TRANSPORT | Metrolink ‎Extension

[Ashtonian]

Originally Posted by lightrail

Why? If ED to Rochdale runs CC2, it provides a nice split with Alt-Bury running on CC1. Running ED to Rochdale on CC1 would put too many trams on CC1 in my view.

You've got me mixed up:

The diagram shows: ED to Roch via CC1 and ED to Shaw via CC2
Your text beneath shows both via CC2.

I prefer the diagram, good to have variety from Old/Roch through the CC.

[High-Fi]

Me and my lad went on a bike ride today and while we were out I snapped a couple of shots showing the state of play at the centre of Droylsden. They've taken out a lot of the top layer of road between St Mary's Church and the Moss Tavern and started to lay new hardcore:

image hosted on flickr


And looking the other way from the same position, the Manchester bound tracks have been laid down at the location of the Droylsden stop:

image hosted on flickr


Nothing really earth shattering but I thought I'd share them anyway.

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

Great job Mackenzie!!!!

Thanks. I'm not overly happy with the Airport line and some very good points have been raised least not about the line colours. I've printed one out, its fine in normal daylight but anuthing else and you srat to get issues. Have a possible fix tho.

As for this idea of a 'Manchester Overground', I think you should think better. Think a Northern Overground with the PTE's working together to fund new rolling stock/lengthen trains for all's benefits. That way as a larger group it should be easiler to get funds. Well in theory any way.

[apologiesforthedelay]

Originally Posted by mackenziesoley

Thanks. I'm not overly happy with the Airport line and some very good points have been raised least not about the line colours. I've printed one out, its fine in normal daylight but anuthing else and you srat to get issues. Have a possible fix tho.

As for this idea of a 'Manchester Overground', I think you should think better. Think a Northern Overground with the PTE's working together to fund new rolling stock/lengthen trains for all's benefits. That way as a larger group it should be easiler to get funds. Well in theory any way.

It'd be great if you could complete the Airport loop, Add the Trafford Line and extend the East Didsbury line to Stockport.

Just out of interest really!

[Accura4Matalan]

Don't forget the Stockport-Stalybridge line!

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by Ashtonian

You've got me mixed up:

The diagram shows: ED to Roch via CC1 and ED to Shaw via CC2
Your text beneath shows both via CC2.

I prefer the diagram, good to have variety from Old/Roch through the CC.

I wasn't trying to describe the diagram but to suggest a simpler routing - I really don't think the diagram splitting by CC! and CC2 will work. The timings would be off so while you might have a 6 minute headway from, say Oldham, after splitting and rejoining, you'll likely have a 2/10 headway split for the rest of the run to Altrincham. It won't work. Secondly, while choice is nice, it would be confusing having trams running from one destination via two routes.

The Northern Line in London operates like this and it is an operational nightmare and London is planning to split the line to simplify services. Metrolink, in my view, would be pretty stupid to try to operate everywhere from everywhere.

[VoldemortBlack]

I'm not sure if this has been posted on here before, I apologize if it has. It's what the t68's will look like once they've had their refurb

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

It'd be great if you could complete the Airport loop, Add the Trafford Line and extend the East Didsbury line to Stockport.

Just out of interest really!

Originally Posted by Accura4Matalan

Don't forget the Stockport-Stalybridge line!

Question is do you do Shaw or Rochdale to Stockport? If the Trafford Center Line is added then It'd likely be to Victoria where they can cope with additional reversing of trams.

As has been mentioned on here opening the line as far as Velopark, can it cope with say the Eccles Line terminating there once its open all the way to Ashton?

Originally Posted by lightrail

I wasn't trying to describe the diagram but to suggest a simpler routing - I really don't think the diagram splitting by CC! and CC2 will work. The timings would be off so while you might have a 6 minute headway from, say Oldham, after splitting and rejoining, you'll likely have a 2/10 headway split for the rest of the run to Altrincham. It won't work. Secondly, while choice is nice, it would be confusing having trams running from one destination via two routes.

The Northern Line in London operates like this and it is an operational nightmare and London is planning to split the line to simplify services. Metrolink, in my view, would be pretty stupid to try to operate everywhere from everywhere.

Agreed the more you look at it the harder it is to work out the timing, especially in the city center.

Comparing Metrolink to the Northern Line isn't a bad idea actually. Its one of the most complex single 'line' working with a possible 9 routes at different parts of the day and three different depots along with spilting in the central section. Even tho the Northern Line is completely spilt from any other line or railway once you get a problem on one branch it quickly spreads out. Even closing one section and diverting trains through one section can have a huge impact on all other areas. I only had the experience of doing what show me a final 5mins turned into 30mins because too many trains were sent down the same route.

Originally Posted by VoldemortBlack

I'm not sure if this has been posted on here before, I apologize if it has. It's what the t68's will look like once they've had their refurb

Ironic that they've choosen a station thats not even going to exist when the trams get this new look.

Am I the only who thinks the look doesn't suit the T-68's?

[iheartthenew]

Originally Posted by mackenziesoley

Am I the only who thinks the look doesn't suit the T-68's?

I dont think the new look has bee appplied particularly well. They're trying to hard to make them look like M5000s, as opposed to coming up with a variation that suits the T68.

1st off, lose most the 'highwaymans mask' black stripe around the windows - the M5000s dont have that stripe - all the black on the M5000 is pretty much all glass/window! Maybe keep the bit between the passenger and cab windows where the number is.

2nd, keep the coupler covers etc (the panels that run back from there below the height of the rest of the bodywork) a dark grey/black

3rd, keep the headlamp/light surrounds grey silver. In yellow it just looks like a bad overspray.

[martin2345uk]

Personally I love the new look, I just think it will be several years until we get to see it! :-(

[WingTips]

Think the new colour scheme on the older trams looks dreadful...

[markydeedrop]

With my best cartoon manc accent - BOBBINS!

[Caiman]

They should just leave the old scheme on the old trams, I like the idea of different looking vehicles rolling around the tracks

[martin2345uk]

Personally I'd hate that! I really do despise the turquoise colour!

[iheartthenew]

I hate the turquise too. It looks so wrong these days. I'd be OK with them just painting (or applying vinyls) over the the turquoise with yellow... It would be cheaper to start with!

[martin2345uk]

Lovely day here in South Manchester, so thought I would get out and about in Didsbury to check for progress, and there is definitely some!

Piling seemingly done at the Didsbury tunnel, no idea what the next step is but hope they start excavating soon!



Looking the other way...



No action at Didsbury Village station, but the other stations make up for that!



Firstly we have progress at West Didsbury - the excavation has begun, you can once more see the tunnel/bridge:



Weird shape to the retaining structure thingy on the left!



At Burton Road they have basically dumped a mass of gravel, just like at a couple of the other sites:





Most progress to be seen at Withington - walls at back of platforms? And lift shaft!





Woop woop!!

[Accura4Matalan]

wow, they certainly are motoring on with it!

[mackenziesoley]

Does make me wonder will it really take another two year to finish the line?

[Johnny de Rivative]

Loving all the pics put on this week. 3b seems to be moving faster than 3a at the moment, although those terminologies have gone now.

Hate the mock-up of the new t68 livery! Agree with all heart's comments about it. I don't think Mr Purdy likes t68s, so till we get rid of them please just paint the turquoise bits yellow to avoid the clash!! (I used to love the turquoise but both together is a no-no sorry.)

Love both the maps. Just a couple of notes: #The brown line currently continues to Picc, and long may it do so! (Although Mosley St must be near its capacity with 20tph each way?) #I think the double line between E Dids and Shaw is superfluous - short workings are not usually shown separately, and in any event no one knows the final through working arrangements as yet. The double-thick line I feel also compromises the elegance of the rest of the maps. #Robinswood Road #Ashton-u-Lyne also has rail interchange (just about) #Love 'Rochdale Central' - 'Wythenshawe Central' etc I think would be better as well. Central is a feelgood old railway term.

The Velopark section now looks nearly finished, and it is only behind Chorlton and Central Park by not having had guage testing - that will be an exciting event in itself with all those curves and ups and downs! The very last little bit of rail was going in behind Piccadilly this weekend :-







Go East young man !! :-



I bet many of the lines would have been ready well ahead of contract, had we not still been waiting for the TOS . . .

[conn1231]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Is there a shuttle? I thight they were mostly services originating or with destinations elsewhere,

Theres IIRC a half hour local service between Picc and the Airport. Normally class 323's