Metrolink to / from Etihad

[Scaring Europe to Death]

How many extra trams (or routes) have been provided since the capacity increased from 47,000?
How many extra trams (or routes) are in the pipeline for when the capacity increases to 60,000?

I'm not looking for a fight. I'm just genuinely curious, especially as the number of early leavers appears to be linked (in my opinion) to the chances of catching the first tram post match.

I noticed a similar thing at Tottenham last Friday night. An ultra modern state-of-the-art stadium with a third world transport infrastructure that hasn't really changed despite the ground capacity increasing from circa 38,000 to 60,000

Utter madness, but then again, this is the same Tottenham who've just declared a huge profit from concerts and NFL games.

Perhaps, City just consider it perfectly reasonable for everyone to walk to Piccadilly after the game.

 

[blue44]

Got to platform on FT, next Ashton tram 20 mins.
Two empty trams pulled up in front of us and then looped back to take Town bound Blues.
Two further Trams from Ashton came in so in all four Trams for Town bound Fans and nothing for Ashton.
Platform looked like January Sales outside the Arndale.
When one arrived it was normal service with people already onboard,
Managed to get on. Used to overcrowding before and after games but never experienced anything like this. Couldn't move my arms from my side.
People trying to get on at Clayton Hall and further had no chance.
Thankfully it was not raining, but utterly abysmal service .

We have been using the tram for a good few years now going and coming back.to.Ashton,its better than the bus,unless that as got.better of late which i doubt.

Last night though was worse than usual,we always stay to the end purely to.let the crowds disperse ,take our time.and walk.up.to.Clayton Hall,last.night there were a lot of people.waiting to get on the next tram,it turned up and was rammed,no one could get on it, because the next one said 14 minutes so we were that cold and wet from earlier we walked up to edge lane to try and get warm.
Luckily we got on the tram at that stop

 

[Blue Mist]

Andy Burnham should never been elected mayor
I was going to write a rant but can’t be arsed with him. He ranted about HS2 but can’t even get his own public transport in order.
I do not like Andy Burnham.
He’s put MCR not short of third world.

To be fair he's done a lot for Greater Manchester, well Everton, but thats reasonably close so I think it counts

 

[Gray]

No. The new plan is no specials - it's now a regular 6-minute service all evening to town (12 mins to Ashton). Write to Burnham. Explain it won't be enough. I'm on a transport forum arguing with Metrolink employee who thinks an hour or an hour and a half to clear queues after the match is "not the end of the world".

No it is a full football match.

 

[zandvoort blue]

Congratulations to TfGM on their entry into the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of passengers rammed on to a "SINGLE" tram prior to last night`s game.

 

[city2]

should just go back to the old days when after the games the buses were queuing up to get the fans away from the ground. I think this started fans leaving early in the 60/70s cos the buses use to leave asap

 

[BTH]

Is it? Don’t think I’ve ever been asked. To me there’s already enough transport from Stockport to Manchester. There’s regular buses and trains. The main issue is those services are often terrible.

Have you ever asked your local representatives?

 

[Mike N]

Had a look at the Metrolink website earlier. It seems that you can ‘rate your journey’. They want to hear our views to help them deliver a better service. Yeah ok.

 

[Beaker]

I wrote to Burnham last year and asked what transport improvements had been put in place for the start of the new Arena on the Etihad campus and the risk of chaos because of football and music event clashes. There are no proposals included in the detailed planning application.
I got a response from his comms person with a link to the Metrolink website supposedly showlng ongoing improvements planned in the future. None of them had anything to do with the Etihad campus. It was just the usual patronising reply I have come to expect from politicians. Burnham well deserves his reputation as someone who can talk a good game but never delivers.

He’s a career politician, never lived in the real world and doesn’t understand real world people’s problems.

 

[MikeF]

Andy Burnham should never been elected mayor
I was going to write a rant but can’t be arsed with him. He ranted about HS2 but can’t even get his own public transport in order.
I do not like Andy Burnham.
He’s put MCR not short of third world.

Who did elect him and when is he up for re-election? I swear he’s been mayor for a decade or more!!

 

[BringBackSwales]

I don’t necessarily disagree with you but the transport doesn’t work for anyone, whether they’re new / legacy fans.

I can understand why the club has to pretend that it does work in general terms given the need to secure planning permissions etc, but the problems seem to be more operational in nature and there comes a point where something needs to be done about it.

Exactly the transport doesn’t work (for anyone) so a club that gave a shit would say something

 

[BringBackSwales]

Had a look at the Metrolink website earlier. It seems that you can ‘rate your journey’. They want to hear our views to help them deliver a better service. Yeah ok.

Is there a “fucking shit” option?

 

[Gray]

Had a look at the Metrolink website earlier. It seems that you can ‘rate your journey’. They want to hear our views to help them deliver a better service. Yeah ok.

Trouble is they take no fucking notice.

 

[Gray]

Good job our game wasn’t tonight. Broken down tram caused utter chaos this evening.

 

[The blue phantom]

The amount of Double Trams I see on the Piccadilly to Ashton line early doors on a Sunday morning as empty as the Mary Celeste. Match Night banging Singles on. It can only be a Rag in charge taking the piss.

 

[Vic]

I know. There seems to be points to allow trams to switch track in one direction between the Gardens and Piccadilly but no idea why they’re there or if usable. They’d probably have to add another set to make it work.

Good question - there may be issues of pedestrians at Portland Street not expecting trams on the wrong line.

 

[Eccles Blue]

I wrote to TfGM about the overcrowding asking what would happen if there were a crash involving an overcrowded tram.
The reply I received was just a load of nonsense, more or less saying that the officials managing the trams at the Etihad stop knew how many and would not let them get too overcrowded! I had written when I got home from a night match where I had watched said officials pushing people onto the trams holding them there whilst they leaned over and pressed the close/open door button. Obviously as soon as the tram started those folk would be squashed against the doors.

One time I saw people get back off because they felt it was too full and the officials were telling them to get back on there was plenty of room. When I go on the tram I sit on the little bench things until an Eccles tram comes along with room to sit on it. I’m allowed down in the lift as a registered disabled old biddy!! ;-)
I like observing people. Some folk call it nosiness I call it observing behaviour. ;-)

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I wrote to TfGM about the overcrowding asking what would happen if there were a crash involving an overcrowded tram.
The reply I received was just a load of nonsense, more or less saying that the officials managing the trams at the Etihad stop knew how many and would not let them get too overcrowded! I had written when I got home from a night match where I had watched said officials pushing people onto the trams holding them there whilst they leaned over and pressed the close/open door button. Obviously as soon as the tram started those folk would be squashed against the doors.

One time I saw people get back off because they felt it was too full and the officials were telling them to get back on there was plenty of room. When I go on the tram I sit on the little bench things until an Eccles tram comes along with room to sit on it. I’m allowed down in the lift as a registered disabled old biddy!! ;-)
I like observing people. Some folk call it nosiness I call it observing behaviour. ;-)

The situation with the trams in town on match nights is clearly dangerous which is why I don't use them. When I did use them occasionally I was very unimpressed by the capability of the so-called stewards. It is a shambles and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse. When it happens we will get all the usual hand-wringing from people like Andy Burnham. The problem is worse getting to the stadium. I think the stewards do a decent job after the match.

 

[Stephen230]

The situation with the trams in town on match nights is clearly dangerous which is why I don't use them. When I did use them occasionally I was very unimpressed by the capability of the so-called stewards. It is a shambles and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse. When it happens we will get all the usual hand-wringing from people like Andy Burnham. The problem is worse getting to the stadium. I think the stewards do a decent job after the match.

What can they do though? It’s ok at Piccadilly station where they can keep people in a queue away from the platform until they let them through.

But at most stops they’re not set up for that. It’s got to be self policing really. And no one wants to be the one left on the platform because they can’t quite squeeze on.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

What can they do though? It’s ok at Piccadilly station where they can keep people in a queue away from the platform until they let them through.

But at most stops they’re not set up for that. It’s got to be self policing really. And no one wants to be the one left on the platform because they can’t quite squeeze on.

They will have to provide more stewards at Pic Gardens, Cornbrook, Peter Square for starters. Some of the trams should be express trams stopping at limited stations which are controlled. The situation at United matches is much better. They obviously have more tram lines and stations to play with. I always get the tram when we play at Old Trafford and it is much easier going from Peter Square or Deansgate.
We also need more shuttle buses to take the pressure off the metro like they do in German cities. The routes away from the stadium should be rapid bus lanes with no other traffic for a couple of hours. We get about three buses with people still paying cash. The buses, cars, and trams all fighting for the same space. Totally absurd. The UK has the least integrated transport systems in Europe. Burnham was brought in to sort this shambles out and provide a strategy. It has got worse. And it's not just about money. It is sheer incompetence.