Tram v train facts

Number of peak-time services (Monday to Friday, 7-10am):

Tram 15 - Train 9

Capacity per service:
Tram 210 - Train 148

Total number of passengers from 7-10am, Monday to Friday:
Tram 3,150 - Train 1,330

Monday to Thursday services per day: Tram 90 - Train 52

First arrival at Victoria/last departure from Victoria: Tram 6.25am/11.36pm - Train 6.55am/11.25pm

Friday services:
Tram 95 - Train 52

First arrival at Victoria/last departure from Victoria:
Tram 6.25am/12.36am - Train 6.55am/11.25pm

Saturday services: 

Tram 97 - Train 52

First arrival at Victoria/ last departure to Victoria: Tram 6.25am/12.36pm - Train 6.55am/11.25pm

Sunday services: Tram 76 - Train 13

First arrival at Victoria /last departure to Victoria:

Tram 7.25am/10.44pm - Train 9.59am/11.20pm

The new line from Monsall to Oldham Mumps covers a distance of approximately 10.8km (roughly seven miles).

About four tonnes of ballast is required per metre length of twin track, so around 43,000 tonnes has been used on this section — a portion of which was cleaned and recycled from the original loop line.

Around 30,000 sleepers have been laid along the line together with around 43km of continuously welded rail.

Overhead line poles carry the cables that power the trams. More than 500 have been installed along this route — roughly one every 20 metres.

Around 38 bridges and structures along the route have been brought up to standard during the construction work.

Ten bridges required major refurbishment while three were demolished completely. The biggest challenge was the Smedley Viaduct, a 400m long structure consisting of 26 brick arches some 25m high.

A “do-minimum” engineering approach was adopted over the 2km stretch from the former Werneth station to Oldham Mumps as this section will be decommissioned when the town-centre line opens in 2014. The National Rail infrastructure was reused, including drainage, ballast, sleepers and rail, by making small adjustments to keep costs as low as possible.

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