A £150 million track renewal programme will halt trams on several Metrolink lines from 13 July, forcing Stockport town centre visitors to plan for longer journeys. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will replace 1.6km of worn track between Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield, suspending services on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines until 2 August.
During the three-week closure, trams on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport route will terminate at Firswood, while Rochdale line services end at Exchange Square. Ian Davies, Network Director for Metrolink at TfGM, said the stretch is one of the busiest in the country. “Some sections are more than 30 years old, with 40-tonne trams running every 30 seconds at peak times – that level wear and tear takes its toll, which is why this work is so important,” he added.
More than 3,000 tonnes of new rail and 800 concrete sleepers will be fitted by a team of 70 engineers across three sites. At the Cornbrook junction, where the Eccles and Altrincham lines meet, specialist Genesis Panel Lifters will make their UK debut. The investment is designed to bolster the network ahead of major expansions, including the planned extension into Stockport, with a further two-week closure scheduled for autumn.
Replacement buses will run between affected stops, and special event services are planned for The Hundred cricket fixtures at Old Trafford on 26 and 31 July. Stockport town centre visitors and workers may need to allow extra travel time, with normal tram operations set to resume from 3 August.
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