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Wrong turn hits Metrolink
Reporter: HELEN KORN
Date online: 15 January 2013
METROLINK’S Shaw and Crompton service was suspended last night when another car got stuck on the tracks — the second since the line opened less than a month ago.
Shortly before 5.30pm a car from Huddersfield Road turned left and ended up on the tracks towards Mumps station, where it got stuck.
The tram line to Oldham was stopped for 40 minutes, though the line from Oldham to Manchester remained open. Full services resumed at 6.10pm.
Motorist Dave Bolan from Saddleworth spotted the incident as he drove past: “It’s confusing, particularly if you don’t know the area. If you aren’t paying attention it’s easy to leave the embedded track and finish up on the rails.”
Comments
Third time in how many weeks? If this was a rare occurance it would be reasonable to blame the driver, but so many in such quick succession means there's a fault with the road layout & markings. Not that anyone will admit this as they might make the company liable.
Saw this on my way home...appreciate if you don't know the area it could be a bit confusing, but still astounded as to how this guy ended up where he did if he was coming from Huddersfild Road...
hundreds of people voiced their concerns to the council and tfgm on the trams crossing at road level at mumps and manchester st junction.
the council and tfgm ignored these concerns and ploughed ahead regardless.
now the accidents that had been predicted are happening surely somebody who passed this ludicrous sceme should be heald accountable for such a dangerous design?
i have a small list of the usual suspects!
This shows bad planning as this has happened twice in such a short time.There must be a shortage of signs for motorists.
I suppose it makes a change from the trams being stranded due to the lines icing up.
I feel it's going to be a long hard winter with all sorts of problems with Metrolink.
It's a complete waste of public money on a massive scale.
If you look properly and pay attention it isn't confusing at all. Too many people drive around in a daydream, perhaps it would help paying more attention to the road and less attention to their mobile phones.
Just wait until the tram tracks open on the Manchester Street roundabout. That will be fun and games.
Twice during the christmas holidays and again in January !!!
Something not quite right there don't you think ???
A solution would be to embed more of the track add no entry signs etc and build a well signposted escape route so that cars that do go the wrong way are able to drive back to the road and not hold up the reams for hours.
Is that why people of Shae go by the name Shaw Gorby?
Tram Hog Day
I can't understand why they got rid of the roundabout & the bridges? common sense didn't prevail here this just proves incompetence on those that wanted the metrolink & those that built it, somebody is going to lose their life & those who's idea it was should be made accountable for that.
@Saddleworth's Finest i've been saying it from the very beginings of the chaos caused bt the tram works.
so much destruction and damage to oldham has been done but those that signed it off the scheme have escaped scott free.
Perhaps we should still have a man with a red flag walking in front of motor cars.
sorry the driver either needs glasses or needs to resit there driving test
I've just driven along Middleton Road and seen two drivers, one of them in a large delivery truck so, presumably, a professional driver, turn right onto Featherstall Road. This is despite clear road surface markings and 'no right turn' signs on the traffic lights. If people drive in a dream, they are going to have nightmares.
as dave from chadderton pointed out there are many junctions in the oldham borough that are either badly designed or set out badly.
the featherstall road junction of middleton road is just one of them. no real reason for not turning right but they have a no right turn set up. the road markings arent visable if cars cover them.
considering the mess thats happened and how arkward it is to access this area its about time the ombc's road planning team started redesigning some of these bad junctions
had a real good look at the tram entrance that is in question last night.
i've noticed that when approaching this the signage indicating trams only are very poor with only one sign being parly visable. the other is stupidly hidden behind a tram power line post.
who designed this set up? because then need sacking!
Have Your Say
Where's Wally? Alive and well and attempting to drive his car around Oldham. What is so difficult that people cannot get their heads around this new road layout?
By The Borg @ 15/01/2013 13:41:20