Salford residents are expected to experience key changes on the tram network this summer as part of the next phase of a major £147m track development.
The development will look to maintain, upgrade and improve Greater Manchester’s tram network replacing essential track between Piccadilly station and Piccadilly Gardens.
The work is expected to take place between Tuesday, 3 June and Sunday, 10 August. Normal tram services resume on Monday 11 August.
During this period, no tram services will run via Piccadilly Gardens, as work to replace older tracks and keep the network safe, reliable and accessible is carried out.
There are approximately 300 tram movements through this section of track in each direction every day.
Due to this Salford residents will see changes to the direction of travel – with the Bee Network doing everything it can to keep the city-region moving as smoothly as possible.
During this phase Eccles services (via MediaCityUK) will run to Victoria via Market Street – with no trams being able to stop at Picadilly during the works.
And for residents travelling between MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus during peak time services, there will be no trams running. However, there will be extra double trams on the Eccles – Victoria via MediaCityUK service, to boost capacity.
The project is the largest in a coordinated series of track renewals to ensure Metrolink can continue going from strength to strength, with the network seeing record-breaking patronage last year.
The work has been planned for the summer as it is outside of the football season and partly falls within the school holidays when the tram network is less busy.
Bespoke, detailed plans have also been developed to ensure the network can manage the extra demand from big upcoming events, including Oasis’ run of gigs at Heaton Park and Parklife.
Ahead of the developments Ian Davies, TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “This is a major piece of our coordinated package of track replacement works which will see a £147m investment in the network up to 2027.
“Metrolink forms a key part of the Bee Network and, as the country’s largest light rail network, carried 46 million passenger journeys last year alone.
“It plays a vital role in keeping Greater Manchester moving, supporting economic growth, and connecting people to jobs, education, and opportunity.
“That is why it’s so important to continually invest in the network to keep it safe, reliable and accessible for years to come.
“We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption to people’s journeys – and I’d also like to reassure people that we have detailed plans in place to manage the big events coming up during this summer’s big events.”
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