Metrolink offers its support to One Love Manchester

Metrolink has announced it will offer its support to One Love Manchester by providing free travel to and from the fundraising concert.

Fans attending the concert on 4 June are asked to show their event ticket to Metrolink staff in order to claim free travel between the city centre and the venue.

The concert will be held at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground and all proceeds from the show will go to the 'We Love Manchester Emergency Fund', for the victims of the Manchester Arena attack.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “This a wonderful gesture from Metrolink and I'm sure it will add to what will be a moving but memorable event for everyone attending on Sunday. This is in keeping with the spirit of generosity that has been building in our city over recent days.

“This is also an appropriate opportunity for me to thank the Metrolink staff who helped on the night and all the transport staff who have played their role in helping the city recover, including all those at Victoria Station.

“This gesture and the regard it shows for people is another example of this great city's values shining through.”

50,000 people are expected to head to the show. Metrolink services and stops will be extremely busy throughout the day and passengers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.

The nearest Metrolink stops are at Old Trafford and Trafford Bar (on the Altrincham and East Didsbury line services).

As much capacity as possible will be provided on the Metrolink network throughout Sunday and additional staff will be available to help and assist customers.

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

Notification of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) and bus service changes from 19 June

Dear Recipient,

We recently wrote to you regarding the upcoming construction works to build the six stop Trafford Park Metrolink Extension between Pomona and intu Trafford Centre. This route will offer fast, frequent connections to jobs, leisure, shopping and cultural destinations and across the wider Metrolink network.

In the last letter we informed you that in order to facilitate the construction work there would be major, temporary changes affecting traffic along the route. They are being introduced in three main phases, the first of which started 8th May and the second is currently in place.

As part of the enabling works for the third phase we are constructing a new signalised junction at Waterside/Wharfside Way. Which will provide another route through from Trafford Wharf Road onto Wharfside Way. To complete these works, there will be overnight closures of Wharfside Way from John Gilbert Way to Sir Alex Ferguson Way starting Thursday 7 June for approximately 2 weeks. The works will be undertaken between 2000hrs and 0600hrs. Additionally, there will also be waiting restrictions introduced on Waterside to ensure the new link road does not get obstructed by parked vehicles.  The waiting restrictions are initially subject to a temporary order but will remain in force until the permanent ones provided for in the Transport and Works Act Order come into force. Attached is a Notice of intent for the introduction of these TTROs.

Following the completion of these works the third phase of new traffic management will be implemented from Monday 19 June. The closures and changes to the local highways and footways from this date are as follows:

- Temporary “one-way” on Trafford Wharf Road eastbound from Warren Bruce Road to Sir Alex Ferguson Way

- Temporary “one-way” on Village Way eastbound from Parkway Circle to Village Circle

- From Village Way in a southerly direction for 50 metres Second Avenue, Third Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Central Park Trading Estate Access Road (Mosley Road) and Praed Road will be closed *

- From Trafford Wharf Road in a southerly direction for 50 meters Warren Bruce Road, Elevator Road and Waterside will be closed *

* It is anticipated, that wherever possible, at least one of the roads listed above will remain open when others are temporarilly closed to facilitate local access. Local traffic diversion signing will be placed on site and maintained to identify these routes and stakeholders will be updated in advance of any temporary closures being implemented

Many of the temporary changes will remain in place for approximately three years.

Further information

As a result of the one way on Village Way and Trafford Wharf Road there will be changes to existing bus routes in Trafford Park.

The changes are highlighted on the map which can be accessed by clicking here.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Burns
Metrolink Stakeholder and Communications Manager, Metrolink Projects
Transport for Greater Manchester

Transport services return to Victoria following terrorist attack

City leaders in Greater Manchester have welcomed the reopening of Victoria Station following last week’s horrific terrorist attack at Manchester Arena.

The station, which has been shut since the incident on Monday 22 May, will reopen from today (Tuesday 30 May) – with Northern, Trans Pennine Express and Metrolink operating a full timetable of services.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We continue to grieve with the families of those who died, and support those injured. I've been clear that all public bodies must take a families-first approach in the days, months and years ahead to ensure their needs and wishes are fully understood and considered.

“Victoria station's reopening is an important statement about our city's recovery from this devastating attack. It continues to send out the message that we will not be bowed, we will not be divided, and we will stand together.”

The opening of the station, following the lifting of the police cordon, means full timetabled Metrolink and rail services will resume across the network. To find out more passengers should check with their rail operator, at www.tfgm.com or on the National Rail Enquiries website.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "This has been an incredibly difficult week for Manchester and everyone affected by the attack. Our thoughts remain very much with the families and friends at this time.

"The re-opening of Victoria Station, a major transport hub, is a symbolic moment in the recovery process as the city shows its defiance and resilience by moving forwards. I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the emergency services and railway staff, many of whom were among the first on the scene of last week's devastating events, to return the station to use."

Public transport users are asked to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to staff or the police and to continue visiting our page or follow our social media channels for the very latest travel information and advice

For further information about 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.

Road Closure Update - Salford/Manchester

Following Monday night’s tragic events at the Manchester Arena information regarding the current condition of the highway network within Salford is as follows:  

• Trinity Way is fully operational from the A57 Regent Road in both directions to the junction with the A56 Great Ducie Street & Bury New Road.
• Chapel Street is fully operational in both directions to the junction with Trinity Way.
• New Bailey Street is fully operational in both directions.
• Victoria Bridge Street is currently closed.
• Blackfriars Road is open both directions however there is no access to Great Ducie Street toward the Manchester Arena.
• Bury New Road is open both directions however diversions are in place at Trinity Way.
• A580 East Lancashire Road is fully operational but extremely congested.
• A57 Regent Road is fully operational but extremely congested.

Motorists are encouraged to find alternative means of travel to and from Manchester City Centre until further notice as access is still restricted.

Where roads are closed local diversions have been implemented.

For further traffic updates, including bus and rail travel please visit the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) web site.

Manchester Arena Travel Update

All modes of transport are affected this morning following the incident that unfolded at Manchester Arena late last night.

The thoughts of everyone at Transport for Greater Manchester are with all those affected by this tragic event. Working together with our partners at Greater Manchester Police we are determined to keep Manchester moving during this time.

The following is a travel round-up of the affected modes as of this morning:  

Metrolink

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Victoria Station will be closed for at least 24 hours, which means that services on the Bury and Rochdale via Oldham lines are operating a reduced route until further notice.

Services on the Bury line will stop at Queens Road while those on the Rochdale via Oldham line will finish at Monsall. There is ticket acceptance by bus operators Stagecoach and First on bus services on the Bury, Rochdale Metrolink lines.

Ten buses are scheduled to operate from Central Park as Metrolink replacement services and seven buses scheduled to operate from Queens Road to Piccadilly Gardens.

Services that operate south of the city centre are also affected, with the Airport line running to Deansgate, the Eccles service running all day via MediaCityUK to Ashton, Altrincham running to the Etihad Campus or Piccadilly and East Didsbury service redirected to Piccadilly.

Further information will be communicated throughout the day as more information becomes available. Customers are advised to check the Metrolink website or follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for updates.

Bus

No bus services are operating out of Shudehill.  All services are terminating short of the Interchange. Mega bus services diverted to Stevenson Square. Metroshuttle services - service 1 operating but with diversions, service 2 not operating, service 3 normal route.

All school bus services are running as normal.

A full list of affected services is available here.

Rail

Manchester Victoria is closed to all rail traffic; as such rail services will not be calling at Victoria. Piccadilly Station remains open as usual. All rail passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before travelling.

Roads

Roads are expected to be busier than usual. There is limited access to the city centre from the north of Manchester with good access from the south of Manchester. There is limited access on Manchester Inner Ring Road from the north – including Trinity Way and closures will restrict access for the next 24 hours with no access to Shudehill, Victoria Station and the immediate area around the Manchester Arena.

Non-signposted diversions will be in place as a result of the incident meaning congestion and delays are likely. TfGM will be adjusting signal timings where possible to reduce congestion.

In addition there is also a fire on Ashton Old Road at the junction of Fairfield Road and Ogden Lane which is likely to cause ongoing delays.

Drivers are encouraged to consider other means of travelling into Manchester City centre, including the Park & Ride facilities at Sale, Ashton West, and Ashton Moss Metrolink stops.

TfGM statement: Manchester Arena incident

Bob Morris, Chief Operating Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: "The thoughts of everyone at TfGM are with all those affected by the horrific incident at the Manchester Arena last night.

"TfGM staff have worked through the night to monitor and maintain public transport services where possible for commuters today, but inevitably there are going to be some delays and changes to services as a result of this terrible incident. 

"Tram and rail services are not currently able to run through Victoria Station and bus services are also affected - with no bus services running to or from Shudehill Interchange at present.  

"There are also a number of emergency road closures and non-signposted diversions in place which means congestion and long delays are likely and drivers should allow extra time for their journeys. 

“That said, Manchester is very much open for business and we’ll continue to do all we can – working with operators and other partners – to minimise the disruption as much as possible to keep the city moving.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and I'd ask anyone looking to travel in and around Greater Manchester to check the TfGM, Metrolink websites and Twitter feeds."