Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that only one major round of tram engineering works is planned for 2027, offering some relief to commuters who are bracing for two more weeks of disruption this month.
From Monday, October 19 until Sunday, November 1, no trams will run on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Centre lines as part of the second phase of 'future proofing' works around Cornbrook, Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar. Around four kilometres of rail, which is coming to the end of its 30-year lifespan, will be replaced.
Further disruption will affect the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines, which will stop at Firswood, while the Rochdale line will stop at Exchange Square.
2027 plans confirmed
Metrolink network director Ian Davies told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the upcoming closure will be the final significant engineering work of 2026. He said: "This [upcoming closure] will be the final work of 2026, the final significant engineering work of 2026. We have one more to do in 2027 and we're looking to turn that around around Easter."
Mr Davies added: "In the interim, between Christmas and Easter, we will be doing a number of minor track works to take speed restrictions off certain sections of the line."
He also noted that TfGM is conscious of high-profile events taking place across the region next year, saying: "At the minute we are not planning too many works next year. We're very, very conscious there's going to be some very high profile events that are going to take place across the region, not just over the summer, but obviously later on in the year as well. So we may do one or two minor pieces of work, but we'll certainly not be doing another huge shutdown as we are at the minute."
New transport arrangements
The previous closure along this stretch led to 'chaos' and 'nightmare journeys' for commuters, with lengthy travel times on replacement buses. This time, TfGM is trying a different approach, promising to monitor and review transport options 'every single day'.
The new approach will see 'express buses' stop at key locations along the Metrolink lines, though more than a dozen stops will not be served. TfGM previously said the changes were implemented following feedback from customers and were 'designed to make journeys easier'.
On the Altrincham line, one replacement service will end at Sale, stopping short of Brooklands, Timperley, Navigation Road, and Altrincham itself. It will run every 10 minutes between Sale and Piccadilly, stopping at Stretford, Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield. A second express service is proposed along the route, connecting Altrincham to the city centre with stops only at Altrincham interchange and Piccadilly.
The Eccles line shuttle will only run to MediaCityUK, with stops at just Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly. The Trafford Centre line replacement will call at The Trafford Centre, Trafford Palazzo, Parkway, Village, Imperial War Museum, Wharfside, Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly. Buses will also run from Chorlton to Piccadilly, through Firswood and Deansgate-Castlefield.
Passenger support and benefits
Dedicated football shuttle buses will run from Piccadilly Gardens, Altrincham Interchange and the Trafford Centre to Old Trafford and back for Manchester United's home game against Bournemouth on Sunday, October 25. Additional Bee Network buses will be running along impacted routes, including to Eccles and Altrincham, to increase capacity. The price of putting on additional buses runs into the millions of pounds, TfGM has said.
Mr Davies said: "It's not really about money for us. It's about actually getting our passengers from where they are to where they need to be. So ultimately, it is a huge cost, but I'm not particularly worried about that, it's more about passenger journeys."
He added: "We'll keep it in constant review like we did last time. We did make some changes last time, in week two of the engineering works, we know that passengers did see some of the benefits. So we'll be reviewing it every single day, and several of us will be out on the network. We'll have staff at most of the impacted stops. We'll keep a very, very close eye."
TfGM has promised passengers will see 'significant benefits to journey times' once the work is completed, as speed restrictions will be lifted along the impacted stretches. Transport bosses estimate journeys between Cornbrook and Trafford Bar will be around a minute quicker as a result of the two phases of work.
Mr Davies said: "The work has to happen at this stage. The track is right at the end of its life cycle and lifespan. It's really important now that we get this work completed to make sure everyone's safe and secure on our network. But, like I say, it'll bring significant benefits to journey times. [I want to say] sorry to our passengers and our commuters along those lines. We know it's very, very disruptive, but please bear with us. Two more weeks this year, and we'll be done."
People with seven-day, 28-day and annual Metrolink passes will be able to use these on Bee Network buses and Northern train services between Altrincham/Navigation Road, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and Eccles and the city centre. Those without passes can buy £2 hopper fares for Bee Network buses, while tickets for the shuttle buses will be equivalent to tram fares. Starling Bikes is also offering up to 20 minutes free on their bikes during the closure. Passengers are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance during the works.
