Trams grind to halt for summer revamp

Photo: Chris Bull

A new stop platform is put into place at St Peter's Square Metrolink Peter Cushing , Metrolink director

MANCHESTER'S cross-city tram services are being suspended throughout the summer due to the final phase of work on the St Peter's Square stop.

Metrolink services through the square will be stopped between Sunday, June 26 and the end of August meaning no north/south trams will operate.

During the same period Metrolink operator MRDL will replace sections of track on the Eccles line which will also close from June 26.

Key

Tram services are expected to resume between Deansgate and Castlefield and MediaCityUK in early August, with the full line reopening at the end of August.

Transport for Greater Manchester say throughout the work, replacement bus services and signed walking routes will ensure customers have good access to the city and key destinations along the Eccles line.

The St Peter Square stop is due to open in summer after a 14-month closure.

TfGM this week launched a campaign to prepare passengers for the final phase of transformation work at the St Peter's Square stop which will be a key destination on the new more frequently used Metrolink Second City Crossing which is currently under construction.

Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink director, told the Evening Chronicle: "This is an exciting time for Metrolink with some historic changes on the way for St Peter's Square.

"We're just months away from opening up a new, much bigger stop that will be a game-changer for city centre services when the new Second City Crossing opens early next year.

"We can't complete the stop without full access to the work site and, as we set out last year, that means no tram services through the square for approximately nine weeks.

"Last summer we made similar changes to services so we're confident we'll provide the right mix of replacement bus services and information to support our customers through this time.

"Thanks once again to all our passengers for bearing with us as we work to improve the service we provide. I'm sure they'll be impressed with the results at St Peter's Square.

The Eccles line improvement work has also been scheduled to take place during the quieter summer period.

Full details on the closure's alternative travel arrangements will be announced soon online at metrolink.co.uk.

The Second City Crossing and stop improvements programme is part of GROW which will see more than £1 billion invested in city centre infrastructure improvements by 2017.

Find out more at manchester.gov.uk/grow.