Trams tonight

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

It will never work properly until the tramlines extend to Bredbury/Stockport, and we have more people travelling the other way rather than back to Piccadilly and then a train to Bredbury/Stockport.

Too simple and won't happen unfortunately.

From what I’ve read they’ll be extended through didsbury towards Stockport, but that could be years away

 

[jockblue]

I got to Cornbrook around 1130 to be met with 2 options
1 Trafford Bar
2 Trafford Bar
which made no sense when there were so many concert goers wanting to get to their hotels around the swamp and Salford Quays - so I was like the pied piper directing people where to go
What was even stranger was many were saying it wasn't like this the last time i.e. they could all get to Salford Quays which is why they had booked the same hotels - may be this weeks works experience had been given at shot at timetabling!

Last tram to Eccles should have been 1136
Last one to Trafford centre 1144
Last to the swamp and on to Alty 0003

Possibly just not on the screens at that time, most trams are heading back to depot at that time and will only go as far as Trafford Bar.

 

[Oldtraffordblue1]

Last tram to Eccles should have been 1136
Last one to Trafford centre 1144
Last to the swamp and on to Alty 0003

Possibly just not on the screens at that time, most trams are heading back to depot at that time and will only go as far as Trafford Bar.

I live on the Quays and I am sure I hear/see them way past 12am

 

[jockblue]

I live on the Quays and I am sure I hear/see them way past 12am

Sure. If it leaves Cornbrook at 1136 and travels to Eccles and then back, it'll be way past 12am before it passes you on the way back. Also they run later at weekends.

 

[Gray]

The whole thing is an utter disgrace to be honest. The queue for the tram was all the way to where the Vincent Kompany statue is. The orange car park is like wacky racers, I have seen several full on fights in there this season because of how disorganised it is.

To put concerts on the same days as a game is two fingers up to the fans. No wonder lots leave on 80 mins and until they actually sort a proper exit strategy the ground will always be half empty come 90 mins. Those running the operations in and around the ground are clueless.

Left block 211 on 93mins and galloped round the stadium, slalomed through the empty sheep pens, down the steps to a waiting Alty tram and back home at 10:45pm. That was an official world record for me. Sorry Kev.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Don’t know about a signal failure last night. But I have noticed that there are always an abundance of trams terminating at Trafford Bar, late in the evening.

My guess would be that trams that have been running on other lines and are heading back to the depot in Old Trafford for the night, run as a kind of bonus service as far as Trafford Bar.

they have one of their depots nearby

 

[gouldybob]

City are stakeholders in the arena. They also run all the catering there.

So they should be considering the operational logistics of having two huge events on at the same time.

So they have a stake, that has nothing to do with the fact they have no control of the external forces at play.

So, for example, a popular combo wants to do a 5 night residency for an autumn tour. The promoter approaches the venue for availability, do City pressure the venue board to not book tickets 6 months in advance on a Saturday because we may be at home, not Sunday or Monday if Sky decide to put us on TV. You can't have Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday because we may be in European competition and Friday is a risk as some games are on Friday in the new TV deal. So any concerts have to be between the end of May and the 2nd weekend in August or on an international break week. Seems like a sound business plan.

As the venue is looking at 200ish events next year we just need to get used to it, because neither is going to take the other into consideration.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

So they have a stake, that has nothing to do with the fact they have no control of the external forces at play.

So, for example, a popular combo wants to do a 5 night residency for an autumn tour. The promoter approaches the venue for availability, do City pressure the venue board to not book tickets 6 months in advance on a Saturday because we may be at home, not Sunday or Monday if Sky decide to put us on TV. You can't have Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday because we may be in European competition and Friday is a risk as some games are on Friday in the new TV deal. So any concerts have to be between the end of May and the 2nd weekend in August or on an international break week. Seems like a sound business plan.

As the venue is looking at 200ish events next year we just need to get used to it, because neither is going to take the other into consideration.

I can’t be arsed going into it but I’ve worked in the events and entertainment industry for 20 years, yes it should be considered and it has been poorly thought out and clearly the arena has opened before it really should have as the supporting infrastructure isn’t ready.

 

[mexico1970]

I can’t be arsed going into it but I’ve worked in the events and entertainment industry for 20 years, yes it should be considered and it has been poorly thought out and clearly the arena has opened before it really should have as the supporting infrastructure isn’t ready.

If there are genuinely going to be 200 events a year it looks like the cub is driven purely by profit.

Whooda thunk it ehh ?

:)

 

[gouldybob]

They have to consider their punters and that includes pedestrian and vehicular chaos when events at adjacent venues finish at the same time.
But I'll happily blame Sky if they prevented an early start.

That would probably be an issue on direction of the Police on safety grounds. They can argue that 75,000, leaving the venues, is like a match finishing at Old Trafford, or like a concert finishing at LCCC ( I know that's only 50k). They deal with it on safety grounds, not on individual inconvenience.

Many of us have walked back into Manchester from The Swamp, some of us walk into the City Centre after every home game. The roads may be clogged, City's car park is shite for getting out of, and people cover the road initially when the traffic is held up. You just get used to it, just like having ones arse on ones seat 10 times a year.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

From what I’ve read they’ll be extended through didsbury towards Stockport, but that could be years away

Yeah I know but the current tramline system works on the assumption that virtually everyone wants to go back into town after the match
Until they eventually get some kind of extended line it will never be fully effective

In contrast the Matchday Bus 7 (New Mills-Disley-Hazel.Grove-Great Moor) was full last night and even better it was on time.

 

[gouldybob]

I can’t be arsed going into it but I’ve worked in the events and entertainment industry for 20 years, yes it should be considered and it has been poorly thought out and clearly the arena has opened before it really should have as the supporting infrastructure isn’t ready.

We were never going to have an extended infrastructure, not enough general benefit.

If the wider site is developed attraction wise they may look at it, but it won't be quick. Trafford Centre opened in 1998, and tram line provision was included in the original 1995 plans. Arguements over funding meant it didn't open until 2020. It might not take 25 years to do a Salford Quays style terminus with a spur near what is Asda now but the collar site will need planning and building before work will start. Unfortunately now you have to be sure of the reward before our council take the risk.

 

[JGL07]

I don’t know what the fuss is about. I travelled in fairly late and left the restaurant at around 19:35. I got a tram at St Peter’s Square, that was half empty, within five minutes and arrived by the start. No problems getting back either despite staying for the after match display.

 

[CΛL]

Putting a massive concert venue next to the ground and soon a hotel was always a recipe for disaster for local match going fans but as always, as long as they're making money they don't care. None of this was designed with us in mind, solely tourists £££.

 

[JGL07]

From what I’ve read they’ll be extended through didsbury towards Stockport, but that could be years away

It would take an eternity to travel from the Etihad to Stockport via St Werburgh’s Road and East Didsbury. It would be far quicker to take a direct bus or train from Piccadilly.

 

[Stephen230]

We were never going to have an extended infrastructure, not enough general benefit.

If the wider site is developed attraction wise they may look at it, but it won't be quick. Trafford Centre opened in 1998, and tram line provision was included in the original 1995 plans. Arguements over funding meant it didn't open until 2020. It might not take 25 years to do a Salford Quays style terminus with a spur near what is Asda now but the collar site will need planning and building before work will start. Unfortunately now you have to be sure of the reward before our council take the risk.

Not really relevant but I’d be interested in how profitable the Trafford Centre line is?

Virtually nobody uses it to go shopping. There’s next to no houses on the route. And all the workers who travel back to town, seem to get the bus. Presumably as it’s quicker, cheaper and doesn’t involve a change.

 

[nmc]

Britain is one of the few countries in Western Europe that relies largely on buses as the primary mode of transport in its major cities. I know we have a tram system but it’s only supplementary to the bus service and generally speaking outside of the capital there has been very limited investment in transport infrastructure in the UK compared to France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland etc. Just look at the Cities in Europe with decent underground systems and then compare that to the UK. We are just not there in terms of basic infrastructure and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. In most UK cities if you are fit and able, walking is generally the best way to get around.

 

[gouldybob]

If there are genuinely going to be 200 events a year it looks like the cub is driven purely by profit.

Whooda thunk it ehh ?

:)

CFG is a stakeholder and looks for a return on its circa £200m investment as do Oak View and Harry Styles. I'm sure if you'd invested the cash you wouldn't be saying let's cancel making cash from Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen because City have a fixture change.

The two industries work on different time lines, promoters already looking at 2026 and probably 2027 and our fixtures come out months later

Congestion will only worsen if the suggested "entertainment destination" is built in the collar site and infrastructure is the issue not people attending.

 

[jockblue]

Congestion will only worsen if the suggested "entertainment destination" is built in the collar site and infrastructure is the issue not people attending.

I think congestion will only ease once the whole area is seen as a destination on its own for 16 hours a day. At that time, it's worthwhile for authorities to run public transport as it will be used fairly consistently, and not just on peak occasions when there's a match/concert.

For example, The Trafford Centre has a bus station, and eventually a tram line, as it's used constantly. If it was just the arse end of Trafford Park, they wouldn't bother.