no political capital to be made there.

The Treasury and Department for Transport have simply recognised the economic importance of the ‘Big Bang’ Metrolink transformation to the prospects of Greater Manchester.

It might not win them votes in Ashton, but it will win them plaudits across the region.

^^ off MEN website

Metrolink was always safe.
I dont think its a complete list of cuts still, lots of mention of defered decisions till budget, also some items appear in notes but not in the list for example Building Schools for the Future, Wigan and Salford were recieving £350m but no decision made. Also things like electrification, rolling stock, etc decisions arent due for several more months.

Can someone post reminding Ottewel of the BSF program? I cant post on the MEN website since the revamp as it blocks hotmail email addresses as spam, cant even email to complain to support about it as it blocks them too :bash:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0162.jpg
Stairs for the chorlton stop being installed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0161.jpg
Big long ramp at St Werbs' The guy on the cherrypicker demolishing the wall so the ramp can meet the pavement

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0160.jpg
The graphiti has been cleaned off the walls and the beams painted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0159.jpg
Not much new to see here

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0158.jpg
Another view of the ramp

Reminds me of some of the horrible pedestrian bridges they have in Birmingham.

Nice pics FA.

The stairs could do with something, I'm not sure what though to make it look a bit more appealing.

I quite like those stations on the Midland Metro with the lifts but I guess they would really add to the cost.

The stairs could do with something, I'm not sure what though to make it look a bit more appealing.


A touch of banana coloured paint perhaps? And a few LUHG stickers to add a bit of character...

Theyve got yellow handrails, I think if you significantly added more yellow it would stick out like a sore thumb.

How about some silver flower boxes, running along the railings, but not the handrails themselves?

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0107634_PE257413_S4.JPG

Quick question for anyone who knows...

What about 2CC and the extension to Manchester Airport, are they reliant on any central government funding / permission that the government could potentialy take away? Any hurdles still to jump over?

Or are those safe as well now?

Airport is going ahead through borrowing and GM transport fund, presently at the groundworks and utility diversions stage but wont be complete till 2016. 2CC is also due to be done through borrowing and 2016 finish but is only just approaching public consultation stage with accurate costs and plans not yet available. They are safe as long as central government doesnt impose some new limit on local council borrowing, however the councils presently have very low debt compared to other councils I believe.

Yesterday's announcement that the Ashton and East Didsbury Metrolink extensions are to go ahead stated that the Government contribution to the schemes was now £85 million with the remainder (£83 million) coming from the Greater Manchester Transport Fund (GMTF). The March 2010 announcement that the schemes would proceed said that the Government contribution would be £120 million. So an extra £35 million is now coming from the GMTF for these two schemes. So presumably £35 million is now no longer available for the other 13 schemes of the 15 to be funded by GMTF and therefore one or more of those schemes will presumably not now go ahead in the timescales previously envisaged. Contenders (among others) include Oldham town centre Metrolink, Rochdale bus station, Bolton bus station, Altrincham Interchange, Rochdale town centre Metrolink extension and the Manchester Airport Metrolink line.

Not quite thats their full cost £85m each total £170m of which government was stumping up £120m. If your going by the BBC article I think they messed their figures up thinking it was one scheme not two.

Thought I'd better say hello as my image seems to have preceded me. That's my head looking over the top of the parapet in the first pic in post 3567. Big deal :-)

That afternoon there were also several gangs hard at it between the Station and St Werbergs capping piles ready for gantries.

One thing puzzles me, week befor last I watched gangs cutting into the continuous rail for crossovers but when I went back several days later, no signs of crossovers and rails welded back up.

Thought I'd better say hello as my image seems to have preceded me. That's my head looking over the top of the parapet in the first pic in post 3567. Big deal :-)

That afternoon there were also several gangs hard at it between the Station and St Werbergs capping piles ready for gantries.

One thing puzzles me, week befor last I watched gangs cutting into the continuous rail for crossovers but when I went back several days later, no signs of crossovers and rails welded back up.

Lol, for some bizzare reason i knew someone would own up! you must have been stood there for over half an hour

Easily half an hour :-( In fact I stopped for a quick look while some scaffolding was off loaded then wandered down to St Werbergs. Came back and saw things happening. That's really how I'm sure it was me. I watched them place the cap on the first column, and the supports under it but left before they placed the first flight of stairs, which were in place early evening.

Does anyone reckon that eventually the Metro will be extended from Eccles to Leigh or from Manchester to Bolton or Manchester through Swinton//Atherton/Walkden. It does seems that some areas are either always the last or forgotten. Is the plan to connect the whole of the Greater Manchester area over time?

right.... that log ramp thingy they have put in at St Werburghs Road. Are there actually any stairs or are the able bodied being asked to go all that way just to get to the station and, if thats there then why is it that they are also having a lift, seems over the top to me? I would have thought that stairs and a lift were all that is required, or a long ramp with stairs at the side?

Another bit of GOOD news is that mobility scooters are now banned on trams and new door window stickers have appeared in the 1xxx and 2xxx doors informing "no mobility scooters on trams or platforms unless folded". That means that pain in the butt that gets on with one on the Bury Line is banned... yessssss . Anybody had dealings with him? Gets on the wrong doors and blocks the complete entrance stopping anyone from getting on and off, he's a safety risk and he didnt like it when I told him that one day....lol. Me and my honest mouth will get into trouble one day.

Does anyone reckon that eventually the Metro will be extended from Eccles to Leigh or from Manchester to Bolton or Manchester through Swinton//Atherton/Walkden. It does seems that some areas are either always the last or forgotten. Is the plan to connect the whole of the Greater Manchester area over time?

I think Eccles is the end of the line with the only possible extention being going up Church Street to stop at eccles station when and if it get redeveloped.
There is nowhere for it to go after Eccles as Liverpool Road is a very busy Road serving a huge area of housing and businesses at the side so there isn't anywhere to send the traffic. Also with the dreadful journey time (about to get longer sunday and evenings) it isn't attractive especailly on a 12 minute service.

Easily half an hour :-( In fact I stopped for a quick look while some scaffolding was off loaded then wandered down to St Werbergs. Came back and saw things happening. That's really how I'm sure it was me. I watched them place the cap on the first column, and the supports under it but left before they placed the first flight of stairs, which were in place early evening.

ha. I think I walked past you. It made me want to climb up and take a peek too.

There is a lift and staircase on the other side of the bridge. I suspect the long ramp is as much for the benefit of users of the foot/cycle path as it is for Metrolink users.

ha. I think I walked past you. It made me want to climb up and take a peek too.

Ah yes, that was you craning your neck to see if you could see over then eying up the bench. You should have climbed up, it's an excellent view point.

Does anyone reckon that eventually the Metro will be extended from Eccles to Leigh or from Manchester to Bolton or Manchester through Swinton//Atherton/Walkden. It does seems that some areas are either always the last or forgotten. Is the plan to connect the whole of the Greater Manchester area over time?

in the far and distant future, i think a route for the metrolink has been discussed going to leigh via the old railway track. if it ever happens though it wont be for decades, unless the local council can keep new extensions rolling on a staggered basis and funded locally.

Liked the photo from St Werburgh's Rd which compares nicely with what it used to look like in 1959:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0159.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/Vernon151/ChorltonJcn19591278x804screeensaver.jpg

Liked the photo from St Werburgh's Rd which compares nicely with what it used to look like in 1959:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0159.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/Vernon151/ChorltonJcn19591278x804screeensaver.jpg

what a class photo...where is from/got anymore?

what a class photo...where is from/got anymore?

That photo was from an article by E. M. Johnson in "Steam Days" mag a few years ago plus I've collected several books over the years also from EMJ and published by Foxline which contain lots if interesting info & pics.

That photo was from an article by E. M. Johnson in "Steam Days" mag a few years ago plus I've collected several books over the years also from EMJ and published by Foxline which contain lots if interesting info & pics.

ive been looking for pictures of caddishead viaduct when it was still in service, but have so far failed to find any :0(

I'm just trying estimate some journey times on the phase 3b extension. In particular the East Manchester line to Audenshaw. Can't find anything on the Metrolink website.

I know it's about 4.5 miles into town at a speed of 30mph (a bit slower round corners, a bit faster on the segregated track near sportcity, but no traffic or traffic lights to contend with). There are also 8 stops adding about a minute each to the journey time. So I'm guessing about 17 minutes from Audenshaw to Piccadilly undercroft. Does this strike anyone as reasonable?

Also I believe they intend to run with a 6 minute frequency through the day. Am I right in thinking the are likely to alternate termination between Bury and Altrincham (i.e. the Piccadilly services will just be extended east?), or are we going to see more radical changes to service patterns

ive been looking for pictures of caddishead viaduct when it was still in service, but have so far failed to find any :0(

I don´t know if this is what you are looking for but I googled it.

http://i50.tinypic.com/23i6m4y.jpg

I don´t know if this is what you are looking for but I googled it.

http://i50.tinypic.com/23i6m4y.jpg

thats the one. thats a recent photo though. im looking for ones when it was in service.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/Vernon151/ChorltonJcn19591278x804screeensaver.jpg

Great photo ExManc.

In that old photo is that the Fallowfield loop line curving away to the left?

That can't be St Werburgh's Rd, there would have been houses there in 1959

No I take it back the photo would have been taken from St Werburgh's Rd bridge looking south east.

That can't be St Werburgh's Rd, there would have been houses there in 1959

No I take it back the photo would have been taken from St Werburgh's Rd bridge looking south east.

Yes it's looking SE with Mauldeth Rd bridge in the distance

In that old photo is that the Fallowfield loop line curving away to the left?

Yes

So that's the old Midland Line joining up to the Great Central for the last leg into Central Station.

So that's the old Midland Line joining up to the Great Central for the last leg into Central Station.

otherwise known as chorlton junction.

So that's the old Midland Line joining up to the Great Central for the last leg into Central Station.

Not exactly. The main line was, I think, all Midland Railway until it made a junction with the joint line beyond Brinington Station. A cut off line (for expresses) opened around about 1904 from Heaton Mersey to a junction on the main line near Chinley.

The loop line from the junction in the picture ran to join the GC line by two curves - towards London Road in one direction, and just short of Fairfield (for Droylsden) Station in the other. The stations were Victoria Park (later Wilbraham Road), Fallowfield, Levenshulme (GC) and Hyde Road. It was used by GC (later LNER) expresses from Central to St. Marylebone, the odd Grimsby boat train (or through carriages), and local stoppers from Central to London Road (and vice versa) and Central to Guide Bridge.

Train Guard

Work seems to be going on at a pace on Ashton New Road/Manchester Road now, was down there earlier this week and there's now track down just south of Kershaw Street in Droylsden, also not to sure whether its connected but work seems to have started in the Triangle Junction near Snipe Retail Park

Yes, M60lad preliminary work has started at the Audenshaw gyratory near the Snipe. A compound has been set up on the island.

This is the new bit of track on Mcr Rd Droylsden, by the Jolly Carter :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6024.jpg

You can see where it curves out towards the future stop at Sidebottom Street, to be called Cemetery Road near the old people's homes :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6027.jpg

A couple more from the East this week. The River Medlock at Holt Town :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_5996.jpg

Gaugeing on Merrill Street towards Pollard Street :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6002.jpg

East of Piccadilly :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6021.jpg

Plans to extend the Metrolink from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside and from Chorlton to Didsbury in South Manchester have been re-confirmed by the Government.

Funding for the two schemes had been approved in March, but fell under a spending review following the change in government in May.

However, an announcement by the Treasury in the House of Commons on Thursday revealed that the schemes have been re-confirmed.

The two new lines will form extensions to the new East Manchester Line (Piccadilly to Droylsden) and South Manchester Line (Trafford Bar to Chorlton) - both of which are currently under construction.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), welcomed the news.

He said: "I am delighted that the uncertainty surrounding these vital schemes can now be forgotten about and we can once again confidently look forward to the sight of trams running to Ashton and Didsbury.

"The contracts were signed in March and work on the two lines is already well underway.

"Throughout the review, we maintained that the schemes represented value for money and would drive regeneration and investment, so it is great to see that the new Government shares this view."

Detailed design and site works have already begun, and local approvals are being secured.

Both extensions are part of the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, a £1.5 billion investment programme covering 15 major transport schemes for Greater Manchester.

A further eight new trams also form part of the announcement, six of which will be funded by the Department for Transport.

http://www.gmpte.com/2009_news.cfm?news_id=9003704?submenuheader=3

Does anyone know what the plans are for Cornbrook stop now that the former siding has gone and they are ready to commission the turnback?
Is it planned to remove the old platform that was alongside the siding or are they going to extend the main platform to cater for 3 or 4 trams each side?
I suppose alternatively it could just be left unfinished like so many projects.

Does anyone know what the plans are for Cornbrook stop now that the former siding has gone and they are ready to commission the turnback?
Is it planned to remove the old platform that was alongside the siding or are they going to extend the main platform to cater for 3 or 4 trams each side?
I suppose alternatively it could just be left unfinished like so many projects.

i think any work on cornbrook thats going to be done, would have be done when they closed the line for a month last year.

i think any work on cornbrook thats going to be done, would have be done when they closed the line for a month last year.

They have been building drivers walkways at night according to he metrolink construction updates website.

i think any work on cornbrook thats going to be done, would have be done when they closed the line for a month last year.

Yes I agree, thats why I asked really. It's going to look a bit silly left as it is. I thought I had seen a proposal somewhere to extend the island platform at the City end to allow 3 trams on each side. Maybe that's already possible though.

They have been building drivers walkways at night according to he metrolink construction updates website.

I read that, but they haven't done anything of the sort. They have put railings up at the side of the overhead gantries on the manchester bound side, no signals on the turnback have been installed or any kind of walkway. I suppose the walkway makes sense as the driver could be walking along the ballast while trams are going passed at 40 mph? I think it masy be a while before the siding opens. There is no need till media city opens

The loop line from the junction in the picture ran to join the GC line by two curves - towards London Road in one direction, and just short of Fairfield (for Droylsden) Station in the other. The stations were Victoria Park (later Wilbraham Road), Fallowfield, Levenshulme (GC) and Hyde Road. It was used by GC (later LNER) expresses from Central to St. Marylebone, the odd Grimsby boat train (or through carriages), and local stoppers from Central to London Road (and vice versa) and Central to Guide Bridge.

The first station was actually Alexandra Park which later became Wilbraham Road which is interesting as it was neither near Alexandra Park or on Wilbraham Road. Trains of note were the Hull/Liverpool to Harwich/Liverpool boat trains which dated from the 1880's. These carried American immigrants from the East coast ports to Liverpool to cross the Atlantic.

I'm just trying estimate some journey times on the phase 3b extension. In particular the East Manchester line to Audenshaw. Can't find anything on the Metrolink website.

I know it's about 4.5 miles into town at a speed of 30mph (a bit slower round corners, a bit faster on the segregated track near sportcity, but no traffic or traffic lights to contend with). There are also 8 stops adding about a minute each to the journey time. So I'm guessing about 17 minutes from Audenshaw to Piccadilly undercroft. Does this strike anyone as reasonable?

Also I believe they intend to run with a 6 minute frequency through the day. Am I right in thinking the are likely to alternate termination between Bury and Altrincham (i.e. the Piccadilly services will just be extended east?), or are we going to see more radical changes to service patterns

Future journey times, esp on East Mcr. have been taxing my imagination too, Green, for a while. GMPTE must have done a detailed projection of this some time ago, in order to know how many vehicles to order. I am very surprised they don't put it on their advance publicity and puffs such as the 'LINK' magazine, as it is a big plus point - probably slashing in at least half, the journey time of the equivalent bus service.

In the meantime, my guess is that you are probably about right in saying 17 mins Audenshaw-Picc. I think you have been optimistic on a line speed of 30 mph; but pessimistic on 1 minute for station dwells, - ergo cancelling each other out!

In making a comparison with other lines, I have estimated Piccadilly - Ashton at about 24-25 minutes, Edge Lane being half way on 12-13mins. I am going on the timetabled approximate average of 2 minutes per stop on the three existing lines, all taking about 30-32 mins end to end. Eccles is shorter than Bury-Alti (which can achieve 50 mph line speed for the most part) but much more speed-limited by its convolutions. I guess Ashton will be somewhere between the two, with long sections of street running with traffic (max 30 mph, average speed much lower) but also significant sections where it will be able to rollop along, such as Picc-Man City thanks to the underpass, (if it can call priority in an out of Merrill Street), and clear runs along the Ashton by-pass in the central reservation (in that location will it be permitted to go faster than the adjoining road traffic? -hmm, that only just occured to me . . .)

In any event, even if we are both optimistic, I am sure publication of the much-improved journey time details, would be a big selling point around Tameside, where construction is currently causing a temporary pain. :moods:

I also agree that the 6 min headway from Ashton chimes in at Picc with the 6 min joint headway Bury/Alti services, and this configuration is the most likely. The direct Bury-Alti services via Primark would also dovetail with this, geographically forming a giant 'tri-line' ^^^

Conbrook is going to mainly be used for the media city service to turn back! we are being told a new rest room for drivers is to be built in the area of the manchester bound end of the platform/old sideing:ohno:

Cheers for that response on Ashton on the other thread Johnny. Went for a drive down to look at the new depot but didn't have my camera. Will go back in the week though...

A few more changes. The tight loop back from the depot (near to Old Trafford stop) to the holding sidings is now complete. In fact I think that means the depot track laying is now finished or at least 95% complete.

The tracks from the fly under and flat junction are now visible from the Ayres Road bridge but they don't connect to the main south Manchester line just yet. Connections from the mainline into the depot can be seen. Id say about 100meters is missing now before they can place the golden spike:lol:

Speaking about Ayres Road bridge the tracks are being encased in concrete under the actual bridge.

Erm, oh yeah the tram washing plant looks finished the main depot buillding is still missing one wall on the Altrincham line side.

Sorry about no pictures. Will get some asap unless someone beats me too it!

Had a wander up to Trafford Bar & then St Werburgh's Rd on Sunday & took some photos:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l72/scouseinmanc/IMG_0463.jpg
Trafford Bar; looking towards Chorlton.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l72/scouseinmanc/IMG_0450.jpg
St Werburgh's Rd; realligned linear path, looking up at St Werburgh's Rd overbridge, with the end of the stop on the LHS.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l72/scouseinmanc/IMG_0452.jpg
St Werburgh's Rd; new disabled access in place. Stop is on the other side of the bridge.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l72/scouseinmanc/IMG_0453.jpg
St Werburgh's Rd; from pedestrian crossing, looking back towards Chorlton & Mcr.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l72/scouseinmanc/IMG_0462.jpg
St Werburgh's Rd; stop is on the RHS awaiting platform installation, with the tracks continuing on towards Mauldeth Rd overbridge & Didsbury.

I did also wander down to Firswood. The stop there has had the platforms installed & both the lift shafts cladding are complete. Unfortunately, you have to be 8 ft tall to photograph properly!!

All stops are due for completion in Sept, so I wonder how long it will be before the overhead wires are installed? After that, just driver training :)

I know it's in the thread somewhere, but can someone repost the projected opening schedule?

Mediacity, Pids in general:
'Summer' (People say September)

Oldham and Rochdale:
Central Park (Spring 2011)
Newton Heath-Oldham Mumps (Autumn 2011)
Oldham Mumps-Rochdale Railway Station (Spring 2012)
Oldham and Rochdale TC's (2014)

East Manchester:
Pic-Droylsden (Spring 2012)
Droyslden-Ashton-under-Lyne (Winter 2013)

South Manchester:
Trafford Bar-St Werburgh (Spring 2011)
St Weburgh to East Didsbury (Summer 2013)
St Werburgh-Manchester Airport (2016)

Others
Trafford Depot, end of year basic functionality, a year later servicing facilities
Manchester Central station, not yet approved (2014)
2CC (2016)

What do we reckon the scheduling will look like, and across which city centre line will they use.

I think Altrincham to Bury will be shifted to the 2CC.

Altrincham - Ashton Under Lyne (every 12 mins)
Altrincham - Bury (every 12 mins via 2CC)
Bury - Ashton Under Lyne (every 12 mins)
Eccles - Piccadilly (every 12 mins)
MediaCity:UK - Piccadilly ( every 12 mins)
East Didsbury - Rochdale (every 6 mins via 2CC)

Some things to think of, the 12 minute Airport service- I reckon will go a 2cc Victoria Station route because already heavy rail to Pic. IF the airport loop was completed (unlikely for a long term in my view) I imagine that would go via Vic too, though a distant future Altrincham-Airport-Stockport link might be a good idea.
Gonna be a 6 minute frequency to Oldham but only a 12 min frequency to Rochdale, that we do know, though where they would go isnt known.

Where do you think a possible Trafford link would go?
Possibility of a Victoria 3rd platform turnback in future, might be ideal for Trafford route?

Taken last Saturday.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444716-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444717.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444718.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444719.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444720.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444721.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444722.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture114444715-1.jpg

Another bit of GOOD news is that mobility scooters are now banned on trams and new door window stickers have appeared in the 1xxx and 2xxx doors informing "no mobility scooters on trams or platforms unless folded".

Bloody hell. I went on holiday for a few days and the Disability Discrimination Act has been repealed in the meantime. :lol:

As they keep saying theyve always been banned like bikes, the bans just not been enforced. I agree with it however, they take up far too much room and often have inconsiderate drivers, these are road vehicles afterall!

Well, if your on a scooter, you are already on a set of wheels with an engine so why should you take up space on a tram?

As they keep saying theyve always been banned like bikes, the bans just not been enforced. I agree with it however, they take up far too much room and often have inconsiderate drivers, these are road vehicles afterall!


And you don't even need to be disabled to use one. Anybody can buy one. I have had one getting on the bus causing problems for a while now so the other week I asked to see a pass to which I was told "I'm in a mobility scooter so I don't need one". I charged them full adult fare. They weren't too pleased.. awwwww shame

Found these on Flickr uploaded 22 June

- Probably someone off here, but i've not seen them posted.

Chorlton / Didsbury Line

The back of Piccadilly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d33206hg/

Also, I think I spotted 3016 at the OT Depot this morning. No photo though I'm afraid.

Walked from Chorlton Station to St Werburgs about three this afternoon. Not a hi-vis jacket to be seen, no cranes, no transpot.

Is something happening?

Do you think they've all gone to Glastonbury for the weekend:)

I imagine they probably all went home to watch the England match.

Maybe they all booked this afternoon off.... :)

I imagine they probably all went home to watch the England match.

Maybe they all booked this afternoon off.... :)

I think it may of been sarcasm...

And our responses wernt?

MC dead as well...no one to be seen

MC dead as well...no one to be seen

Chorlton was quiet too, except for the charity shop I was in with the woman with the mobile phone and the very penetrating voice who said very loudly to the person on the other hand "THE SCORE IS ENGLAND 1-0. At that point the shop was anything but quiet.

Meanwhile, work at Chorlton for the past few days seems to have been mostly involved with the lift shaft and finishing the scaffolding. Can't see much at St Werburgs apart from a short length of track in ballast.

Pre-cast concrete sections for the Firswood stop are meant to be arriving today according to the construction news.

Few shots from the depot I said I would take.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000433.jpg

The mainline is almost complete!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000434.jpg

Watcherzero. Could these be the concrete sections you mentioned for Firswood?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000439.jpg

Looking back towards Chorlton. The line is looking better now all the kinks have been took out by the tamping machine, which was in the distance. Looks like they are working one line at a time, the Manchester bound side first.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000435.jpg

The main depot building again. Not too much change. It always looks to me that they decided to build an extension on one side at the last minute.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000437.jpg

The depot washing plant.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000438.jpg

The loop that enables trams to move from the sidings round in the depot.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000440.jpg

One final shot to add this time on the Oldham line. This shot shows the line climbing up from Queens Road tunnel to the site of Monsall station.

:cheers: Local Lad !

:cheers: Local Lad !

:cheers::cheers: I second that Lad, it's all happening!

Work was being done on the Media City line this morning adding concrete over some plastic ducting and a pile of yellow handrails has been delivered.

Found these on Flickr uploaded 22 June

- Probably someone off here, but i've not seen them posted.

Chorlton / Didsbury Line

The back of Piccadilly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d33206hg/

Also, I think I spotted 3016 at the OT Depot this morning. No photo though I'm afraid.

Apparently :banana: 3017 has now arrived and is at Queens Rd.

Apparently :banana: 3017 has now arrived and is at Queens Rd.

They are certainly coming thick and fast aren't they!

I think 3001 was delivered in July 2009

So 17 maybe 18 new trams by July 2010 delivered in a year seems pretty good to me.

How many will they need to run a Central Park to St Werburgh's Road service next spring?

24/06/2010 - Sunday 18 July Bury line engineering work

There will be no trams running between Bury and Victoria from 4.00pm on Sunday 18 July due to engineering work for the expansion of the Metrolink network.

A replacement bus service will run every 12 minutes between Bury and Victoria calling at all stops.

Please buy your tickets from Metrolink ticket vending machines as normal, before boarding the bus.

Normal tram services will resume on the Bury line on Monday 19 July.

Prep work for when they close that section to install the points for the Oldham/Rochdale line?

Apparently :banana: 3017 has now arrived and is at Queens Rd.

3 posts in a row. Crikey, I'm obsessed with this place.

3017 is lined up next to 3016 at the OT depot!

Seems to be a fairly regular pattern now:

New tram arrives at QR
roughly 7 days later after light testing moved to OT
14 days later next tram arrives

Not sure if this has been mentioned by anyone before but thought i would post it anyway. Was browsing through Modern Railways magazine before and noticed a snippet about the fact that the M5000's are not running on the bury and altrincham lines. Apprarently it concerns the effect they have on the track at high speed, hence the reason they have been restricted to the lower speed eccles line, it is being looked into by the rail technology unit at MMU.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51491903@N04/4734896413/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51491903@N04/4734896413/

Numero 18!

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Temporary Speed Restriction - Heaton Park Station
Does anybody know if there is a speed restriction going northwards out of Heaton Park station (ie Bury direction towards Prestwich). Trams seem to crawl out of the station as they pass under the bridge for Newton Street. Also wondering if this will be fixed during the works due to take place tonight!

Not sure if this has been mentioned by anyone before but thought i would post it anyway. Was browsing through Modern Railways magazine before and noticed a snippet about the fact that the M5000's are not running on the bury and altrincham lines. Apprarently it concerns the effect they have on the track at high speed, hence the reason they have been restricted to the lower speed eccles line, it is being looked into by the rail technology unit at MMU.


I'm becoming increasingly concerned about this. Last Tuesday I rode on 3005 between Shudehill and Stretford (It appears that the M5000s are being used on Bury-Alty directs in the peak). Up until GMEX, everything was great. Between GMEX and Trafford Bar, things weren't too bad - a little bit shakey, but then the vehicle wasn't travelling particularly fast. After Trafford Bar, I was quite frankly shocked. The ride quality was absolutely ridiculous. I literally had difficulty staying on my seat, such was the lateral swaying. people stood up were clinging on for dear life.

This kind of vibration must be having a bad effect on the tracks, and that's a worry, but I'm more concerned about the effect on passengers to be honest. I really hope they manage to come up with a solution to this, and quickly - the Chorlton/Didsbury line and the Oldham/Rochdale line are both segregated and will involve high speed sections of running, so it has to be a priority.

I'm becoming increasingly concerned about this. Last Tuesday I rode on 3005 between Shudehill and Stretford (It appears that the M5000s are being used on Bury-Alty directs in the peak). Up until GMEX, everything was great. Between GMEX and Trafford Bar, things weren't too bad - a little bit shakey, but then the vehicle wasn't travelling particularly fast. After Trafford Bar, I was quite frankly shocked. The ride quality was absolutely ridiculous. I literally had difficulty staying on my seat, such was the lateral swaying. people stood up were clinging on for dear life.

This kind of vibration must be having a bad effect on the tracks, and that's a worry, but I'm more concerned about the effect on passengers to be honest. I really hope they manage to come up with a solution to this, and quickly - the Chorlton/Didsbury line and the Oldham/Rochdale line are both segregated and will involve high speed sections of running, so it has to be a priority.

I am afraid it may say a lot about the quality of the track laying work carried out a couple of years ago. When you ride trains/trams in Germany (such as the M5000) then they are always very smooth.

I am afraid it may say a lot about the quality of the track laying work carried out a couple of years ago. When you ride trains/trams in Germany (such as the M5000) then they are always very smooth.

Well I've only been on M5000s in Germany on street running sections, so I couldn't comment; I'll trust your word though! ;) What gets me is that the ride quality on the T68s using the same track isn't nearly as bad.

If you are right, let's just hope that the track work going on right now on the new lines is of a much better standard.

I'm becoming increasingly concerned about this. Last Tuesday I rode on 3005 between Shudehill and Stretford (It appears that the M5000s are being used on Bury-Alty directs in the peak). Up until GMEX, everything was great. Between GMEX and Trafford Bar, things weren't too bad - a little bit shakey, but then the vehicle wasn't travelling particularly fast. After Trafford Bar, I was quite frankly shocked. The ride quality was absolutely ridiculous. I literally had difficulty staying on my seat, such was the lateral swaying. people stood up were clinging on for dear life.

This kind of vibration must be having a bad effect on the tracks, and that's a worry, but I'm more concerned about the effect on passengers to be honest. I really hope they manage to come up with a solution to this, and quickly - the Chorlton/Didsbury line and the Oldham/Rochdale line are both segregated and will involve high speed sections of running, so it has to be a priority.

Between Stretford and Dane Road is even worse in my opinion, probably just because its a longer stretch! Especially when the line crosses the bridge over the river Mersey - there always seems to be a sudden lateral jolt there that starts the M5000s rocking for a while. And they are only doing 40mph are they not? (I'm pretty sure there is a red "40 mph M5000 only" sign somewhere although I forget where). I dread to think what it would be like at 50mph.

Perhaps in the long run it wont matter so much. If things stay as they are series 1000 and 2000 will be the only trams up and down said lines with the new trams on the new sections. Since they decided to run the Eccles line with the M5000 they now have more than enough older trams for the Bury - Altrincham line.

Perhaps in the long run it wont matter so much. If things stay as they are series 1000 and 2000 will be the only trams up and down said lines with the new trams on the new sections. Since they decided to run the Eccles line with the M5000 they now have more than enough older trams for the Bury - Altrincham line.

They will have to find a solution sooner rather than later though, especially as the 1000 and 2000 are due for their refurbs in the not too distant future. Hopefully it's only small sections of the track that need replacing as the lines being shut again for track replacements is not likely to go down too well!

Temporary Speed Restriction - Heaton Park Station
Does anybody know if there is a speed restriction going northwards out of Heaton Park station (ie Bury direction towards Prestwich). Trams seem to crawl out of the station as they pass under the bridge for Newton Street. Also wondering if this will be fixed during the works due to take place tonight!

I also experienced this! The first day this happened to me, it was to do with the auto-lock breaks because of a faulty red signal, the tram crawled forward and then jolted. Ever since this, it has been painfully slow at this section between the end of the old platform and Newton Street. Maybe with the new signalling system it wasn't worth replacing?

I also experienced this! The first day this happened to me, it was to do with the auto-lock breaks because of a faulty red signal, the tram crawled forward and then jolted. Ever since this, it has been painfully slow at this section between the end of the old platform and Newton Street. Maybe with the new signalling system it wasn't worth replacing?

From your description it sounds as though there is a problem with the traction return current bonding. It can cause the signalling track circuits to malfunction and put a signal back to red in the drivers face. It happens when bonding cables are stolen or break and when the tram draws maximum current as it starts off the signal goes back to red.

Perhaps in the long run it wont matter so much. If things stay as they are series 1000 and 2000 will be the only trams up and down said lines with the new trams on the new sections. Since they decided to run the Eccles line with the M5000 they now have more than enough older trams for the Bury - Altrincham line.

The article in Modern Railways indicates that a new wheel profile is to be tried on the M5000 fleet to improve things. They will need to get it right as there is no way that the T68 fleet can address all the Bury Altrincham requirements even with the extra 6 drawn off the Eccles Line.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0183.jpg
at the depot, two rows of m5000's lie waiting

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0184.jpg
i came across this bizzare contraption, a van with a pantograph on top, saw it in use when i went past on friday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0187.jpg
storage area by Ayres road

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0188.jpg
i take it these are ohle columns

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0189.jpg
looks almost finished

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0190.jpg
fisrswoods lift shafts

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0191.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0192.jpg
the footbridge has been instaled at this station

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0193.jpg
the platforms are comming along

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0194.jpg
at st werbs' road, the lift shaft has begun to appear

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0195.jpg
3b, Mauldeth road - another world

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0196.jpg
back in the realms of 3a, lots of equiptment on the track

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0197.jpg
at chorlton, the station is rapidly taking shape, Even the lift shaft is complete

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0198.jpg
other side

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0199.jpg
towards manchester

The article in Modern Railways indicates that a new wheel profile is to be tried on the M5000 fleet to improve things. They will need to get it right as there is no way that the T68 fleet can address all the Bury Altrincham requirements even with the extra 6 drawn off the Eccles Line.

I seem to remeber that the rail profile on metrolink is more typical of heavy rail. Looks like the new trams where ordered with tram type wheels instead of heavy rail wheels.

I seem to remeber that the rail profile on metrolink is more typical of heavy rail. Looks like the new trams where ordered with tram type wheels instead of heavy rail wheels.

The M5000s have the same wheel profile as the T68s and it is based on the normal ex BR heavy rail profile. The rail on the sleeper track IS like the normal Network Rail rail as well.
MMU are studying the issue because as I understand it no-one is certain why both fleets exhibit this tendency to hunt from side to side. The difference between the T68 and the M5000 is the violence of the hunting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0187.jpg
storage area by Ayres road


Why does this section have concrete over it?

Why does this section have concrete over it?

A small pocket of weak ground perhaps?
The concrete acts like a raft.

Perhaps in the long run it wont matter so much. If things stay as they are series 1000 and 2000 will be the only trams up and down said lines with the new trams on the new sections. Since they decided to run the Eccles line with the M5000 they now have more than enough older trams for the Bury - Altrincham line.

They will have to find a solution sooner rather than later though, especially as the 1000 and 2000 are due for their refurbs in the not too distant future. Hopefully it's only small sections of the track that need replacing as the lines being shut again for track replacements is not likely to go down too well!

Plus, until they know what is actually causing the problem, they can't really do anything to prevent the same issues manifesting in the new lines currently being built.

The M5000s have the same wheel profile as the T68s and it is based on the normal ex BR heavy rail profile. The rail on the sleeper track IS like the normal Network Rail rail as well.
MMU are studying the issue because as I understand it no-one is certain why both fleets exhibit this tendency to hunt from side to side. The difference between the T68 and the M5000 is the violence of the hunting.

Which one hunts more?

Which one hunts more?

I would say that once they start hunting, the T68s do so much more gently but continue to oscillate for longer, so that they have an almost constant slight swaying motion, whereas the M5000s run very smooth for a while then have a sudden bout of very violent side-to side shaking, which then temporarily dies away again for about 50m until it starts again ....

I think the hunting on the T68s seems to be mostly on the centre bogie, as it isn't very noticeable sitting at the ends, whereas on the M5000s the extreme ends seem to be the WORST place to sit, implying the problem there is the outer bogies, if not all three.

Others may well disagree though, I'll have to pay closer attention next time I ride a :banana:

I would say that once they start hunting, the T68s do so much more gently but continue to oscillate for longer, so that they have an almost constant slight swaying motion, whereas the M5000s run very smooth for a while then have a sudden bout of very violent side-to side shaking, which then temporarily dies away again for about 50m until it starts again ....

I think the hunting on the T68s seems to be mostly on the centre bogie, as it isn't very noticeable sitting at the ends, whereas on the M5000s the extreme ends seem to be the WORST place to sit, implying the problem there is the outer bogies, if not all three.

Others may well disagree though, I'll have to pay closer attention next time I ride a :banana:

Am I right in saying that the later M5000s (3007 onwards) were meant to be fitted with enhanced dampers/shock absorbers? Is that correct. Has anybody experienced these units? I think I was on 3007 a few weeks ago running from Heaton Park to Victoria and it didn't seem to be too bad. A little bit of swaying over points etc, but nothing like some of my earlier experiences.

zapaman, im not sure from what number they were supposed to be fitted

On a related note I stumbled across this which makes interesting reading:

[URL="http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/orresearch/tramlightrail/phase1a.pdf"]

to quote:
"Flange lubrication originally used at the entrance to the street-running section, then replaced by sticks on vehicles which didn't work! .
Street running is noisy in dry weather, but the city centre is noisy anyway and therefore this is not an issue ."

That seems like a rather lame excuse by GMPTE to me.

Nothing has been done to the dampers on any of the M5000 trams but they are going to change the tyre profiles so they sit more flush with the rail head :ohno:not to sure if thats going to get rid of the problem but sounds to me they are going for the cheaper option:bash:

Nothing has been done to the dampers on any of the M5000 trams but they are going to change the tyre profiles so they sit more flush with the rail head :ohno:not to sure if thats going to get rid of the problem but sounds to me they are going for the cheaper option:bash:

The option of trying alternative wheel profiles whilst possibly lower cost should actually reduce or even remove the problem at source as it is the interface between the wheel and rail that causes the problem. Any change to dampers etc will only change the ride quality by masking the problem. Surely it is better to eliminate the problem in the first place by addressing the profile.

Am I right in saying that the later M5000s (3007 onwards) were meant to be fitted with enhanced dampers/shock absorbers? Is that correct. Has anybody experienced these units? I think I was on 3007 a few weeks ago running from Heaton Park to Victoria and it didn't seem to be too bad. A little bit of swaying over points etc, but nothing like some of my earlier experiences.

I have only ridden on M5000s recently on the Eccles Line where they are obviously fine. I guess that when they are just into service they will ride better as the wheel profile is new and the dampers are also new and therefore possibly more effective.
3007 has been out of service since February when it was involved in a derailment at Queens Road Depot so I doubt anyone has been on it recently.

Am I right in saying that the later M5000s (3007 onwards) were meant to be fitted with enhanced dampers/shock absorbers? Is that correct. Has anybody experienced these units? I think I was on 3007 a few weeks ago running from Heaton Park to Victoria and it didn't seem to be too bad. A little bit of swaying over points etc, but nothing like some of my earlier experiences.

Personal experience is that both types sway in a similar fashion and to the same extent but that it is much less violent on the T68 fleet. Just sit behind the driver on either type and watch the movement through the windscreen. The rattling and banging on the T68 centre section is more related to the two sections of the body moving relative to each other I think.

It was 3010 on that were meant to come with improved dampeners.

It was 3010 on that were meant to come with improved dampeners.

The Modern Railways article specifically rules out suspension changes so I suspect the damper change story may be a rumour rather than fact. It would be interesting to hear from someone more closely involved what the current situation is.

Oldham Metrolink plans to be revealed

30 Jun 2010, 15:13

Michael Hunt

A public information event is being held to give people in Oldham a chance to find out more about plans for a temporary Metrolink stop at Oldham Mumps.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is holding the event at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre within Greaves Street in Oldham next Monday.

As part of work to convert the former Oldham loop rail line to Metrolink, GMPTE is submitting a planning application for a temporary Metrolink stop at Oldham Mumps, close to the site of the former Mumps railway station.

GMPTE said the temporary stop will remain in place until a permanent stop is built on Union Street as part of the future Metrolink extension through Oldham town centre. GMPTE added that the temporary stop will then be removed.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE's Metrolink director, said: "We are committed to keeping in touch with residents and businesses while construction on the new Oldham and Rochdale route is ongoing and public information events such as this are a vital part of that commitment.

"I would encourage people to come along to the event, where they can view the plans and speak with team members on a one-to-one basis to discuss the scheme and ask any questions they may have."

The event is taking place from 5pm until 7pm on Monday 5 July.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/6567-oldham-metrolink-plans-to-be-revealed.html

Some information on the profile of the SportCity Stadium stop and its staircases can be gleaned from the location plan in this planning document for City Street

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/selecteddoc.aspx?093509-dpp-0004.pdf

No pictures I'm afraid, but the line that runs from Chorlton under the Altrincham line and connects to the Manchester bound line, looks soon to be connected.

They're is a some ballast down all is needed is probably 25 metres of track to connect it up to the points.

Improvements in line for Metrolink stops

Metrolink stops on the Bury and Eccles lines will be undergoing significant refurbishments over the next 18 months, after transport leaders agreed a package of improvements.

Members of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority's (GMITA) Capital Projects Committee today approved work to refurbish stops on the two lines, to improve the passenger experience and bring them in line with existing and future Metrolink stops.

Councillor Richard Knowles, Chair of the Capital Projects Committee, said: "This work will improve security, accessibility and facilities for existing passengers, and should also encourage more people to travel by Metrolink, so it is a very welcome project.

"These improvements at stops on the Bury and Eccles Metrolink lines follow similar improvements made on the Altrincham line and city centre stops last year.

"They also support our aspiration to achieve Safer Tram Stops Accreditation for every Metrolink stop in Greater Manchester."

Work will be carried out at 19 stops (including Cornbrook) to varying degrees.

The platforms and shelters will be repaired, deep-cleaned, decorated and new signage installed. Access to the stops will be improved by refurbishing steps, ramps, underpasses and footbridges. Existing CCTV coverage will be enhanced and lighting improved, as required. De-vegetation and the removal of some walls will improve visibility.

The car parks on the Bury line and at Ladywell will benefit from new signage, and spaces will be remarked where necessary. The cycle parking facilities at each stop will be reviewed and enhanced where necessary.

The lifts on the Bury line will be refurbished, and funded, by Stagecoach as part of their refurbishment programme. The lift at Cornbrook will also be refurbished.

Andy Morris, Managing Director for Stagecoach Metrolink, added: "This is good news for passengers on both the Bury and Eccles lines and completes the programme of significant tram stop improvements across the existing network.

"The programme will deliver a more attractive, secure and safer environment for Metrolink passengers and to a standard consistent with the new lines due to open on the system in the next 18 months."

All the work will be planned to minimise disruption to passengers. There are no planned blockades and access diversions and individual platform closures will be co-ordinated with Stagecoach Metrolink.

Subject to securing permissions and contracts, work should get underway later this year. While a significant amount of work should be complete before the end of this year, the project as a whole should be completed by autumn 2011.

^^

18 months seems an awfully long time to put some new signposts up, paint everything yellow, and hose the platforms down.

I covered it in my data burst from the Capital Committee on the non Metrolink thread, most of the Eccles line improvements are already underway and will be finished by the end of the year, Bury interchange will be finished by end of the year as well, but reallly it comes down to how fast you can spend money, if its a years budget you cant spend it all in the first two months of the year as it makes it more expensive and you have to borrow until you recieve the money your spending.

Will repost relevant edited highlight from that data burst here.



Cycle Parking:
Update to say the audit of public cycling facilities is complete, the commitment to all new Metrolink stops and Bus/Rail station refurbs having at least 10 parking spaces is still there and the creation of the design guidance has begun.

Bury Interchange Toilets:
A review of the toilets at the Interchange (On the bus station but operated by Bury MBC) has been completed, they are in a bad location for pedestrian flows and suffer vandalism to a greater degree than other bus stations.

Option 1:
Demolish toilets, no new facilities at Interchange so people must use Town centre facilities, cost £15k

Option 2:
Refurbishment, new fixtures and fittings, new roof, new ventilation grilles, cost £170k

Option 3:
Refurbishment and Reconfiguration, same as above but adding an attendants office, baby changing facilities, disabled toilet and interior reconfiguration of existing Male/Female, cost £250k

Option 4:
Takeover the ground floor of the office block, new ramp for disabled access, disabled toilets, baby change, attendants office, cost £250k
(map, page 5 http://www.gmita.gov.uk/download/3085/item_9-bury_interchange_public_toilets )

Report reccomends option 4 due to location close to supervisors office and better location for station users, but also that coin operated turnstyles installed to recoup the cost of construction and pay ongoing maintenance.

Metrolink

New Pids
Being rolled out to all stops, rollout program under development tied to TOS programme, 'City Centre' displays operational by Spring 2011 (Dont know the implications of this, possibly lined to TOS being gradually rolled out or its refering confusingly to the Piccadilly Gardens closure of Moseley ones)

Bury and Eccles Line stops improvement
A program to give them the same experience and environment is being developed, contributions will be sort from Stagecoach to reflect increase in asset life and lowering of maintenance.

Eccles improvement will be modest as already high grade stops, Bury line will need more substantial work.

Project aims:
• To attract more passengers onto the Metrolink service;
• To reduce the number of reported crimes and incidents at the stops;
• To assist in obtaining the Safer Tram Stop accreditation for the stops; and
• To provide a significant improvement in the customer experience for passengers.

Improvements planned Bury:
Steps: All stops
Ramps: All except Heaton and Bury
Demolitions: All
Footbridge: All except Besses, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Bury
Underpass: Besses, Prestwich, Radcliffe
Canopies/Shelter: All
Lighting: All
CCTV: All
Car Park: All except Bowker
Furniture: All
Cycle Facilities: All
Platform Edige line: All
Remove veg and deep Clean: All
Signage: All
Paint Scheme: All
Lifts: Heaton, Besses and Bury. Remove from Crumpsall

Improvements planned Eccles Line:
Steps: Cornbrook and Pomona
Canopies/Shelter: All
Lighting: All
CCTV: All
Car Park: Ladywell
Furniture: All
Cycle Facilities: All
Platform Edige line: All
Remove veg and deep Clean: All
Signage: All
Paint Scheme: All
Lifts: Cornbrook

Summary: Steps badly detoriating, ramps not DDA compliant, ramps and underpass poor drainage and lighting
Canopies repaired and upgraded. Existing shelters retained and cleaned.
Lighting will be surveyed, improved where needed to increase user experience and safety, where replaced will be with energy saving lighting.
CCTV Surveyed and improved where needed
Edge lines repainted, stops deep cleaned, remove vegetation and demolish walls to improve sight lines
Cycle lockers and stands where appropiate security wise after consulting councils
New signage, paint scheme and furniture for consistent network appearance
Bury Lifts refurbished by Stagecoach as part of upkeep, Cornbrook refurbished, Pomona lifts in good condition and require no work, what to do with Crumpsall lift shaft upto Stagecoach.
Woodlands Road will have no work as its closing
Victoria no work as done in 2009
No planned blockade, minimal station closures, most work done during daylight hours.
Eccles improvements will be completed before end of 2010
Bury Interchange to be completed before end of 2010, will be co-ordinated with Stagecoach renewals and Interchange toilets work.
Remaining stops contracted Late 2010, completed Autumn 2011
Lift work at Besses and Heaton is part of Stagecoach renewals program 2010/11 and work on these stops will be timed to coincide

Northern Stops
Abraham Moss construction start September to be completed Spring 2011

Trams
48 Ordered, 12 in service, driver training complete.

First time ive seen this, but the report says 3 original T68's converted for Eccles line are designated T68M.

Rolling stock normally has a 30 year life and a mid life rerbishment normally occurs, they have had a veriety of upgrades and overhauls in their life but nothing comprehensive, whats proposed is:

A programme of upgrades to the current fleet of 32 T68 LRVs is being undertaken by Stagecoach. The upgrades predominantly deal with compliance and reliability issues and include the installation of rear facing CCTV cameras, compressor upgrades and speed probe upgrades.

The tram upgrades have been developed and are being introduced onto the current fleet.

Tram 2001 has not been in passenger service since 2006 due to significant reliability issues. A detailed programme of testing by Stagecoach is continuing in order to understand the issues, and to develop a number of solutions which will allow the tram to return to operational service.

First six items will be done by Stagecoach

This is the outline, the final works will be designed by the contract winner:

• Ensuring that the LRVs are able to continue operating safely for the remainder of their design life. Many of the issues experienced with the LRVs stem from the fact that they have suffered from water ingress over a prolonged period.

• Improving the reliability levels. The fleet achieved an average 3,800 miles between service affecting failures in 2009. The LRV upgrade programme, referred to in section 13, and a number of other initiatives undertaken by Stagecoach improve this to 5,000 miles. The mid-life refurbishment programme is expected to improve this further to 10,000 miles. This will
result in a significant improvement to passenger service as 75% of current service disruption is attributable to rolling stock unreliability.

• Improving the customer experience. The LRVs compare poorly in many respects with the new fleet of M5000 LRVs, and do not fully meet the latest Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR)

Initiatives to sustain the LRVs operational life-cycle-
• Repair of corrosion to the solebars;
• Replacement of flooring;
• Articulation overhaul including replacement of the bellows;
• Improving saloon door bottom runners;
• Replacing corroded equipment boxes;
• Removing step boxes ;
• Inspection and possible replacement of air receivers; and
• Protection of the LRVs’ underside. This is required as a result of the increased exposure to road salt, as the proportion of on-street running increases.

Reliability Improvements:
• Battery replacement;
• Electronic card repair/refurbishment;
• Further modifications to the traction motor intake to protect against rain and snow;
• Contactor overhaul;
• Overhaul of the Electro-pneumatic valve manifold, which is part of the braking system;
• Migration of the power electronics from the current obsolete technology to a modern alternative;
• Rationalisation of the cab desk including replacement of unreliable switches and indicators;
• Renewal of hoses;
• Replacement of the traction brake controller; and
• Repair of wiring and connectors.

Customer Experience Improvements:
• Revised saloon layout;
• New passenger seating;
• New saloon lighting;
• Revision of saloon ceiling;
• Improvement of vestibule door pillars and draughtscreens to improve passenger boarding/alighting/circulation;
• New grabpoles/handles;
• Modification of the wheelchair position to meet Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR);
• Improvements to the appearance of floors/sidewalls/cab partition;
• Application of new livery;
• Modifications to the LRVs’ exterior to improve appearance; and
• Assessment of the implications of provision for luggage / bicycle carriage.


Work could be done offsite or at existing depots, each option will be examined for cost
Contract will be tendered in July, Work begin in Spring 2011, to take 3-4 years depending on the speed funding becomes available
Reliability improvements will be completed 2010/11


Depots
Sanding plant to be constructed at Queens Road by Autumn 2010

New substation at Bowker Vale to be operational by end of 2010

TVM's
115 installed, certain locations have problems with screens and coinage, the supplier is rectifying

Media City
Canopies, Stop equipment, Drivers Welfare room all complete, minor snagging work still underway
Main Contractor has issued compliance notice which is being reviewed
Minor works including signage, balustrades and TVM under way to be completed September

Cornbrook
Track, overhead Line and moving of existing signalling completed last August
Minor work including snagging, driver walkways and signal bases to be completed this August
Signalling switchover will occur this August

Infrastructure testing August, shadow running and driver familerisation to occur in September

Extensions
Tracks have been laid full length of South Manchester Line
Construction started at Firswood, Chortlon and St Werb, Overhead lines will begin being installed in July

Trafford Depot: Stabling and cleaners platforms completed, fit out of maintenance building started to be completed September, electrification is proceeding and a second segment will be activated soon allowing 20 trams to be stabled under live wires.

Main Construction yard for Ashton 3B lines at Ashton Moss to be completed July

Kingsway stop is still being progressed, funding is being decided by NWDA between Kingsway Developments, Rochdale MBC, Rochdale Development Agency and GMPTE

2CC


The Second City Crossing will provide, inter alia, the following:

o an increase in the operational capacity that will facilitate the full realisation of the Metrolink investments;
o improvement in the reliability of all Metrolink services including the new routes;
o the capacity to accommodate additional extensions beyond those currently funded and the capacity to extend services from Mediacity into the City Centre without having to change trams; and
o reduced disruption caused by any future maintenance or renewals in the City Centre and a diversionary route when one of the two routes is obstructed for any reason.


Topograhical studies completed, pedestrian counts, all stop options and sub options have been appraissed by the MCC. Stakeholder meetings will be held in the vicinity of the trams stops when the projects prefered locations are ready.


Edit: Just noticed thats the first public official declaration to extend the media city shuttle to the town centre

New Pids
Being rolled out to all stops, rollout program under development tied to TOS programme, 'City Centre' displays operational by Spring 2011 (Dont know the implications of this, possibly lined to TOS being gradually rolled out or its refering confusingly to the Piccadilly Gardens closure of Moseley ones)

Oww mannn! 2011 :ohno: I was hoping it'd be this year.


Northern Stops

Abraham Moss construction start September to be completed Spring 2011


Trams
48 Ordered, 12 in service, driver training complete.

Wish they'd say when 3001 and 3007 will be mended.

Tram 2001 has not been in passenger service since 2006 due to significant reliability issues. A detailed programme of testing by Stagecoach is continuing in order to understand the issues, and to develop a number of solutions which will allow the tram to return to operational service.

I thought there was a picture of this recently with new coupler covers on and it was due to return to service.

Depots
Sanding plant to be constructed at Queens Road by Autumn 2010

What is a sanding plant?

New substation at Bowker Vale to be operational by end of 2010

Will this mean all Bury - Alti services will be able to run as doubles?


Media City
Canopies, Stop equipment, Drivers Welfare room all complete, minor snagging work still underway

What is snagging work?


Signalling switchover will occur this August

Is that the Line of Sight thingy?

To answer a couple:

'Snagging' work refers to minor niggles or deviations from plan specs often due to natural shifting or settling onto building foundations that are usually easy to correct and a normal part of the construction process. For example missing a spot while painting, something out of allignment, a fixture may not be the quality specified and need replacing, drainage issues, something being scratched or cracked, etc..

Sanding plant looks something like this:
http://modelrailwaysdirect.com/acatalog/SM_44-041.jpg
Used to store and refill the sand dropped onto the rail by a tram to increase grip.

2001
The reports generally say this about the tram every time, it rarely details exactly what they are doing and the information compiled into the report may be several weeks old, i.e. before it returned to the depot and/or its still not ready to return to service.

Substation I dont know, but it increases the chances.

Hi all!, first time poster LONG time viewer!. Is there a link to any of the work or shots of 2001 at Queens Road??. I ask as the daft thing is I could swear I saw 2001 on test in Picadilly Gardens about six weeks ago, I say it was 2001 as it had a lovley white/fungal/mucky look to it. Also it did not have the new digital board, but the old style winder one which said Tram out of Service. The biggest giveaway was that it had a driver and an extra person in the cab and some dude in a high vis jacket sat in the back. Like I said it was filthy and did not sound to clever plus it was about 9pm at night.

Also got to ride 3006 to Alty today and the vomit inducing rocking seems to have been resolved, or maybe they were driving at a lower speed. Either way seemed a much nicer ride than last time, its only till you have been on a new tram do you realise how tired the T68's are. The only decent one of those is the East Lancs one.

Welcome to the forum Lateniteradio!

Here is link to a recent photo of 2001 took by a user on here but I cant remember what his posting name is, doh! Thanks for the photo M5000 man!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolink/4667060946/sizes/l/

Interesting about the sighting in the centre of town because it looks quite clean on the photo above. Also added to that all series 2000 trams were fitted with electronic destination blinds from New (admittedly they never worked too well) so it would seem an usual step to fit it with a winder blind. I always look out for 2001 while at work and after a year and 7 months I'm yet to spot it!

Oh yeah to save posting again. My friend drove past the Asda at Eastlands the other day and mentioned that the platforms or at least the bases of the platforms are now under construction for the Velodrome station. Also that track laying is going past Greggs now on Ashton Road. Will have to have a walk down soon, has been too long!

Thank you for the warm welcome!. Looking at that photo it looks VERY similar to what I saw. I did forget to say I had to move fast as I wasnt expecting a tram, but I remember there were no ads inside as I did have a good nosy once I got clear. Might have been out for a late night test run maybe?.

A couple of moderately dull pics around the end of the line at Mauldeth Road West in Chorlton...

Looking south towards 3B
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9695/img0331n.jpg


Looking North towards St Werburghs
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6643/img0332li.jpg


Mauldeth Rd bridge
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/131/img0333t.jpg


Looking North from Mauldeth Rd bridge
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2320/img0334nk.jpg


Horrible ramp at Werby's
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5074/img0335qv.jpg


Chorlton station
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6466/img0336s.jpg

Doesn't look it but there was a lot of activity on this stretch, all sorts of rail vehicles out and about shoving ballast around and doing goodness knows what else :banana:

A couple of moderately dull pics around the end of the line at Mauldeth Road West in Chorlton...

Looking south towards 3B
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9695/img0331n.jpg



Wow so they are actually going ahead and laying track PAST Werbys towards E Dids? wow! That IS news, I thought it was just preparatory work; bit of drainage and some tree chopping but if they are already laying track that's is quite advance stuff :banana: - sorry if I've missed others talk about this but been off the forum 4 a bit. So for me Martin your pix are not dull at all!

Anyone know how far the tracks are getting past what was due to be the end of the section at Werbys?

Ah see I was under the impression that this bit was just the bit past Werby's that the trams would use to turn around as it were, rather than actual track for the Didsbury extension...?

They kinda didnt wait for the Dfts funding confirmation of East Dids and Ashton extensions that they officially recieved last month, been plowing on for a couple of months, but then they were fairly sure of recieving the approval as the contracts had been signed and work begun.

But as martin says, this bit could just be a reversing siding, not full on track laying.

I think if you look at the quality and alignment of the track past the Mauldeth Road bridge it is there simply for access for the loading of materials. The sleepers are irregularly spaced and if the tracks were extended they would converge by the end of the ballast stock pile.
I was up that way during the week and an artic with pre-cast sections on it was drawn up alongside the track to transfer to a rail vehicle, there wouldn't be room if the track was on its correct alignment.

Mauldeth Rd bridge
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/131/img0333t.jpg



Why are they using different style sleepers on each side?
One would assume they would just bulk-order one type from one manufacturer to keep down the cost.

be the proud owner of a Metrobus number plate!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GMPTE-GM-Buses-MCW-Metrobus-number-plate-/300442589968

Hi Alex, that is one reason why I suggested that it's a temporary length of track for access. They've just used any materials they have to hand. The all concrete sleepers are not all the same pattern which tends to further support that idea.

Why are they using different style sleepers on each side?
One would assume they would just bulk-order one type from one manufacturer to keep down the cost.


there's a good reason you wouldn't have only one supplier for something like this, if the order couldn't be fullfiled, i.e the manufacturer went bust, the whole project would be delayed....

This week saw the instalation of the south manchester lines first overhead line structures. They are now in place between ayres road (the depot) and the future chorlton station. I get the impression that work on this line may be ahead of schedule.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0206.jpg
manchester road

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0204.jpg
across the alotments

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0202.jpg
fisrswood station

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0201.jpg
looking towards kings road (the stone parrapit has been removed from both sides of the wall, looks like the height of the wall will be increased)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/DSCF0200.jpg
kings road towards firswood

Brilliant, Future! I love the way that it is centre poles, like a tramway !

GMPTE had an exhibition in Oldham today about the location of the temporary Mumps tram stop, to last for the duration of Phase 3a in the town centre (i.e. the life of the direct 'tunnels route' between Werneth & Mumps, the duration currently being estimated as Autumn 2011 to sometime in 2014, when the Phase 3b town centre route is due to open. Then the temporary Mumps stop will close and move to the new interchange at the East end of Union Street.)

No diagrams are published at present, but I took these photos from the display easels. There is clearly an issue about whether they can bring down the viaduct and re-model the big A62 roundabout in time, which is the stated intention, before the Shaw/Rochdale section of 3a comes alive in 2012. If they can achieve this, it will make the subsequent transition from 3a to 3b much easier, and obviate the need for what would surely be another long blockade (Mumps to Derker or beyond) between the two phases, if the viaduct has had to be used for 3a.

I guess that's why the temporary Mump stop has been placed further back West along the old line, near the high footbridges, to allow for either possibility :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6226.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6227.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6225.jpg

Thanks JDR - I was actually there at around 5.45 for a few minutes. It was very packed. The only displays with new information was captured in the third photo you provided. I was expecting more detail, but it wasn't there. So I made a quick exit.

Nice work JDR didn't go myself. A bit concerning that they might not be able to remodel the viaduct & mumps round about in time for 2012 or have a further blockade, not good news.

Cheers for those pictures Johnny. Interesting about the Oldham Mumps temporary one. It seems to show the lines after the station going into single track? I cant really understand it, one track just running down and ending on the bridge? Either way even more single track sections on the Oldham line is bad news!

Oh a slight edit. I checked on the Gmpte Metrolink section. This might just be showing the station up to 2011. My bad.

Sorry one last thing to add. The Viaduct connecting the Bury line to the Oldham Connection is looking almost finished. You can see the metal brackets on the outside of the viaduct that will hold the overhead masts up on this elevated section.

LL I wouldn't worry about the singled line across the new layout at mumps. The general plan is to keep the works as cheap as possible so 1 track would suit the bill till 3B is up and running.

Some updates from the North

Mumps sees the demolition of the old carpet world shop. weather this is anything to do with plans for the re modelling of mumps is anyone's guess.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac247/cpl_r/DSC02128.jpg

Werneth Station site. Bridge work extending towards Fetherstall road, The Fetherstall road bridge is scaffolded up ready for work

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac247/cpl_r/DSC02130.jpg

LL I wouldn't worry about the singled line across the new layout at mumps. The general plan is to keep the works as cheap as possible so 1 track would suit the bill till 3B is up and running.

Some updates from the North

Mumps sees the demolition of the old carpet world shop. weather this is anything to do with plans for the re modelling of mumps is anyone's guess.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac247/cpl_r/DSC02128.jpg



I think it's being refurbished with facade retention!

They've been Survey drilling for the last couple of weeks in various spots, including on the path where Yorkshire Street and Union Street meets and near the old B&Q :)

LL I guess that the short piece of single line will just be the turnback siding or headshunt, whilst Mumps is the temporary terminus for this section between Autumn 2011 - Spring 2012. Like Wobz I hope they can get the viaduct down in time for the Spring 2012 opening of the Mumps - Shaw/Rochdale section . The apparent 'buffer stops' on the 3rd diagram seem to indicate the division between these two sections of 3a.

I also went past the Smedley viaduct today and its looking nearly ready for the conjunction to be made next month, so all seems to be on time in that regard.

I am glad that Victorian building is not being demolished after all Chog - we have lost too many of its ilk (or is that the one next door !?)

I've just been reading about the Corrie plot for the 50th anniversary in Dec

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/1291380_coronation_street_set_for_anniversary_tram_disaster

Perhaps 2001 has a use after all

This comment made me laugh ...

Don't panic everyone, this is the Metrolink remember. It probablly won't turn up.

A quick shufty on the 216 bus to check progress . . .we seem to be in the 'middle' period of the constuction process just now - not too many dramatic changes but gradually getting there . . .

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6247.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6281.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6250.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6252.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6253.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6254.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6256.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6257.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6258.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6263.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6267.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6269.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6270.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6271.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6272.jpg

Land To South Of Abraham Moss And Rear Of 135-149 Woodlands Road And 29-41 And 34 Greenstead Avenue
Cheetham

Formation of new tram stop for Metrolink, comprising new platforms, ticket vending machines and associated facilities, new ramps, planting and associated boundary treatment and infilling of subway below tramline

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?093545/FO/2010/N1

I love digging for things not seen before being accidentally included. Check out the map of 'future network' 093545-aas-0001.pdf

Theirs a new longer Trafford alignment, similar to last one in that it diverts via Lostock Parkway but interestingly it now goes 30-40% beyond the Trafford Centre to call at 'Trafford Quays', 'Salford Rads' (cant quite make that second word out) and finally Port Salford. The descriptions also changed from 'subject to private finance' to 'subject to funding and approval' Is this evidence Peels back on board and want a link to their new development?

If someone takes a screencap, its now a really long extension looking shorter because its very wriggly, but twice the length of the Eccles line and probably if stretched maybe even longer than Altrincham line.

As to the stop, their not filling the subway just capping it at both ends and adding secure ventilation and drainage, saves money and stops the need for a blockade I guess.

http://i27.tinypic.com/142zuc6.jpg

I love digging for things not seen before being accidentally included. Check out the map of 'future network' 093545-aas-0001.pdf

Theirs a new longer Trafford alignment, similar to last one in that it diverts via Lostock Parkway but interestingly it now goes 30-40% beyond the Trafford Centre to call at 'Trafford Quays', 'Salford Rads' (cant quite make that second word out) and finally Port Salford. The descriptions also changed from 'subject to private finance' to 'subject to funding and approval' Is this evidence Peels back on board and want a link to their new development?

If someone takes a screencap, its now a really long extension looking shorter because its very wriggly, but twice the length of the Eccles line and probably if stretched maybe even longer than Altrincham line.

As to the stop, their not filling the subway just capping it at both ends and adding secure ventilation and drainage, saves money and stops the need for a blockade I guess.

It'll be Salford Reds new stadium I guess..?

Pretty cool though! Would love to see it happen!

Yes, it appears to be the location of the proposed new Salford Reds stadium.

This suggests that talks are continuing with Peel on this, think they've been keen on the fact if they're going to have to fork out some for the line they might as well get their monies worth and for it to go past all their pet projects!

Does someone more "in the know" "get" Lostock Parkway? The main reason for this stop appears to be the integration with park and ride opportunities with people connecting from the M60, but given now they seem to want to push the line further doesn't the Salford Reds site make far more sense as a place to put the park and ride given it's allready being developed and needs sufficient parking anyway?

Do we really want another slow and wiggly Eccles line?

Probably a bit quicker than Eccles, own alignments for first third, on street next third then probably own alignment again. Eccles is slow through the keys because of all the sharp turns between buildings, past Media City running on or next to roads it actually manages a fair lick.

Lostocks quite good for motorway access, as to using Reds stadium, the line shadows the motorway a fair bit in this section and you probably wouldnt want to ride through Trafford Centre if you used a P&R as you would use that instead (and remember before now it didnt continue past Trafford Centre), but I predict a name change as its gonna get confused a lot with Lostock in Bolton which was formally known as Lostock Parkway and is still refered to as such in some public documents e.g. from Bolton Council.

A line now this long will probably put a fair strain on the Metrolink networks infrastructure (require a 3rd depot) and Cornbrook viaduct, poor Cornbrook. Makes you wonder if 2cc will be enough of a capacity relief when it cant help Gmex-Cornbrook at all. Perhaps they will be forced to reinstate the other rotted viaduct :P Probably wouldnt be too hard to 4 track Cornbrook to Gmex and 3 track Gmex-City, for most of the viaduct route theyve put the tracks in their original location matching the viaducts curve, just near cornbrook they put them in the centre of the viaduct so would have to shift these, also wouldnt solve the problem of so many lines all passing through Cornbrooks two platforms.

Stupid question but why would a longer line put more pressure on Cornbrook viaduct and the city centre crossings? Length will impact the number of vehicles they need to buy, but surely not the frequency of the service.

Stupid question but why would a longer line put more pressure on Cornbrook viaduct and the city centre crossings? Length will impact the number of vehicles they need to buy, but surely not the frequency of the service.

If all the extensions went ahead, think of the services that would be going through Cornbrook.

Ashton - Altrincham
Bury - Altrincham
Piccadilly - Eccles
Rochdale - East Didsbury
Victoria - Manchester Airport
Cornbrook/Piccadilly - MediaCity:UK
Trafford Centre - Piccadilly?

Yeah I agree with Apologiesforthedelay. Cornbrook would be having 2 trams every 2 minutes or so pulling in. If something goes wrong (someone takes a long time to board the tram etc) then you could end up with a jam.

Either another two platforms or a completely new way for trams to enter the city centre from the West/South.

If all the extensions went ahead, think of the services that would be going through Cornbrook.

Ashton - Altrincham
Bury - Altrincham
Piccadilly - Eccles
Rochdale - East Didsbury
Victoria - Manchester Airport
Cornbrook/Piccadilly - MediaCity:UK
Trafford Centre - Piccadilly?

But Watcher was saying that the length of the line would be the critical factor, which I can't understand. Surely if the viaduct can take another 12 minute service to a short Trafford Line then it can take another 12 minute service to a longer Trafford Line? There's still an extra 5 trams an hour passing through however far they go at each end.

...Eccles is slow through the keys because of all the sharp turns between buildings, past Media City running on or next to roads it actually manages a fair lick....


Yup, I was driving behind a :banana: on Eccles New Road yesterday, I was doing 'at least' 30mph and struggling to keep up. Probably just my cars speedo under-reading of course ;)

Any chance of using the other redundant but important viaduct to take extra lines between Cornbrook and GMex? Is it possible to expand Cornbrook?

Any chance of using the other redundant but important viaduct to take extra lines between Cornbrook and GMex? Is it possible to expand Cornbrook?

Although it would be great to see the other viaduct in use, I'm not sure that there is actually any room available for a Cornbrook expansion. The stop is bounded by the Mcr - Liverpool line on one side & the viaduct wall on the other.

Could Cornbrook possibly be relocated a little further back towards Mcr, with 2side platforms & an island?

Gonna have a wee look on Google...

Sorry Che, should have made it more clear. I meant putting extra strain by requiring more stabling, more people using Cornbrook (possibly slowing boarding), being more sensitive to delays (length increasing demand and expectation) and yet more importance placed upon it (though people here could use Pomona for Eccles they need Cornbrook for everything else).

I agree theirs not much you could do to expand cornbrook, especielly as the possible 3rd bay platform (turnback to city) has now been replaced by a turnback to Media City. Theirs the car crushing plant on one side however and you could enroach on that site by building another viaduct for the station, linking it to Trafford and Eccles lines then into a 4 tracked viaduct. Platform crossing may be an issue, Manchester Central design suggested they would be happy with a track level crossing at a busy station though I dont favour it. The up ramp to the station may be an issue however the water means you may only be able to squeeze in one more track if that.

Unfortunatly I want their to be another soloution to getting these lines into south Manchester centre but even thinking radically and outside the box I cant think of another allignment that could be used (bar somehow using the A5103). If they have any more south Manchester lines they would have to tunnel, nothing else they could do. However I think with the Trafford alignment theyve got blanket coverage of South to West quarter of the city and you wouldnt need another.

It would need a parallel viaduct over what is a carpark/waste land and be positioned slightly north towards the CC but how about a 2nd island? Original island
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/iheartthenew/cornbrook.jpg handling all southbound and new island all northbound?

I love digging for things not seen before being accidentally included. Check out the map of 'future network' 093545-aas-0001.pdf



That's a fantastic find, Watcher, how do you come across these things? I am struggling to find it via the above reference can-u-help? As you were, found it now, didn't realise it was in the Abraham Moss Planning document.

There certainly seems to be a lot of ongoing negotiations behind the scenes between Peel & GMITA, as mentioned those are all their pet projects, they have the money and seem to be getting the will . . .?

PS I am also posting this on the 3b, 2cc + future thread as a very exciting development.

It would need a parallel viaduct over what is a carpark/waste land and be positioned slightly north towards the CC but how about a 2nd island? Original island handling all southbound and new island all northbound?

Your drawing is how I would have imagined it, two options on routing though. your suggestion of uni directional islands makes sense for a pedestrian perspective, maximising their options without changing platforms. The other option would be to have Eccles/Trafford on the north island and Altrincham/South Manchester on the other. It would probably mean the end of eccles to Piccadilly direct service but operationally trams could be seperated never having to cross each others paths from 2cc to final destination which has some advantages.

Can't understand all the fuss about Cornbrook, it's nowhere near capacity.
At the moment it is seeing fifteen trams an hour in each direction, south Manchester will up that to 25 an hour and the Trafford line, to 35 an hour. That still leaves a seperation of nearly 2 minutes. Scrap block signaling and operate line of sight and that would more or less double capacity again

Without block signalling there is no reason why several trams shouldn't be boarding and discharging at the same time, the platforms are already long enough for that.

As I understand it the limit is the junction at Moseley St/Piccadilly which a second city crossing would sort out.

Today its 15tph using the viaduct.

Now 1CC has a capacity of 25 tph, as the report two years ago into cornbrook/city capacity found that was 5tph short of 3a requirements and a 2cc was needed. 3B increases requirement to 45tph, however this was before Trafford was factored in. If the street section of 2cc has same capacity as 1cc that would be 50tph through city centre.

6 Minute East manchester, 12 minute airport, 6 minute altrincham, 12 minute eccles, 12 minute media city, 6 or 12 minute Trafford (probably 6 in peak or to TC and 12 off peak/beyond, also occasional extra trams are inserted at height of morning peak)

Thats 10+5+10+5+5+10 = 45 in each direction, possibly more if airport loop is ever built and frequency were increased that would be 50tph. The TOS has a theoretical capacity of 84tph so some spare there however theirs no diversion route and the report for meeting next week indicates its already only achieving 60% on time, 10% more than 3 minute late.

Theirs two main issues, a diversion route is needed or every single line will be shut down by one failure between 2cc and Cornbrook as I expecienced yesterday and does happen more often than would be liked. Secondly do you really think cornbrook platforms can handle a tram every 1m10? thats assuming their evely spaced but even London Underground have a 2 minute platform headway.

Trams would also be queing for Cornbrook platforms on a ramp, this is partially addressed on the city side by 3 tracking the Gmex ramp though nothings happening cornbrook side or along its length. I admit I may have a bias into ensuring proper platform capacity having to sit outside Victoria for 10 minutes every time waiting for a platform, but I believe it gives a greater awareness of the possible problems that will be encountered.

Another minor issue is both 1cc and 2cc will be at max capacity after 3b+trafford is done. but again I dont see a future extension using these allignments, if another was done requiring greater flow rather than extending an existing line (Ala any new northern lines) a 3cc would be required.

a few more strategically placed crossovers would help the blockage issue - though I suspect you'd want block signalling protecting the sections

The problem is there are many sections that haven't and never will have a diversion route. Surely money would be better spent n increased reliability and being able to clear the line quickly. That would benefit the whole system.

If street running mode was extended to Cornbrook it wouldn't be a case of one tram every 1 min 10 sec nor would it involve queuing on the G_Mex ramp.

The street running sections manage very well without block signalling and manage with several trams sharing a common platform.

Their managing at 15tph (though not as well as they would like as the recent report states), we are talking about 3 times that. at 50tph 1m20 would be the maxiumum time between trams if evenly spaced.

A quick shufty on the 216 bus to check progress . . .we seem to be in the 'middle' period of the constuction process just now - not too many dramatic changes but gradually getting there . . .



Here's a couple more I missed off the end :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6295.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6296.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6300.jpg

OK stupid question but could someone please explain "block signalling" and "line of sight"? How the differ? What they mean? Which is currently in use and where, and what will be the future?

Line of sight, like how you drive a car you keep your own distance from the car in front and stop if you see a red traffic light.

Block signalling, whats usually used on railways essentially you divide up a railway line into a series of boxes and as you go along you cant enter the next box until their is no train in it, you have to wait for it to leave before you can enter that block.

http://www.railway-technical.com/sig101.gif

Moving Block

A modern version called Moving Block is more flexible where the box moves with the train so you just cant get too close to the train in front rather than being fixed boxes tied to the track itself, as you get closer to the train in front your allowable speed falls to match the breaking distance between you and it. This allows trains to effectivley run as close as the minimum braking distance to the train in front, allowing them to get closer and the faster they are going the further their seperated.

http://www.railway-technical.com/sig310.gif

Advantages/disavantages

Line of sight- very cheap but entirley reliant on the driver to avoid collisions, can get closer than block signalling.

Block Signalling- Fairly cheap, pretty safe as long as the driver follows the signals. Problem is theirs unused space on the track, trains are spaced fairly far apart can be several miles on freight lines (to handle the trains length and braking speed), if your stuck behind a slower moving train you are constantly forced to stop, wait, accelerate until the next signal and stop again.

Moving Block- Expensive, most complex. The train itself recieves a maximum allowable speed from a control centre and it can stop collisions entirely, safety is out of drivers hands. most efficent use of the track as you can get as close as you safely can, instead of stop start your allowable speed is calculated so if stuck behind a slower train your speed is slowed to match and you dont have to constantly stop/start.

As a side note block signalling is the main reason why services are so bad on the Atherton line, the whole line is divided up into only two blocks and so only two trains can be on it at the same time, one in each block.

Their managing at 15tph (though not as well as they would like as the recent report states), we are talking about 3 times that. at 50tph 1m20 would be the maxiumum time between trams if evenly spaced.


Yes, but what most people have forgotten is that the trams need to slow down to get into the station, stop, do the doors, let people on and off, close the doors and start to move off. This is of course presuming that they are all on time ( to the second) which of course they won't be so 50 wouldnt happen I think?

50 is certainly achievable. Remember there would be no blocks or signals meaning that two (singles) could in theory occupy the platform at once.

Well station time (excluding effects of traffic) wouldnt change much, as they all would have to slow down stop and accelerate again the time between them doesnt change, only the distance (assuming no massive passenger crush). But thats my point on they wouldnt be evenly spaced, like buses they would naturally end up clumping and that could effect performance drastically.

But say you approach a station where theres already one parked, you park at the rear and the one in front moves off, but another comes up behind you, it cant enter the platform till youve left. If you assume a dwell time of 30 seconds or so if they are over 1 minute apart there will be no porblems, but if they come in a clump of 2 or 3 then one will have to wait outside the platform for a space.

Well station time (excluding effects of traffic) wouldnt change much, as they all would have to slow down stop and accelerate again the time between them doesnt change, only the distance (assuming no massive passenger crush). But thats my point on they wouldnt be evenly spaced, like buses they would naturally end up clumping and that could effect performance drastically.

But clumping already happens on street sections. On inbound trams the effect would be insignificant as G-Mex and St Pters already clump trams, the removal of block signalling on the viaduct would tend to reduce that effect, outbound trams might be slightly affected but the problem would be resolved by the time Cornbrook junction was passed.

but if they come in a clump of 2 or 3 then one will have to wait outside the platform for a space.

Still has to be an improvement on three waiting for individual access to an empty platform.

BTW as an alternative, a junction souuth of Cornbrook up onto Chester Road and straight on to Deansgate with a split level interchange at G-Mex?

Its a nice idea, Pomona-Cornbrook probably could work extra space on the allignment (issues of rising over or under the heavy rail ine aside) however its at Cornbrook the road narrows to two lanes with no room to widen and then the issue of the A57M roundabout dont think it would be that cheap or easy to deal with. After the roundabout its probably workable again, and a ground level at Gmex would be useful for quicker pedestrian to Beetham/rest of area (and also every time I get off at deansgate station someone follows me to GMEX and asks how they get to ground level? a more prominent access to ground level would be welcome) From there would be just like the Deansgate 2cc option which people still like without the ramp issue that planners touted as the major obstacle could then either worm its way to Victoria or instead head to Salford Crescent via Salford University becoming a proper 3cc.

I actually threw that in as a not particularly viable idea but looking more closely it's perhaps more viable than my first thought suggested. one of my reservations was the disassociation from the Eccles line but it looks as if it would be possible take the Eccles line under the mainline too at the point where Bridgewater way becomes Chester Road with lots of room for a tunnel to emerge in the central reservation.
Looking at google satellite view it looks as though that short section of Chester Road is capable of dualing.
I think the biggest problem would be the amount of traffic the M57 junction carries in the rush hour.

It's not possible at the minute to walk between Man City and Holt Town, so here are a few shots I took to-day :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6312.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6314.jpg

The Medlock Bridge, installed in March 2002 has some nice lamps :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6318.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6315.jpg

I am a bit surprised they have banked it up so high to go under the Cambrian Street bridge :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6327.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6321.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6322.jpg

Merrill Street looks nearly ready :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6335.jpg

Longacre Street portal :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6345.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6350.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6355.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6357.jpg

:banana: Eccles bound :-

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/Johnny_de_Rivative/100_6359.jpg

Excellent photos of a location we havent seen before.

Cheers Watcher. I am looking forward to the East Manchester line as it will pass through a varied series of environments.

All these photos are amazing. Please keep them coming!

Has anyone been to the MediaCity line recently or heard anything of it? It hasn't been mentioned on here for ages...

All these photos are amazing. Please keep them coming!

Has anyone been to the MediaCity line recently or heard anything of it? It hasn't been mentioned on here for ages...



Still few bits and pieces need to finish it off..landscaping, etc but essentially its more or less finished

Just a couple more photos to add to Johnny's work

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/DSC01018.jpg

Vicky Pollard / New Islington station base

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/DSC01021.jpg

Looking back from Merill Street with Cell block H in the background

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/DSC01020.jpg

Sport city Velodrome station coming along.

Line of sight, like how you drive a car you keep your own distance from the car in front and stop if you see a red traffic light.

Block signalling, whats usually used on railways essentially you divide up a railway line into a series of boxes and as you go along you cant enter the next box until their is no train in it, you have to wait for it to leave before you can enter that block.

Moving Block

A modern version called Moving Block is more flexible where the box moves with the train so you just cant get too close to the train in front rather than being fixed boxes tied to the track itself, as you get closer to the train in front your allowable speed falls to match the breaking distance between you and it. This allows trains to effectivley run as close as the minimum braking distance to the train in front, allowing them to get closer and the faster they are going the further their seperated.

Advantages/disavantages

Line of sight- very cheap but entirley reliant on the driver to avoid collisions, can get closer than block signalling.

Block Signalling- Fairly cheap, pretty safe as long as the driver follows the signals. Problem is theirs unused space on the track, trains are spaced fairly far apart can be several miles on freight lines (to handle the trains length and braking speed), if your stuck behind a slower moving train you are constantly forced to stop, wait, accelerate until the next signal and stop again.

Moving Block- Expensive, most complex. The train itself recieves a maximum allowable speed from a control centre and it can stop collisions entirely, safety is out of drivers hands. most efficent use of the track as you can get as close as you safely can, instead of stop start your allowable speed is calculated so if stuck behind a slower train your speed is slowed to match and you dont have to constantly stop/start.

As a side note block signalling is the main reason why services are so bad on the Atherton line, the whole line is divided up into only two blocks and so only two trains can be on it at the same time, one in each block.

Thank you for such an in-depth explanation! :-)

Don't know if it's been noted...but 3019 has arrived in Manchester :banana:

Came Saturday morning :)

Don't know if it's been noted...but 3019 has arrived in Manchester :banana:

Came Saturday morning :)

Sweet! 19 new trams in a year! Pretty good going that!

I don't think 3018 has been moved to OT depot yet.

I saw 3012 on an Eccles service this morning too.

Sweet! 19 new trams in a year! Pretty good going that!

I don't think 3018 has been moved to OT depot yet.

I saw 3012 on an Eccles service this morning too.

Yes, 3012 has been out for a couple of weeks now, I scooped it mid June :)

I rode on 3012 on Saturday from ECC to PIC

I originally only went down to look at the depot again but got got a little lost driving, :lol:. So firstly I took a few from the South Manchester Line and then Initial part of the Oldham line. Will post the pictures from the most southern to the most northern

South Manchester line and Depot

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000444.jpg

Looking from Mauldeth Road West towards St Werbergh's Road Station.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000446.jpg

And back to Mauldeth Road again.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000445.jpg

The mainline towards Manchester from St Werberghs Road with a the tamper below.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000447.jpg

Near Chorlton Station the first of the Overhead line droppers are making an appearance.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000448.jpg

The new washing plant at the depot and the sanding plant behind that.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000449.jpg

Overall view of the depot building. Not too much change here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000452.jpg

A couple more sidings look to be constructed next to the fan already built.

I would have took more of the mainline next to the depot but the bridge was fenced off being rebuilt. Needless to say the overhead wiring teams had already reached Ayres Road, so they are flying!!

Rochdale and Oldham line


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000453.jpg

First view looking down again at the hole in the Viaduct connecting the Oldham line to the Bury line.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000454.jpg

Looking up towards the site of Monsall station. Just noticed you can see the lift shaft poking out in the distance.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000455.jpg

Queens Road Tunnel looking back towards Manchester.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000457.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000456.jpg

Looking down from Monsall Street. Any ideas why the bridges all have this metal work placed underneath?? Both the bridges around Monsall station are still closed off So I couldnt see how far that had come.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000459.jpg

Towards Monsall Road in the distance, more track!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000460.jpg

Climbing up from under Monsall Road bridge.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000461.jpg

Finback bridge over the main Manchester to Leeds line.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000463.jpg

last one isnt too clear. Dean Lane station reconstruction.

Excellent update Local, thanks very much!

As for the steel tunnels, I'd say that they were to catch anything that the local scrotes might be tempted to drop off the bridges. It saddens me to know that certain elements of our society do this sort of activity for recreational purposes. Not evolved as much as us I suppose.

Well done, L Laddie, brilliant update. It looks like they have built more track beyond St W's than they need for a turnback, so perhaps we can say that is the first bit of track on Phase 3b?
Monsall - C Park section also seems to be in its final stages (apart from the hole in the viaduct, was that unexpected?) According to the GMPTE timeline diagrams, they should be starting testing/driver training by about Octember . . .Can I wait - no! :banana::cheers::banana:

Aye its no bother. Every time I go and look at the works I still cant believe they are finally building it. I half expect to hear the whole thing will be cancelled mid works! Hopefully not! The track at St Werburghs does go quite far past the station but as has been said its a jungle again on the other side of the bridge. I suspect they might start B phase proper from the East Didsbury end. High Fi your probably right about the bridges, not exactly the most salubrious area!

I suspect the tunnel sections are exactly that, to facilitate the reinforcement or replacement of the overbridge.
The line at St Werburgs no doubt extends to the sub-station at Mauldeth Road bridge to avoid a poorly accessed and temporary power connection to the working line.

Great pictures too.

I was thinking safety, pedestrians on the bridge are pretty close to where electrical overheads would be though its hard to judge distance from this photo its not that much below the bridge sides is it?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000456.jpg

How high were the bridge sides here Local Lad? perhaps the bridge isnt strong enough for them to raise its sides as much as they would like.

The bridge sides are pretty high, I had to hold the camera above my head for most of the bridges on this bit of route. When you look through the bridge barriers blocking the road here half bridge is gone, so perhaps they found it was rusted through? Might just be replacing it with a short tunnel? If they did want to make the bridge sides higher they would have to do some welding work. Tis a mystery!

The bridge sides are pretty high, I had to hold the camera above my head for most of the bridges on this bit of route. When you look through the bridge barriers blocking the road here half bridge is gone, so perhaps they found it was rusted through? Might just be replacing it with a short tunnel? If they did want to make the bridge sides higher they would have to do some welding work. Tis a mystery!

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a260/Geeves8612/P1000453.jpg

This ones interesting too, you can see some damage to the tunnel arch though whether it was before or after they excavated it would be difficult to know. Its possible the structure could have been weak in places and needed replacing. Theirs also the outside possibility since they are doing it on both sides at semi regular intervals their rebuilding the viaduct sides so that they can integrate the overhead supports into it, similar to what they did on the Cornbrook Viaduct.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3874849927_8ece56efa8.jpg