TRANSPORT | Metrolink ‎Extension

[Johnny de Rivative]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

. . . it is now a very long schlep between the new Haveley at Martinscroft, and Benchill - (having walked it the other day). I wonder what's caused them to revert to a separate bridge? Perhaps the existing road bridge isn't strong enough, like the one over the River Roch . . .

Very interestingly, I now notice that the Haveley diagram has been recently removed from the Future Metrolink stop diagrams on tfgm.com. The associated overview maps (2011) currently show Haveley in its 'Intermediate' position (of the three suggested so far) i.e. opposite Firbank Road, but I am not sure when they were last revised.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/futur...e/overview.pdf

So it looks as if it is all 'up in the air' again as regards Haveley. Another tantalising question yet to be answered!!

[Freel07]

Originally Posted by MetDriver

you be right! the new building that is currently being constucted is a new sub station, and the new control room will be located in the big building at the other end of the depot.

Thanks for the clarification MetDriver. Always good to get some inside info.

[WatcherZero]

Then why the windows? none of the other substations or equipment rooms have windows. A few have a slit above head height near the roof but none with square windows.

[clunk]

Can anyone get a pic of this new build - with the windows... just so we are all on the same page about what is being discussed ?

I know the obvious answer to that is get off your fat-patootie and do it yourself, but just wondering if one of you clever people (well cleverer than me - haven't worked out this picture thing yet ) could do it on your way past.

It is easy to make suppositions and assumptions, but that can lead to confusion. Personally I am trying to figure where there was even room for a new building (that not being an area that I 'currently' travel through much.)

[wythenshawe_tram_fan]

Just e-mailed future metrolink asking them about the Havely Stop. There been so much change with this one.

[Motortownman]

The stops in the Baguley and Haveley areas are very badly located. Until we know where the stop at Havely is going I won't comment, but hopefully it won't be over the motorway as that would be the worst possible place. It's far from anything and the noise from the motorway below and the wind would makle it an absolutely horrible place to wait especially is they persisit in not having a timetable.

It must be well over a mile to the next stop at Benchill and the whole length of Hollyhedge Road from Haveley not served. Unfortunately, we are using high floor trams so a stop may have been possible near to Broadoak Road if low floor trams were to be used. Surely a stop could be shoehorned in ,even if it's on the main carriageway. They do this in Sheffield and the general traffic has to wait behind and there don't seem to be many problems.

The stop at Benchill is on Brownley road, approximately 5 lamp posts away from the next stop at Crossacres. Basically mirroring the 2 bus stops that are there. Surely locating it in the middle would have been better and not disadvantged anyone and saved the cash to build a stop at Woodhouse Park which is on aother very long stretch going past where passengers may want to travel to get to work.

[wythenshawe_tram_fan]

Why they aren't following the original plan of having it at the end of Fancroft Rd. as this is approx half-way between both, making it just about accessible for all.

[MetDriver]

Originally Posted by clunk

Can anyone get a pic of this new build - with the windows... just so we are all on the same page about what is being discussed ?

I know the obvious answer to that is get off your fat-patootie and do it yourself, but just wondering if one of you clever people (well cleverer than me - haven't worked out this picture thing yet ) could do it on your way past.

It is easy to make suppositions and assumptions, but that can lead to confusion. Personally I am trying to figure where there was even room for a new building (that not being an area that I 'currently' travel through much.)

The Building in question is at the Trafford Bar end of the depot, near the south manchester line (Best i can describe it lol ), it is a New Substation, we were told this on a Training day about 2 weeks ago.......and we were also shown what will be the new control room in the main building

[Chorlton Bloke]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Then why the windows? none of the other substations or equipment rooms have windows. A few have a slit above head height near the roof but none with square windows.

I passed the building earlier this afternoon. There are no windows.

[Nymanic]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

Very interestingly, I now notice that the Haveley diagram has been recently removed from the Future Metrolink stop diagrams on tfgm.com. The associated overview maps (2011) currently show Haveley in its 'Intermediate' position (of the three suggested so far) i.e. opposite Firbank Road, but I am not sure when they were last revised.

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/futur...e/overview.pdf

...

Interesting indeed. But for those of you who missed it:
http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/futur...ne/haveley.pdf

It's still online, but the links to it have been removed. Good to mull over for comparison's sake, though.

Also.... long time no see, SSC

[martin2345uk]

Welcome back Nath! You've been gone a fair old while!

[Johnny de Rivative]

Cheers Nymanic - not seen you since the Werburgh's launch at 0530 on a July morning! (Who sent you to Coventry?) Actually now we see the Haveley diagram again I note it is marked 'Preliminary and subject to change'. It looks like they are thinking again.

Sorry, folks, my reference to Firbank Road was ambiguous as the overview diagram shows it incorrectly :-

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/futur...e/overview.pdf

So far there have been three different proposals for Haveley: -

#1 on a windy bridge above the M56,

#2 on the green at the junction of Wendon Road and Heybrook Road, as shown above, and

#3 replacing the stop that was originally going to be called Baguley Hall, then Martinscroft and then Haveley. This is on the green by St Martin's Church, opposite Telham Walk and South of the end of Hall Lane.

So you don't fancy #1 motor, too draughty for you . . . ?



Looking at it, however, I take your point, although #1 is the nearest option to Benchill stop in Brownley Road at about 3/4 mile.
#2 is a little bit more, and as you say, #3, the most recent suggestion, is over a mile away from Benchill, which is probably why they are re-considering it. Fully agree there should be a stop at Woodhouse Park - that will probably come with Airport City Enterprise Zone, I am guessing they will make passive provision.

I have never heard of a proposal for a stop at Fancroft Road, Wyth TF, although as you say it would be more or less equidistant and ideal for that reason.

I can't see them putting high platforms on Hollyhedge Road itself (in Sheffield it only needs a raised kerb - Metrolink stations have much more substantial footprints), although there might be a bit more room between Fancroft and the mini-roundabout at Greenwood Road, East of the M56? :-





Time will tell!! - and what an exciting project it all is . . .

[ExManc]

Originally Posted by bogblaster

There were even worse sights. For instance, near the junction of Market Street and High Street I well remember the "Thermit" welding of rails takling place. The process involved crucibles of molten white hot steel being used to weld rails at something like 3,000degs Celsius. By the way, the process was literally taking place only a foot or so away from the feet of pedestrians for whom a wooden bridge had been built as a footpath across the rail laying site at about 3 inches above the top of the rails. Scary was an understatement!

I found a photo of that, according to the caption this is Mosley St:

[wythenshawe_tram_fan]

The Fancroft Rd proposal was in the 1993 proposal guides. I link to the copy on the TfGM website http://tfgm.com/upload/library/met_south.pdf

[A6 Bypass]

Originally Posted by Train Guard

'Bahn' is often used by Germans to mean 'road'. Thus the German weavers near Whitefield in the eighteenth century called the girl who took the tolls for the turnpike road 'Bessy of the Bahn'. In the Lancashire idiom this became Besses o'th'Barn!

Train Guard

Oh wow! That's great! Thanks!

[bertyboy]

Originally Posted by ExManc

I found a photo of that, according to the caption this is Mosley St:

Not only are pedestrians perilously close to having 1st degree burns, but the little bridge they are walking on seems to be supported on an up-ended paving slab and a pile of 2x2!
HSE would have a heart attack!!

[Rail Ranger]

Motortownman,

I know it's not ideal but as you may know Metrolink times can be found by using the Journey Planner on the TFGM website. If you "untick" the bus and train options it just shows tram times. Also the actual timetables can be found if you select "timetables" and then put MET1, MET2 or MET3 in the box for "bus number".

[ill tonkso]

I got to use the Metrolink system on wednesday I was impressed with how smooth and quiet it was!

One thing that did bug me is the total disregard of some drivers, at one point I was Picadilly bound from St Peters Square and this arsehole came flying across the line from one of the side streets, way over the speed limit with NO regard for the Tram or Pedestrians. The Tram had to slam on it's brakes, sending people flying through the cabin whilst the driver angrilly tooted the Trams Horn. The car driver acted as if it was the Trams fault. Dickhead.

I can also confirm that Manchester cabbies are as reckless as Portsmouth cabbies, almost got knocked over more than once.

One more thing, I got chatty with a Tram Driver in Blackpool. He said he is moving over to Metrolink when the Oldham line opens. Something like 10k difference in pay! They have apparantly advertised for new drivers for the new Blackpool Trams and have recieved 1 applicant because the pay is so bad. 1!!

(Also the one tram Blackpool have so far recieved broke down on it's test run Wednesday night)

[SF07]

Originally Posted by Rail Ranger

Motortownman,

I know it's not ideal but as you may know Metrolink times can be found by using the Journey Planner on the TFGM website. If you "untick" the bus and train options it just shows tram times. Also the actual timetables can be found if you select "timetables" and then put MET1, MET2 or MET3 in the box for "bus number".

Same can be done on the TfGM Local Bus Stop Finder, although for some reason, it doesn't display some of the timetable for the Bury-Altrincham service. Plus it doesn't list Piccadilly Gardens or Piccadilly on the Monday-Saturday service.

MET1
MET2
MET3

[Motortownman]

Originally Posted by Rail Ranger

Motortownman,

I know it's not ideal but as you may know Metrolink times can be found by using the Journey Planner on the TFGM website. If you "untick" the bus and train options it just shows tram times. Also the actual timetables can be found if you select "timetables" and then put MET1, MET2 or MET3 in the box for "bus number".

Thanks rail and SF. I know about that and have to say that when there aren't any problems that the trams do come to the times on that timetable.

It's a shame that they have chosen to make it not far from top secret though. A turn up and go service is considered by Tfgm and in general to be anything up to every 10 minutes but 15 mins or 12mins is above that threshold. None of those times are on the Metrolink website or the Tfgm site, only on an independant site.

For me I don't like going to catch one on say sunday evening or early morning to see one disappearing from the stop. I would rather have a time and if it's late, then hey ho these things happen, but at least I havent just missed one by 10 seconds.

How would any ordinary passenger know to tap in met1 met2 etc?

PS How did you find out about it?