Track repairs halt trams

DRIVERS and commuters face months of chaos in Manchester city centre as buses replace trams for eight weeks while repairs are carried out to Metrolink tracks.

But transport bosses pledge that the work, starting next moonth, will be phased to minimise disruption and will be finished well before Christmas.

The track between the city’s Piccadilly Station and Portland Street will be first for replacement and other work will start early in the New Year. The track will be realigned to widen the busy Piccadilly Gardens stop over next Easter.

During next month’s works, a circular shuttle bus replacement service will operate between Piccadilly Station and the city every 10 minutes, increasing to every five minutes during peak periods.

Discussions will be held with the bus operators about the effect on their services of the traffic diversions caused by the closure of several major roads.

An alternative “walking route” will also be signposted from Piccadilly Station to the city centre.