Metrolink works will be 'worth the inconvenience'

Major engineering work on a key stretch of the Manchester Metrolink network will be worth the inconvenience, transport bosses have said.

Work started on 16 July to replace one mile (1.6km) of track - some of which is more than 30 years old - and continues until 2 August with no trams available on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines.

It is part of a wider £150m programme to improve 6km of track, which will finish next year.

However some councillors say replacement bus services, especially around Altincham and Timperley, are "not fit for purpose" - Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it is "strengthening" the service.

Lib Dem councillor Ulrich Savary, who represents Broadheath ward on Trafford Council, said he was inundated with complaints about the replacement bus service last week with people alleging some services have not appeared at all. Others are said to have taken three times the length of time for a journey which normally takes 10 minutes.

Savary said: "I had quite a lot of complaints although there has been some improvement this week."

He added: "Many residents have contacted us about replacement buses that are simply not fit for purpose."

TfGM Chief Network Officer, Danny Vaughan, said: "Replacement buses can never match the frequency, capacity and speed of the trams, and we're aware there's been some gaps in service. But on the whole, there's regular replacement buses covering the tram routes and stopping at each station.

"Since last week we've worked with bus operators to bring even more vehicles into Greater Manchester to strengthen the replacement service, and this is now in place. We are still encouraging people to plan ahead and leave more time for their journey if they can."

Chris Barnes, Infrastructure delivery director for transport for Greater Manchester, said: "There's never an ideal time to carry out works of this nature but we find this is probably the best time of the year in terms of keeping disruption to an absolute minimum."

He added: "This is all very much part of making our Metrolink network safe, reliable, and resilient for the future."

About £150m worth of investment has been ploughed into the work, which is due to end next year.

TfGM is encouraging passengers to use the journey planner on the Bee Network app or website to plan their journeys in advance and consider all the potential alternatives including regular Bee Network buses, the train, cycling or walking.