[Freel07]

Altrincham Interchange Progress

It's been a while since I was over in Altrincham so a fine day got me moving.

I have to say, perhaps somewhat controversially, that I like the new bridge.

P1080829 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080831 by sghyde, on Flickr

They seem to have started the interface between the old canopy and new bridge on Platform 4.

P1080832 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080833 by sghyde, on Flickr

It's a bit difficult to see in the first shot but both of the new openings in the wall now have their lintels and stone columns.

P1080834 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080835 by sghyde, on Flickr

The link between the canopy and the new bridge still hasn't been started on Platform 2/3.

P1080850 by sghyde, on Flickr

What a difference from the old smelly footbridge!

P1080852 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080853 by sghyde, on Flickr

As someone said the day it opened the new bridge is a tram and train spotter's paradise.

P1080858 by sghyde, on Flickr

Platform 4 staircase.

P1080863 by sghyde, on Flickr

The end treatment in tongue and groove no doubt to be covered with roofing felt is a bit of a poor job.

P1080864 by sghyde, on Flickr

The site of the old Platform 4 stairs.

P1080866 by sghyde, on Flickr

Looking back to the Bus Station.

P1080865 by sghyde, on Flickr

Inside the main building of the Bus station from the staircase.

P1080870 by sghyde, on Flickr

From Moss Lane end.

P1080873 by sghyde, on Flickr

Finally look what turned up during my visit.

P1080847 by sghyde, on Flickr

 

[Freel07]

Prompted by Ashtonian's comment above here are a few shots taken along the eastern section of 2CC. This is the first section to be started and it is hoped that it will be in operation within 12 months allowing an additional 12 minute interval service to be introduced from Shaw and Crompton on the Rochdale Line into the city centre terminating in Exchange Square.

MPT now seem to have got themselves well and truly established on Corporation Street between Victoria and Market Street.

Looking from the existing tramway crossing towards Exchange Square.

P1080877 by sghyde, on Flickr

From Todd Street junction towards Balloon Street.

P1080878 by sghyde, on Flickr

and towards Withy Grove, the sub-base for the track slab seems to be consolidated in this area.

P1080879 by sghyde, on Flickr

looking back from Withy Grove, the track centreline seems to be marked and some of the metal shuttering plates for the first concrete is lying to one side.

P1080880 by sghyde, on Flickr

Even some of the cable ducting seems to have been laid in.

P1080881 by sghyde, on Flickr

Looking through Exchange Square area towards Market Street not quite as much has happened yet.

P1080882 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080883 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080885 by sghyde, on Flickr

This is where initially the track will form the turnback area.

P1080890 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080891 by sghyde, on Flickr

Good to see progress despite the onset of the Christmas Markets.

 

[dimlys1994]

^^Freel07, have you tried to take pictures from Arndale's bridge?

 

[Freel07]

^^Freel07, have you tried to take pictures from Arndale's bridge?

Good idea dimlys1994, I admit I haven't been up there. next time I'll make note to have a look. The Arndale is generally somewhere I avoid :lol:

 

[dimlys1994]

The Arndale is generally somewhere I avoid :lol:

Because it's always been an eyesore?

 

[dimlys1994]

Progress on Wythenshawe Interchange:

Quick update from me the frame for the glazing is starting to go into place

Phone photos so mediocre quality

And 2CC works at Exchange Square:

They can fence all they want but we can see still see you!

Looking towards Exchange Square station

 

[dimlys1994]

^^And more:

Great minds think alike yet again Tony!

Looking South-West towards the Royal Exchange, I guess this is the end of the over-run for turnback purposes :-

Well, we just had the longest line to open in one piece, Exchange Square will surely be the shortest . . .

:banana:

 

[dimlys1994]

CGI of Exchange Square stop:

 

[Attus]

Do you have any idea about daily ridership?

I've never been to Manchester and I don't know the city. Is it true that the network is primarily used for travelling from the outskirts and nearby towns to Manchester city center and return, or it may be a proper choice for travelling inside the city center area?

 

[dimlys1994]

Meanwhile near Deansgate station:

Not sure if this is still the thread for this...
The old stairs are on their way down anyway. Can't wait for that awful bridge to finally get it's refurb. Rather embarrassing taking people through there while the stairs are being done. Looks hideous - all patched up with chipboard - and more often than not flowing rivers of vomit and urine greet you upon entrance.

 

[dimlys1994]

At Victoria station:

Some picture of Metrolink work going on at Victoria.



New overhead poles are now up near to new Victoria Metrolink platform.





I guess this is going to be shelter at Victoria?







First piece of new tracks putting down at Victoria.







Work outside Victoria station.





:banana:

 

[Leeds No.1]

I've never been to Manchester and I don't know the city. Is it true that the network is primarily used for travelling from the outskirts and nearby towns to Manchester city center and return, or it may be a proper choice for travelling inside the city center area?

Yes it is. Manchester City Centre is not really big enough to need any transport within it - by the time you've waited for a tram then boarded, you may as well have walked. Manchester centre is walkable, it's not a spread out centre like Vienna or Hamburg or Warsaw.

 

[richardio123]

Do you have any idea about daily ridership?

Around 85000 which was the 2013/2014 statistics so it will a lot more now

29.2 million travelled between 2013/2014

 

[Attus]

Thank you for both answers!

 

[dimlys1994]

More on Altrincham Interchange:

Wandered down this morning with the dog, my good lady and the camera...

They've started bricking up the old stairwell entrance on Platform 4



They are extending the new canopy to meet the old canopy on platforms 2/3...




They are tarmacing the Manchester end of platform 1


Finally a couple of the bus station



The other bit of news is that the footpath at the south end of the new bus station is closing on Monday and they are re-opening the path to Moss Lane

 

[dimlys1994]

Great look on Victoria station:

Picture taken from the COOP HQ.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mart_...BQ-pK5MxP-psFuk9-psw71V-pK2Mhb-pFLVmL-pF24QR/

 

[r02bapurdie]

This weekend Metrolink line between Cornbrook and Piccadilly garden is closed to allow wires to be connect to overhead poles at Deansgate-Castlefield stop, here some picture of Deansgate-Castlefield which I took yesterday but probably look different now with work going on.





Cherry picker waiting to be use.





I guess these will be up for start of service from Monday.



Poster talking about Deansgate new platforms.



:banana:

 

[Freel07]

A few shots showing the progress made at Deansgate Castlefield over the weekend.

They are a little dark but taking photos of OLE against the sky is not easy.

The east end showing the crossover with section insulator between the inbound or future centre, and outbound wires.

P1080916 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080917 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080932 by sghyde, on Flickr

A wider view which also shows the new inbound line wiring.

P1080918 by sghyde, on Flickr

The west end isn't as accessible but here are a few anyway.

P1080922 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080924 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080928 by sghyde, on Flickr

Ramped access to the eastern end of the island platform

P1080931 by sghyde, on Flickr

The new track wired.

P1080935 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080934 by sghyde, on Flickr

The cladding on the equipment building structure.

P1080915 by sghyde, on Flickr

and the inbound side of the new platform has its PIDs waiting to be commissioned.

P1080936 by sghyde, on Flickr

 

[Freel07]

A quick look at Victoria posted in the Victoria thread a while ago.

They were installing more ETFE on the roof it seemed this morning.

P1080999 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1090001 by sghyde, on Flickr

Are these lights an attempt at festive spirit?

P1090003 by sghyde, on Flickr

A couple of sneaky views through gaps in the tent over the mezzanine staircase where the masking tape has failed. We can see how the centre track is now progressing round the curve.

P1090004 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1090005 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1090006 by sghyde, on Flickr

A better view of the equipment room cladding.

P1090009 by sghyde, on Flickr

Plenty of Metrolink OLE poles erected now.

P1090008 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1090010 by sghyde, on Flickr

A new concrete protection barrier being cast around the bridge piers.

P1090013 by sghyde, on Flickr

Over at the west end more new wiring has appeared.

P1090021 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1090025 by sghyde, on Flickr

 

[Freel07]

Finally a walk along 2CC from St Peters Square to Victoria.

Utility diversions are still ongoing along much of the route to the junction with Market Street where the focus shifts to construction.

Princess Street

P1080965 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080967 by sghyde, on Flickr

Cross Street

P1080968 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080970 by sghyde, on Flickr

The tent over the burial at Cross Street Chapel.

P1080971 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080972 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080974 by sghyde, on Flickr

Now we see the start (or is it the end?) of the MPT site where the line will temporarily end by this time next year.

P1080976 by sghyde, on Flickr

Corporation Street

P1080977 by sghyde, on Flickr

From the Arndale Bridge

P1080978 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080981 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080982 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080984 by sghyde, on Flickr

The site of the stop at Exchange Square

P1080985 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080986 by sghyde, on Flickr

Back at ground level.

P1080988 by sghyde, on Flickr

So that's where the spare M5000 bogies went :lol:

P1080989 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080990 by sghyde, on Flickr

Outside The Printworks we have the west bound Stage 1 track slab now.

P1080992 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080994 by sghyde, on Flickr

P1080996 by sghyde, on Flickr