So, had the misfortune to be at Stretford tram stop today before Stretford were at home. Can someone confirm when we play at home, all trams run down the Ashton line every 6 minutes and all doubles? Even on Sunday prior to kick off?
Fair enough, and this isn’t a City/United thing, but I’ve never seen metrolink Increase frequency on the Ashton line specifically for events at the Etihad Campus. Clearly this was the case from Stretford yesterday as Ive seen this before when Stretford are at home. I also use the tram to commute from Stretford and there is never 1 tram every 6 minutes, even in rush hour. Are there trams every 6 minutes to the Etihad, ever?All Eccles to Ashton trams are doubles all day when City are at home. Think they’re every 12 minutes. Maybe 15 minutes on a Sunday.
Then there’s others that terminate at Etihad from other places. Think the vast majority are doubles. But you do occasionally see a single.
This is my experience as well. So, metrolink are reacting to increased demand on the Altrincham line but stick to the schedule regardless on the Ashton line? Can’t be a shortage of drivers or units so are there any other limitations? There were close to 80,000 people at the Etihad Campus for the Derby/Paul Mcartney. It’ll be more in a year or two. How are the council allowing CFG/Metrolink to not increase the frequency of the trams whilst demand is nearly double across one line? Did they really get away with telling people to walk and creating a massive neon ‘M’ Sign as a transport strategy!?The Ashton line has never been six on matchdays- at least a 10-15 minute wait. After the game usually around 20-30 minutes wait time, multiple go past and turn around at city to go back into town.
I think twice this season after the match I have manged to wait less than that back.
All been double other than the one game I can remember.
In reality this is the issue. The Etihad is just 3 stops from Manchester’s main train station and has the problem of Merrill Street where cars and pedestrians are funnelled alongside the trams whereas the swamp is quite some distance away from Piccadilly/Victoria and the shared road parts are much wider. Adding more trams alone would probably make the situation worse, it needs Merrill Street addressing first.If pushed into a corner I suspect Metrolink will chuck in a design fault/bottleneck on the line in or around Piccadilly.
Fair enough, and this isn’t a City/United thing, but I’ve never seen metrolink Increase frequency on the Ashton line specifically for events at the Etihad Campus. Clearly this was the case from Stretford yesterday as Ive seen this before when Stretford are at home. I also use the tram to commute from Stretford and there is never 1 tram every 6 minutes, even in rush hour. Are there trams every 6 minutes to the Etihad, ever?
Fair enough, and this isn’t a City/United thing, but I’ve never seen metrolink Increase frequency on the Ashton line specifically for events at the Etihad Campus. Clearly this was the case from Stretford yesterday as Ive seen this before when Stretford are at home. I also use the tram to commute from Stretford and there is never 1 tram every 6 minutes, even in rush hour. Are there trams every 6 minutes to the Etihad, ever?
As far as I’m aware, the only trams to Ashton on non match days, are the Eccles- Ashton ones.
There’s always been additional ones on match days. I noticed when I used to get on at Deansgste occasionally, that they would have specials lined up on the middle platform, terminating at the ground.
Not sure if they still run, as they regularly seem to run both to Eccles and Altrincham after the game these days, so I assume they come from Alti before the game also.
Yeah, on second thoughts, I looked the frequency on the metrolink website and it said every 12 minutes across the network. Deffo more frequent than that during rush hour on the Alty line.Unless your commute is very early in the morning or very late at night, there is always a 6 minute frequency on the Altrinham line that goes past Stretford.
Was wondering if this was case. Can’t say I’ve ever felt that at cornbrook or getting on at the Etihad. Certainly remember 12 minute waits post match.Before 8pm - Eccles-Ashton every 12 mins and Media City to Etihad every 12 mins so a 6 minute service between the two
After 8pm - Eccles - Ashton every 12 mins and Altrincham to Ethad every 12 mins so a 6 minute service betwen the two...
Occasionally there are crowd-buster additional services as well...
Makes sense re: merrill street.In reality this is the issue. The Etihad is just 3 stops from Manchester’s main train station and has the problem of Merrill Street where cars and pedestrians are funnelled alongside the trams whereas the swamp is quite some distance away from Piccadilly/Victoria and the shared road parts are much wider. Adding more trams alone would probably make the situation worse, it needs Merrill Street addressing first.
It’s a pity they didn’t put the tram turnback facility at New Islington with a terminus platform (lose those car parks), instead of just after Piccadilly. Many fans would just walk the two stops to the game from there at about 1 mile. As it is, everyone has to change at PG or the station causing overcrowding on those platforms.
That said, the facilities that come with the new stand might resolve some of the long queues after the game. I think everyone is waiting to see how this all works out before looking at costly public infrastructure changes.
Currently grounded heading towards the Etihad. Three Mets queued up waiting to get into Piccadilly Stn, not moving at all. Been 10 minutes now.
Lots of Fire Engines on the scene. Can’t see what’s gone on though.
I was on one at Piccadilly Gardens and the driver said a car was stuck on the tracks at Holt Town and all trams were terminating at Piccadilly station.
Dived off and headed over and caught a bus. Was pretty good actually. Hardly any traffic and dropped off right outside the ground. Ended up only missing the first couple of minutes. Thought we were looking at nearer half time than kickoff at one point.
That woman is an absolute nightmare, she loves it though, think she'd do it for free.Completely useless from Etihad to Picc as usual. Quite early in the Q cos we’re EL1 but stood on the platform for 20mins with some idiotic woman from MetroLink screaming at us. Could/should have walked it quicker but we were in a rush to catch a train, which in the end was cancelled anyway. Whatever wonderful expansions and developments happen at the Etihad, it will still be served by 3rd world infrastructure