Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has promised just one major round of tram works next year, as commuters prepare for two more weeks of travel chaos on the Metrolink network.
Three major lines will be shut from Monday, October 19, until next month, with no trams running on the Altrincham, Eccles, and Trafford Centre lines. 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.
Second phase of track replacement works
The closures are the second phase of works to 'future proof' the tracks around Cornbrook, Deansgate-Castlefield, and Trafford Bar. Around four kilometres of rail that is coming to the end of its 30-year lifespan will be replaced. The works are expected to finish by Sunday, November 1.
The network has already been hit by a series of major works during 2026, including a three-week closure on the same stretch during the summer. Metrolink network director Ian Davies said this upcoming closure will be the final significant engineering work of 2026.
Reprieve in 2027
Passengers will get a reprieve in 2027, with just one major round of work scheduled for the year, Mr Davies said. That will again see the stations around Cornbrook close and is expected to take place over the Easter school holidays.
Mr Davies 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."
He 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."
New approach to replacement services
The previous closure along this stretch resulted in 'chaos' and 'nightmare journeys' for commuters, with lengthy travel times on replacement buses. TfGM is trying a different approach this time, promising to monitor and review transport options 'every single day'.
The new approach will see 'express shuttle buses' stop at key locations along the Metrolink lines, but 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. TfGM is now proposing a second express service along the route that will connect Altrincham to the city centre, stopping 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. 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 on the network.
Cost and benefits of the works
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."
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."
TfGM has also 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."
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 will be able to 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.
