Metrolink to / from Etihad

[Jazzyblue]

Do they do trams direct to Bury from the Etihad after games? I thought they stopped those, but haven’t used it for years. I never see any going to the Etihad from Bury.

No they don't, tends to be Alty ones you see on the way back home, but I don't bother with those because of the queues and crowding.

Should've been clearer but I was talking about what you see at Cornbrook on matchdays on the way to the game - ie loads going to Bury/Rochdale/anywhere where the match isn't, and fewer going to where the action is.

 

[jockblue]

Something you have to watch with Metrolink is how they boast a 6min tram frequency. That’s a tram calling at either platform every 6mins on average, but that is still only every 12mins in each direction. Clever wording.

They don't do that. Never have.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

No they don't, tends to be Alty ones you see on the way back home, but I don't bother with those because of the queues and crowding.

Should've been clearer but I was talking about what you see at Cornbrook on matchdays on the way to the game - ie loads going to Bury/Rochdale/anywhere where the match isn't, and fewer going to where the action is.

It’s the reason we stopped using the tram. Very expensive and you still have to walk nearly 2 miles each way (or wait an age for a connecting tram with space). It’s farcical.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

They don't do that. Never have.

I’ve seen it in blurb. So they have.

 

[jockblue]

I’ve seen it in blurb. So they have.

It's really not a hill I'm going to die on, but I've never seen anything like that. I've always seen talk about 6/12/15 min frequencies, which is no of trams each way... anyway, as I say, not gonna argue!

 

[eyalluvitt]

City City City City City , no elbow room

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

It's really not a hill I'm going to die on, but I've never seen anything like that. I've always seen talk about 6/12/15 min frequencies, which is no of trams each way... anyway, as I say, not gonna argue!

Fair enough, maybe it was the way I read it in promotional articles. Anyway, we end up with worse either way!

 

[JPAMCR]

Prices are very good, and when all is running smooth a good service is there. However, there are some serious downsides. The Etihad service is nowhere near good enough. Regular engineering works are a total pain also. The network is plagued by mechanical and technical breakdowns on a far too regular basis though whether it be trams, points, OLE, IT systems etc. I can see why people are pissed off with it.

I use the Ashton line most days for work and it’s a pretty poor service. Always full single units apart from match days and as often as not there’s delays or teams are late getting to the stop.

 

[Holcombe bloo]

I was prattling on about city /oakview/ MCC buying a fleet of buses a year ago or there would be chaos when events clashed and or the ground extension finished. Although local and national government should be driving this it won’t happen unless city and oakview drive it, ie pay for most of it! There is already enough negativity around the SafeTy of the new arena, adding awful travel to the mix will be very bad for the investment made.

 

[Gray]

This Sunday shouldn’t be too much of an issue due the staggered timings. It’s evening kickoffs on the same nights as gigs that are potential recipes for disaster.

The problem will be platform access.

Full trams arriving for the arena whilst thousand are waiting to leave from our match and only one flight of stairs. The queueing arrangements are bad enough at present but I am waiting to see how Metrolink cock this up.

 

[Stephen230]

The problem will be platform access.

Full trams arriving for the arena whilst thousand are waiting to leave from our match and only one flight of stairs. The queueing arrangements are bad enough at present but I am waiting to see how Metrolink cock this up.

Should be manageable with a little forward planning.

90% + are coming and going to town, so will be on opposite sides on the main.

 

[MikeF]

I’ve used the tram from Shaw to town (on non match days) recently and I can’t believe how popular it has become. It’s a few years since I’ve had reason to as only tend to come into town on match days now but there’s been a significant upsurge in its usage it seems to me.

I’m not sure they’re prepared for it. And that’s when there wasn’t even an event on!!

Obviously it’s good more people are using it and not just jumping in their cars to get down but cos of that, I think it’s caught them on the hop.

Oh, and when did Deansgate become more or less pedestrianised!!? Christ, I barely recognised parts of my own city!!

 

[bennyboy]

Barry Manilow fans going to the arena.
City fans going in Ashton direction..
Should be okay.lol.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Barry Manilow fans going to the arena.
City fans going in Ashton direction..
Should be okay.lol.

As long as they behave themselves. I wouldn’t want a bag of Werthers Originals launched at my head.

;)

 

[Gray]

As long as they behave themselves. I wouldn’t want a bag of Werthers Originals launched at my head.

;)

It's the Zimmerframes and mobility scooters that would concern me.

 

[MCFC Wirral]

I was last in Manchester to watch Hereford at Curzon Ashton and used the tram. It was fine. Allowed me to tap on tap off ticketless and I was charged the right fare after stopping at The Grove on the way.

They’d never have envisaged the population increasing as much as it has and also demand on certain areas.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

I was last in Manchester to watch Hereford at Curzon Ashton and used the tram. It was fine. Allowed me to tap on tap off ticketless and I was charged the right fare after stopping at The Grove on the way.

They’d never have envisaged the population increasing as much as it has and also demand on certain areas.

They’ve allowed x amount of houses and apartments to be built so they surely must have envisaged the population increase. They just think they can convince everyone to walk, scoot or cycle around town. Good luck with that.

 

[jockblue]

Fair enough, maybe it was the way I read it in promotional articles. Anyway, we end up with worse either way!

Barry Manilow fans going to the arena.
City fans going in Ashton direction..
Should be okay.lol.

Could it be magic?

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

They’ve allowed x amount of houses and apartments to be built so they surely must have envisaged the population increase. They just think they can convince everyone to walk, scoot or cycle around town. Good luck with that.

I’d imagine the focus was on building the expensive flats/ apartments. The transport links and general infrastructure seem like an after thought

 

[cheddar404]

Bad generally or just the Etihad service?

Bad generally. Appallingly crammed carriages during busier times, there's no circle line so you have to miles out of your way to get somewhere on another line that's really not that far away as the crow flies. It's managed terribly on matchdays too. I can be waiting at Cornbrook for a connecting tram to the Etihad and wait there while 2 or 3 Rochdale trams come and go with hardly anyone on them before an Ashton/Etihad tram arrives (although it feels as if this has improved slightly recently). It's as if it's a surprise that 50k+ people are all heading to the same area and they haven't checked.
On city breaks around Europe I'm always amazed at how much better their transport is than the Metrolink. We should have un underground system but we are stuck with what we have.