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Manchester Metrolink network to be cut in half for major summer works

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is preparing for a six-week closure of one of its key Metrolink stops, St Peter’s Square, which will effectively split its network in two for the duration.

The first phase of work will see the stop close from Sunday 28 June, with no tram services running through it until the end of August.

The summer closure is the start of a 14-month construction programme that will see major transformation work at the stop, with a new, expanded stop built closer to the new Cenotaph. The stop will have two new island-style platforms and two sets of track in each direction, allowing more services to run through it on the existing lines and the new Second City Crossing.

The first phase of works through to the end of August 2015 will see changes to track and infrastructure so that trams can continue to run through St Peter’s Square.

Services will run in both directions on a single line through the square for the ten-month construction period as works for the new stop take place nearby.

A final eight-week closure will follow in summer 2016 before St Peter’s Square services reopen in the autumn. The Second City Crossing route is expected to open in 2017.

Peter Cushing, Metrolink director at TfGM said: “We’re completely rebuilding the St Peter’s Square stop and all our planning has been geared towards limiting the impact, as far as possible, on our customers and the services we offer.

“We need to stop running trams run through St Peter’s Square at the start and end of the construction work – so we’ve planned this during the quieter summer months. 

“Over eight weeks this summer we’ll be carrying out works to make sure we can keep trams running on a single line through the square for the vast majority of the work programme. It’s all geared towards keeping connections for our customers across the city for people to get to work, shops, and travel to big events or enjoy a night out.

“Make no mistake, it’s a hugely complex and challenging construction project, but I’m confident we’ve planned the right services to keep reliable, frequent tram links across the city.”

The work at St Peter’s Square will follow the major redevelopment of the Deansgate-Castlefield stop currently under way.

The Second City Crossing is part of a co-ordinated three-year programme of works, known collectively as Grow. Between now and 2017, the city centre will see more than £1bn of investment in projects for ‘future proofing’ the city’s transport infrastructure.

The full Crossing route starts in Lower Mosley Street and will run through St Peter’s Square, turn down Princess Street and head along Cross Street and Corporation Street to the new Exchange Square stop. It will then run past the National Football Museum and Printworks to arrive at the Metrolink Victoria stop.

(Images courtesy of TfGM)

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