Newly released timelapse footage has shown the major track replacement work taking place on a key part of Greater Manchester's tram network. The video, released by Bee Network and TfGM, shows the bridge at Cornbrook, between July 13 and 31.
Engineers have replaced around 1.6km of tram track from Trafford Bar to Deansgate-Castlefield - one of the busiest and most complex parts of the network.
Project details
The project has involved replacing ageing track, sleepers and drainage at a critical point of the network where several tram lines come together. Specialist lifting equipment has also been used for the first time in the UK as part of the works.
It all forms part of a wider £150m investment to maintain, upgrade and improve Greater Manchester's tram network through to 2027.
Disruption and improvements
The 'important' repair work has seen the Cornbrook tram stop shut since Monday, July 13, which is estimated to reopen on Sunday, August 2.
The works have seen widespread disruption on multiple lines with no trams running through the city centre. The Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines have been halted for the duration of the works, with the East Didsbury and Airport lines terminating at Firswood.
Network Director for Metrolink at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Ian Davies has issued an apology to passengers 'for the disruption', and has promised they will see improvements to their journeys as a result. It is 'one of the biggest engineering works' TfGM will 'ever undertake', he added.
Some 3,000 tons of rails are set to be replaced close to the Cornbrook stop, along with the ballasts that sit beneath them, Mr Davies said. 800 new concrete sleepers will also be put in along the stretch.
Before the works began, Mr Davies said: “We're running at around five miles per hour through this section, so passengers will have noticed that they're traveling extremely slowly through here. Once we've completed this work, we'll be able to run at 20mph, which will mean that passenger journey times will decrease and things will get quicker.”
While he could not give an exact figure for the amount of time cut from journeys, he promised passengers would notice a 'significant difference'.
