Metrolink closures cause commuter chaos on first day
Manchester commuters faced significant disruption on Monday, July 13, as Metrolink tram stops closed for three weeks of scheduled repair works. The closures include Deansgate-Castlefield and St Peter's Square in the city centre, with no trams running on the Eccles, Altrincham, or Trafford Centre lines. Reduced services to and from Manchester Airport and Didsbury also do not reach the city centre until August 3, when normal service is expected to resume.
Passengers who usually rely on these lines for their daily commute had to navigate the rail replacement bus system for the first time. The Manchester Evening News spoke to several commuters during their journeys home to gather their experiences.
Confusion and delays for commuters
Annabel, who works in publishing, described the situation as "a little disorganised." She noted that the replacement bus stop for St Peter's Square is nowhere near the tram stop and expressed uncertainty about whether buses are sticking to the timetable. "I've been here about 20 minutes," she said.
IT consultant Peter set a timer on his phone to measure his wait time for a bus to Altrincham. While his morning commute was "absolutely fine," the return journey saw him waiting 15 minutes for a bus that was scheduled to arrive every seven-and-a-half minutes.
Amy, who works in St. James's buildings, commented on the inconsistency between inbound and outbound journeys. "Coming in from Exchange Quay, no problem at all. Getting back, drivers seem to think it's a different stop to where everyone's been directed to wait. It's two different stories coming in and going back out," she said. She added, "It'd be helpful to be able to track them like normally, but you've kind of got to show up at the stop and hope for the best."
Impact on hybrid workers and night shift staff
Joe Little, who works for the Ministry of Justice, described the disruption as "jarring." He only found out about the travel changes that morning and is unsure how he will manage the three-week period. "I'm hybrid working, so I get the tram two or three times a week. I've still not worked out how I'll handle these three weeks yet," he said.
One night club worker who lives near the Altrincham tram line said he uses his car to get to work because trams never operate during his late working hours anyway. Another anonymous worker in Spinningfields said it was "too early to tell" how disruptive the works will be but added that "she'll work it out."
Transport for Greater Manchester responds
A Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) spokesperson said: "This is vitally important work that will make Metrolink journeys quicker and more reliable once complete. We are sorry if passengers are experiencing disruption to their journeys, and we are doing everything we can to keep people moving, including replacement buses and staff out across the networks."
Passengers are encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys and to check the Bee Network website or app before they travel for the latest information, including about replacement buses.
