Work to replace worn out tram tracks gets underway
Date published: 21 May 2026
Derker Tram Stop
The tram tracks between Rochdale and Victoria are being dug up as part of a £150m investment package into the Metrolink network.
No trams have been running from Victoria through to Oldham and Rochdale for a week as Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) carry out track replacement work. TfGM says this work will mean the trams will be able to run smoother and safer through the Monsall and Newton Heath and Moston area of the line.
There has been a speed restriction on the line around north Manchester due to safety precautions.
The digger was on site at the Monsall tram stop tearing up the land ready for the new surface to come in. It is expected that the line will be back up and running after Friday, May 29.
Ian Davies, TfGM’s network director for Metrolink, said: “We’ve been running at 10mph along this section of track for eight months now because the track had reached such a state where it needed replacing.
“It was never unsafe but we’ve realised that the journeys had slowed down to such an extent that we really were affected by journey times in this section.
“We’ve been working for six months, there is never a right time, to find a suitable time to take two weeks out to complete this section of work so we can return the line speed to 15mph.
“We’ve tried to replicate, as much as we can, the tram frequency with bus replacements. We’ve not had too many complaints. There have been a couple of areas where roadworks have been a little bit of an issue but broadly things have been okay.”
He explained that this time was selected so they could conduct this work at the same time as they did repairs on the section of track further up at Derker, which suffered a land slip in summer 2024. The idea was to avoid two separate closures of the East Didsbury to Rochdale line.
The work involves replacing sections of track and improving drainage along the route. The track foundation will also be replaced where needed, as well as work to correct the alignment and level of the track.
This is a big job, using 290 new concrete sleepers and 2,000 tonnes of pea gravel and replacing over 5,000 tonnes of ballast.
Trams to East Didsbury will start from Exchange Square and a bus replacement service will be in place between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre. Frequent Bee Network bus services also call at the bus stops near each tram stop. Tram tickets will only be accepted on the replacement bus, not on numbered bus services.
During the work, customers buying tickets at Monsall tram stop will need to access the platforms via Ruislip Avenue or Upper Monsall Street, as it will not be possible to cross the tracks.
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