Metrolink upgrades to cause weeks of disruption to tram services

Metrolink upgrades will cause disruption to tram services this month with commuters warned to plan ahead.

No trams will run between Victoria and Rochdale town centre for two weeks from Saturday May 16 to Friday May 29. This is while track replacement work takes place along the Oldham-Rochdale line.

The work is the latest phase of a £150m plan which transport bosses said will make the network ‘safer and more resilient and reliable for years to come.’

Work at Derker in Oldham will also take place at the same time to minimise disruption. The track was made safe following a landslip in summer 2024.

A longer-term solution will see teams drive steel sheets into the ground to hold it in place and prevent further movement. Further work will be needed later in the year to complete the job, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said.

Alongside these works there will be disruption to trams in Manchester city centre as part of a separate scheme.

From May 25 to May 29, no trams will run between St Peter’s Square/Market Street and Piccadilly for works at Piccadilly Gardens. This is to update equipment that has been in place since the line opened in 1992.

Trams to East Didsbury will start from Exchange Square and a bus replacement service will be in place between Victoria and Rochdale town centre.
Tram tickets will only be accepted on the replacement bus, TfGM said.

Works on the Oldham-Rochdale line will take place between Monsall and Newton Heath & Moston.
This involves replacing sections of track and improving drainage along the route. The track foundation will also be replaced where needed, TfGM said, as well as work to correct the alignment and level of the track.

The massive job will need 290 new concrete sleepers and 2,000 tonnes of pea gravel, with more than 5,000 tonnes of ballast being replaced.
Once finished, journeys should be ‘smoother and more reliable’ for passengers due to the improved condition of the track.

It also means some speed restrictions currently in place for safety reasons will be able to be lifted.

During the work, customers buying tickets at Monsall tram stop will need to access the platforms via Ruislip Avenue or Upper Monsall Street, as it will not be possible to cross the tracks.

Step‑free access to the Manchester‑bound platform will be available via the lift only while the work is taking place. Step-free access to the Rochdale-bound platform is unaffected.

During the works at Piccadilly Gardens, customers who need to change trams are advised by TfGM to take a short walk or hop on the free bus to continue their journey. Tram services will resume along this section of the network from the start of service on Saturday, May 30.
Services will run every 15 minutes as follows:

Exchange Square – East Didsbury (7.5 minute frequency during peak times)
Bury – Altrincham (7.5 minute frequency during peak times)
Manchester Airport – Victoria (via Market Street)
Deansgate-Castlefield – Eccles (via MediaCityUK)
Trafford Centre – Crumpsall (via Market Street)
Piccadilly – Ashton-under-Lyne

Ian Davies, TfGM’s network director for Metrolink, said: “These improvements are part of our continued £150m investment to make our tram network safer, more reliable and more resilient for the long term.
“It’s a really big job, which means we have to close the line to get it done, but in the longer term this will make a real difference to everyone that travels with us.

“We’d like to thank people for their patience while this essential work takes place. We’ll have replacement bus services in place, and our staff will be out across the network to help everyone make their journey as usual.

“I’d strongly encourage everyone travelling during this period to plan ahead, as some tram services will need to change while we carry out this essential work. The best way for customers to stay informed and plan their journey is by using the Bee Network website or app.”