Free tram travel on Clean Air Day for early birds and night owls

Early risers and evening commuters will be able to help reduce air pollution with free Metrolink travel on Clean Air Day (Thursday 21 June 2018).

For one day only, anyone catching a tram before 7am or after 7pm can travel without buying a ticket.

The move, by Metrolink owner Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), is part of a drive to encourage people to think about changing travel habits to improve air quality.

TfGM is also encouraging employers to consider flexible start and end times for their staff so they can take advantage of the free travel offer.

Road transport is largely responsible for some of the most dangerous air pollutants in Greater Manchester, including nitrogen dioxide and particulates.

Vehicle exhausts can produce harmful gases and tiny particles of soot and other matter that cause health problems and harm our environment.

Metrolink, by contrast, is powered by green energy and trams are zero-emission at street level.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is backing the region’s second Clean Air Day, calling on people to pledge to make a change.

Pledges include leaving the car at home just one day a week, car-sharing when possible, working from home regularly, walking and cycling more – and encouraging friends to do the same.

Andy said: “It’s great to see Metrolink get on board the Clean Air Day campaign with this free travel offer.

“Short of cycling and walking, there’s no greener way to travel around Greater Manchester than by tram.

“We breathe in polluted air every day and we all need to take action to help change things. If everyone makes a small change it will add up to a very big difference for local air quality.

“I encourage drivers to take up this free travel offer on Clean Air Day to see if tram-travel is something that could work for them.”

TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, added: “Our trams are zero-emission at street level and are powered by electricity produced from modern, cleaner and greener sources such as wind-power.

“While services can get busy during peak times, this free travel offer is aimed at encouraging people to think about changing travel habits.

“Choosing to travel outside peak hours, when trams are less busy, can help reduce the peaks in air pollution caused by commuter car journeys, one of the main sources of air pollution.”

To find out more about Clean Air Day and make a pledge, visit www.tfgm.com/air. Follow #GMCleanAirDay on social media for the latest news on what’s happening in Greater Manchester.

For more information on Metrolink services visit www.tfgm.com, call Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000 or follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for live travel updates.

Metrolink expansion work to impact Eccles line

Work to deliver a bigger and better Metrolink network will result in some short term disruption to services on the Eccles line this summer.

The essential works, which will link the under-construction Trafford Park Metrolink line with the existing tram network at Pomona stop, will result in a 13-day closure of the Eccles line following the last service on Friday 27 July.

No tram services will run between Cornbrook and Eccles from Saturday 28 July to Thursday 9 August inclusive, while services from Ashton-under-Lyne will terminate at Deansgate-Castlefield.

The works will see a 350-tonne and a 100-tonne crane working on site to temporarily remove the overhead power lines before cutting out the old track plinths to the west end of the Pomona stop and replacing them with new ones. Rails will then be reinstalled and overhead lines put back in place.

During the works there will be a full bus replacement operating including additional services during peak times.

The closure will also enable Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to work with operator KeolisAmey Metrolink and other partners to carry out maintenance and repair works on the tram network and local area at the same time, minimising the overall impact to customers, local residents and businesses.

The works have been timed to coincide with school summer holidays when, traditionally, fewer people travel on the network. They have also been condensed into a single 13-day closure, preventing the need to close the line over multiple weekends.

Other measures taken to minimise disruption to customers and stakeholders include the use of noise blankets to limit the sound from loud machinery.

TfGM will keep customers and stakeholders updated with key information before, during and after the works. Extra staff will also be present in key locations such as nearby tram stops and at peak times to answer questions and help people get around.

TfGM’s Head of Projects Alex Cropper, said: “This work is a landmark moment for the future expansion of Metrolink as we look to connect the upcoming Trafford Park line with the rest of the tram network.

“Unfortunately it will result in some disruption for passengers for a short period of time – but we have done a lot of planning to keep customers informed and on the move during the process and to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We’ve also worked closely with partners to identify other essential enhancement works that they could carry out during this time, such as deep cleaning stops, which will benefit passengers.

“Once the new tram line through to intu Trafford Centre is open it will mean more frequent services and much improved access to jobs and leisure across the wider tram network.”

For more information on Metrolink services visit www.tfgm.com, call Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000 or follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for live travel updates.

Music and sport fans, make your travel plans

Manchester is gearing up for the biggest weekend of the year as a number of major music and sports events take place across the city.

A total of 350,000 people will be attending Taylor Swift concerts, the Parklife festival, Tyson Fury’s boxing match and Soccer Aid over the course of just three days.

The size and locations of the events mean that there’ll be a number of changes to public transport, including bus diversions and local road closures, however additional Metrolink services will run throughout the weekend.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has developed dedicated web pages, offering information and travel advice, and will be implementing a number of measures to help those travelling make their journeys as easy and as stress free as possible.

Taylor Swift kicks off the UK leg of her world tour with two dates at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, on Friday and Saturday night (5pm-10.30pm).

On Saturday (11am-11pm) and Sunday (12pm-11pm), Parklife returns to Heaton Park bigger and better than ever. Over 80,000 fans are expected on each day to see artists such as The xx, Skepta and world-famous Mancunian Liam Gallagher.

Across the city another world famous Mancunian, Tyson Fury, makes his long awaited return to the boxing ring on Saturday night at Manchester Arena (from 3.45pm). The former heavyweight champion of the world takes on Albanian Sefer Seferi, and is joined on the bill by Crumpsall’s Terry Flanagan.

The weekend is rounded off by the biennial charity football match, Soccer Aid taking place at Old Trafford (kick-off 8pm). The game will see big names from the worlds of football, music, film and TV competing in a match between the England and World XIs headed by Robbie Williams and Usain Bolt.

TfGM’s Events Manager, Ryan Carter, said: “We are expecting significant numbers of people to use public transport, so it’s important that people plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

“Additional trams will run and we have worked closely with event organisers and transport operators to ensure that everyone gets to their destination as quickly as possible.

“In particular, we have coordinated with Parklife organisers to run a dedicated shuttle bus service from Aytoun Street in Manchester city centre to the festival site, and back again after it finishes.

“We’ll be monitoring the transport networks from our 24 hour Control Centre and I’d encourage people to keep an eye on our website and Twitter account for the latest travel information and advice.”

For information on public transport across Greater Manchester visit www.tfgm.com, call 0161 244 1000 (7am-8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am-8pm at weekends and bank holidays) or follow @OfficialTfGM on Twitter.

New Metrolink zonal fares set to deliver simplicity, flexibility and better value

A radical change to Metrolink fares and ticketing could see a simple, flexible four zone system introduced – delivering easy to understand and better value fares for millions of passengers across the network.

The change, which is set to be considered by council bosses at a meeting of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) this week, would see the introduction of a completely new approach to fares and ticketing and would sweep away the existing system – replacing it with an easy to understand four zone system similar to London’s travel network.

If approved by GMCA, the change, which would take place early next year (2019), would cut the current 8,500 stop-to-stop fare combinations to just 10 zone-based fares.

Customers will be able to enjoy flexible travel across the city-region, providing unlimited travel within their chosen zones, instead of one-off journeys between specific stops.

It would also help to pave the way for a fully-integrated ticketing system for Greater Manchester.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said: “The fares and ticketing system in Greater Manchester is too complex, too disjointed and in need of an overhaul.

“I speak to a lot of people who ask me: 'Why can’t we have a system like London?' – and it’s a fair question, as anyone who’s travelled there knows just how ahead they are when it comes to fares and ticketing.

“But, devolution gives us the opportunity to put this right and develop a system that is simple, convenient and offers better value for money.

“We’re already seeing signs of this; we’ve introduced combined bus and tram tickets to our smart cards and will see contactless payment introduced on Metrolink later in the year.

“But zonal is the real building block that will set the foundations for a system that is integrated, that allows people to swap seamlessly between modes, offers the freedom to enjoy more journeys for the same price and represents a fair fare for all.”

Ahead of any potential change, customers will be able to enjoy easier journeys by using contactless payments to quickly tap on and off trams.

Under current proposals the majority of zonal fares would be set to the lowest current prices, meaning most customers will not pay more than the pre-planned increases for 2019, with their tickets instead providing better value for money.

A zonal system would also remove pricing differences within the current fare structure, making it fairer for all, and bring Metrolink in line with many other European tram networks that have similar structures.

Customers would be able to use all existing and future ticketing and payment channels to travel, including: contactless payment, paper tickets or the get me there app or smart card.

A map of the proposed zones has been produced.

A public listening exercise is set to run ahead of any final decision being made about the proposed change. This will include an online questionnaire to gather feedback.

A chance to talk about the Trafford Park Line

People can learn more about Metrolink’s new Trafford Park Line at two public events being held later this month.

Hosted by Transport for Greater Manchester the events offer members of the public the chance to meet staff working on the project so that they can ask questions and get more information.

Due to be completed in 2020 the Trafford Park Line will add 5.5km and six new tram stops to the Metrolink tram network. Running through Trafford Park, Europe’s largest trading estate, to intu Trafford Centre, it will provide fast and frequent connections to the jobs, leisure, shopping and cultural destinations along the route.

The events will be held on:

Saturday 19 May 2018
Intu Trafford Centre, Lower Peel Avenue (Near Breitling)
10am to 9pm

Wednesday 23 May 2018
The Open Centre, MediaCityUK
10am to 2pm

Richard Roe, Trafford Council’s Acting Corporate Director of Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure, said:

“The Trafford Park Line is a hugely important scheme for Trafford Park. It will be a vital connection through to intu Trafford Centre and the jobs and cultural destinations along the route. This area is vitally important to our local economy, providing tens of thousands of jobs, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and helping to deliver continued growth, investment and regeneration.

"These public events are a great opportunity for people to find out more about the plans, hear more about all the benefits this new line will bring to the area, and share their views and feedback. I encourage anyone with an interest to go along and talk to members of staff involved in the project.”

Alex Cropper, TfGM’s head of projects group, said:

“Initially, five trams per hour will run on the route from Crumpsall on the Bury line through the city centre and Pomona to intu Trafford Centre, with the capacity to boost the service for football matches, special events and to meet growing demand.

“I’d encourage anyone who is interested in the new line to come along. We’ll have videos of trams running along the new route and maps of the revised highway layout, including the new infrastructure we are building for cyclists.”

Stay on track and plan ahead before the big weekend

Runners, spectators and anyone planning to travel through Manchester city centre are being advised to plan ahead in preparation for another big weekend of sport and events in the region.

The big weekend starts with the Great City Games, on Friday 18 May, followed by The Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on Sunday 20 May. The size and locations of the events mean that there’ll be changes to public transport and a number of local roads will be subject to closure and bus route diversions – particularly on the day of the run.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has developed a dedicated web page, offering information and travel advice, and will be implementing a number of measures to help those travelling make their journeys as easy and as stress free as possible.

TfGM’s Events Manager, Ryan Carter, said: “We’ve worked closely with event organisers and transport operators to make sure the marathon and transport arrangements run as smoothly as possible.

“There will be extra trams running and with stops at the start and finish – as well as at key locations along the route - I’d encourage runners, spectators, families and friends to use Metrolink to travel to the event wherever possible.

“There are also hundreds of free Park and Ride spaces for customers available across the tram network and additional staff will be on hand on hand to help people get around.

“We are expecting large numbers so the best thing to do is to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys.

“We’ll be monitoring the transport networks from our 24 hour Control Centre and I’d encourage people to keep an eye on our website and Twitter account for the latest travel information and advice.”