Work to build the brand new line of tram track through the square is complete as scheduled and tram services were back on track in time for the bank holiday weekend and Manchester Pride festival.
Passengers are reminded to check out changes to services, with new routings and different first and last tram times available at www.metrolink.co.uk.
From Friday 28 August the following services will run:
• Altrincham to Etihad Campus
• Altrincham to Deansgate-Castlefield
• Bury to Piccadilly
• Bury to East Didsbury
• Eccles-MediaCityUK to Piccadilly
• Rochdale to Ashton-under-Lyne
• Manchester Airport to Cornbrook
While trams will run in both directions on a single line of track through the square, work continues on the multi-million pound construction of a brand new tram stop. Trams will once again stop at St Peter’s Square when a much bigger, better stop opens close to the Cenotaph in autumn 2016.
Peter Cushing, Metrolink Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “I’m sure Metrolink customers will share our delight at getting services back up and running through the city.
“I thank everyone who has used the trams over the summer for their patience while we’ve worked to get a new line of track through St Peter’s Square.
“It means we can keep trams running through the city – getting people to work, shops and events over the coming year – while we build a brand new tram stop right alongside the new line.
“Trams will run throughout the bank holiday weekend during the Manchester Pride festival, of which we’re a proud supporter.”
The X1 replacement shuttle service will stop running from Friday but free city centre Metroshuttle bus services will continue to offer frequent links around the city and step-free walking routes through St Peter’s Square will also be fully signposted. Pedestrians are reminded to use designated walk ways and crossing points around the square.
A new-style Metrolink network map showing the service changes – designed to be more accessible and include more information – is also being rolled out to all tram stops.
“We’re always looking at ways to improve information about Metrolink services. That’s why we’ve updated our network map to make it as accessible and easy to understand as possible,” Peter said.
“As the tram network expands with more lines and services, the new map will give us the flexibility we need to include more information for our customers. We think it’s much simpler and easier to understand, particularly for people travelling from the busy city zone. It will be on display at all tram stops in the coming days.”
The name of tram stops is more prominent on the new map and – instead of using coloured lines – the map identifies services using a combination of letters and colours alongside arrows to show direction of travel, which is more accessible for people with colour blindness.
More information is now available at www.transformationinformation.co.uk and www.metrolink.co.uk.
