TRANSPORT | Metrolink ‎Extension

[LNGCats]

Some images that I posted on Twitter earlier today when I went for a walk around Wythenshawe during my lunch hour...

In reverse, the utility diversion near Asda car park has started...



There is an expansion map up, including Port Salford....



Several of the roundabout on Simonsway, where it meets Brownley Rd...







The following one is at lunchtime, causing long traffic jams in the rush hour at the moment...




Blurred image of the north end of Rowlandsway where it meets Poundswick Lane, can see the tracks in the road..



Some heavy machineray that was being taken away from the Forum stop...



The forum stop works...

[LNGCats]

Sorry for the size, no idea how to shrink in yfrog.

[SF07]

Originally Posted by Ashtonian

Oldham & Rochdale Line
Phase 3B - Oldham Town Centre Extension
Manchester Street Roundabout

I've noticed that the barriers around the roundabout central island have been positioned further outwards to allow for partial crossing of the circulatory carriageway.

I think it might be possible that the tram tracks will start to cross the roundabout and head towards Middleton Road. If you look at the end of the tracks on the left, there's a gap of no tarmac in line with the tracks.

They're also doing some work near the turn-off for Oldham town centre too, which makes the turn a bit more awkward, as the buses are having to slow and then take a sharp left to get onto Manchester Street.

Also noticed more tracks being readied for laying further along Union Street heading towards Job Centre and Sainsburys.

[Johnny de Rivative]

Cheers for that Vince and Freel!

You saved me a job.

Now I know how, I have a load of others to sort out in my back catalogue . . .

[High-Fi]

Ashtonian, thanks for the pictures. I pass there at 8am every weekday morning and it's not been too bad yet. I feel a little more pain on the way when they start to lay the tracks across the road. Hey-ho, no pain no gain.

Nice updates from the southern regions too Kurt and Johnny, thanks.

I had last week off work and in three weeks I've got another week off. That leaves me with three days left to book before the end of the year. I'm saving one or two for the grand Droylsden opening....surely it can't be that far off now?

In the meantime, here are a few shots from my usual haunts:

Silky smooth tarmac now leaving Audenshaw heading towards Droylsden.
image hosted on flickr

IMG_2321 by carlf18, on Flickr
image hosted on flickr

IMG_2322 by carlf18, on Flickr

The path behind the Snipe Inn has been closed off for a few days now. The track is more or less complete, just a short section forming the other half of the expansion joint to weld in place.
image hosted on flickr

IMG_2323 by carlf18, on Flickr
image hosted on flickr

IMG_2325 by carlf18, on Flickr

A random shot showing the tracks crossing the M60 approaching Ashton West. All cut to length, just need jacking adjustments and welding in a couple of places along each of the tracks.
image hosted on flickr

IMG_2327 by carlf18, on Flickr

[Signalman 60]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

...
Who's taking pictures at Mumps as I passed on a bus - is it Signalman? :-

Which one did you think was me, Johnny? I can't see me on them... What time did you pass?
Given that it seems to be quite sunny, it might have been before I got there

[wythenshawe_tram_fan]

Went for a local cycle ride and saw benchill coming on quite well

image hosted on flickr

Untitled by michael_mcniven, on Flickr[/CODE]

image hosted on flickr

Untitled by michael_mcniven, on Flickr[/CODE]

[apologiesforthedelay]

I mentioned a few weeks back that they had been installing new concrete cable runs between Cornbrook and Trafford Bar.

Well I noticed this morning that there some cabling has now been places in these.

I'm not sure whether it is for signalling or communications.

Anyone else noticed them? I should try and get a picture really.

[LNGCats]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

I mentioned a few weeks back that they had been installing new concrete cable runs between Cornbrook and Trafford Bar.

Well I noticed this morning that there some cabling has now been places in these.

I'm not sure whether it is for signalling or communications.

Anyone else noticed them? I should try and get a picture really.

I saw them a few weeks ago, mentioned on here and like usual added 2 plus 2 to raise my hopes, linking it to TMS, whereas in reality it could be anything, anti theft for example given the frequency of thefts recently.

[SF07]

Article on the TfGM about the park & ride plans for East Didsbury on display later this week:

Pop in to find out about park and ride plans

People in East Didsbury are being invited to find out more about plans for a park and ride site to serve the area's new Metrolink line.

Work to deliver the new Metrolink extension to East Didsbury is well underway.

As part of the project, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will be submitting a full planning application for a new park and ride site to serve the line's East Didsbury stop, on land at the junction of Parrs Wood Lane and Kingsway.

People can find out more about the plans, before the application is submitted, at two drop-in information events this week.

They will be held in the main hall of Parrs Wood High School, on Wilmslow Road, between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday August 8 and Thursday August 9.

For more information about the Metrolink expansion project as a whole, call 0161 244 1555 during office hours, email future.metrolink@tfgm.com, or log on to the Metrolink website at www.metrolink.co.uk

http://www.tfgm.com/tfgm_news.cfm?ne...ubmenuheader=4

[r02bapurdie]

Good picture everyone who took them I notice in Oldham Chronicle is taking about them putting tracks down on King Street which we all now.

Union Street work on the right track

THE first sections of track have been laid to herald the arrival of Metrolink to Union Street.

Progress was made when Co-operative Funeral Care moved to its new premises on John Street, allowing demolition workers to knock down its old headquarters. The work paved the way for track-layers to furrow a straight line from the King Street roundabout and up to Union Street.

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ne...he-right-track

[Ashtonian]

Oldham and Rochdale Line
Oldham Town Centre Phase 3B Extension
Manchester Street Throughabout

Thanks for comments SF07 & High-Fi and the rest of you.

It looks like tramline works are indeed progressing. Steel reinforcement mesh is viewable where the former circulatory carriageway was.

The photos bar the last one were taken this morning. The last one was taken in the evening.

[Cpl_R]

Union street has rail

[kriis101]

Originally Posted by Cpl_R

Union street has rail

Looks narrow gauge to me!!

[Johnny de Rivative]

Here’s a few shots of Robinswood Road – another crossroads which will no longer be a Roundabout.

Looking East :-



Looking South-East :-



Looking South-West (some evidence of how it will no longer be a roundabout) :-



Looking West :-



Looking North :-



Looking North-East :-



Looking East again :-



A bit different from the same spot in April 2010! :-



Not much change at the Airport – the tram terminus is still overgrown, looking through the blue-tinted glass. The Northern Hub will also give us another railway platform in this area :-



However, something is beginning to happen behind closed fences, within the bus station concourse at the upper level :-









Don’t think there’s much change in this map, apart from making the underpass of Ringway Road West a bit more obvious, and an inset showing the future road layout at Shadowmoss. It does emphasise the gigantic gap, however, between Martinscroft and Benchill :-





The graphic design artists have been at work – lovin’ this one! (Perhaps they’re not all fools at tfgm after all! ) :-

[martin2345uk]

Wow, the Robinswood Road roundabout has come on even since I drove past it the other day!

Great shots Johnny, definitely get a good view from the top deck of a bus! Also great to see a decent stretch of track on the Airport Line that isn't between 2 platforms as at Moor Rd, Benchill and Crossacres.

Marvellous progress, though interesting to see roundabouts replaced with signalled junctions!

[WatcherZero]

Small site office for surveying perhaps?

[alr1970]

Originally Posted by marni1971

I don't know if this has been answered (too many pages to keep up with!) but when I saw the bridge a week ago, it was evident that the columns with the big blocks on top are done that way to accomodate the expansion joints for the bridge, with two bearings, whereas the rest of the columns only have to accomodate one.

[Mr Cable]

Sorry, Double Post!

[Mr Cable]

Work has been taking place between Velopark & Clayton Hall - Blokes & Diggers cutting out a channel between two Overhead Cable Posts.

image hosted on flickr
Untitled by samborouk2000, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr
Untitled by samborouk2000, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Untitled by samborouk2000, on Flickr