Metrolink to / from Etihad

[Blue Mist]

TfGMR is shit, utterly shit, the draconian parking restrictions introduced have only exacerbated the problem as well. City as a high profile institution could put pressure on the authorities to improve the situation, particularly on match days, but it would appear it’s something else they don’t care about.

Could the fan group, (City Matters?) not flag this up with the club as it is something that needs urgently addressing.
There are simple solutions that the Council and the Highways dept. could do but for some reason they aren't doing.

 

[Oldtraffordblue1]

After the match it was the usual shit show by the Mitchell Arms. As you say shut the roads. We walked past the mayhem. No trams could move because cars had blocked the junction. It's a farce.
Also, re the car on the line before the match. Our tram stopped at Piccadilly Gardens and a fan got on to tell us trams were blocked so we got off. Why was there no announcement from the driver ?
If it hadn't been for that fan we would have been stuck like all the other fans.
Transport in Manchester is shit. No ifs buts or maybes. Getting to and from the ground is becoming a nightmare and is starting to wear me down. ( A tram broke down before the Derby leaving utter chaos)

Maybe the club should have employed a Transport Improvement Manager for a better "fan experience" who reports directly to Danny Wilson before the Ticket Compliance Manager (unless they are going to stop ALL these ticket agencies getting tickets - won't hold my breath on that one though)

 

[shnaghaicityfish]

After the match it was the usual shit show by the Mitchell Arms. As you say shut the roads. We walked past the mayhem. No trams could move because cars had blocked the junction. It's a farce.
Also, re the car on the line before the match. Our tram stopped at Piccadilly Gardens and a fan got on to tell us trams were blocked so we got off. Why was there no announcement from the driver ?
If it hadn't been for that fan we would have been stuck like all the other fans.
Transport in Manchester is shit. No ifs buts or maybes. Getting to and from the ground is becoming a nightmare and is starting to wear me down. ( A tram broke down before the Derby leaving utter chaos)

Wearing me down too mate. When I add in the appalling train “service” from/too Macc especially on Sundays and evenings it’s the biggest single negative. I live on the main rail line into the UKs second city and want to visit an “entertainment destination”, home of the football World and English Champions and Europes biggest and best indoor arena, yet the transport strategy for the 80000 likeminded visitors is to put a big illuminated M on the footpath next to a 200 year old canal. So bad it’s (almost) funny!

 

[Vic]

The every 6 minute service is not enough. Previously, it's been said that the problem is that a tram out from town has to reverse at the Velopark, but that could be done quicker. Two minutes from the Etihad platform, a minute for the driver to change ends, and within another minute the tram is on the siding between the running lines, ready to enter the platform to town. It could be done at 4-minute intervals - but then you need extra drivers, and take units off other services. Ideally you'd just run to Piccadilly and back, but I don't think they can turn round at Piccadilly (station or gardens). And no point at all while they let other traffic block the Holt Town junction and Merrill Street.

 

[Vic]

There are plenty of alternative routes. They shut all the adjacent roads at Old Trafford. Our stadium has worst transport than most grounds I have been to. We also need a proper taxi rank in a different location. It is not rocket science. The police are useless at that Holt Town junction. No control at all.

The trams are bad, so people want taxis, and the taxis block the trams, so people want more taxis...

 

[Really_here]

That’s two home games in a row where a taxi has broken down on the tracks near Holt Town/Mitchel Arms. How’s that happening with all the Met/traffic stewards there? Just take the handbrake off and roll the car out of the way in seconds… don’t just fucking leave it on the tracks.

I was at Nottcutts garden centre at Ashton once and when we came out the road was blocked because a tram had hit a car. No-one was hurt and the damage was slight. The driver and the tram driver where talking to police who'd turend up. Waited five minutes and it was obvious it was going to be a while so went back to Nottcutts cafe. An hour and a half later we were finally able to cross the road. I'm sure it would have taken 2 minutes to move the car and shift the tram a few feet!! A bit like motorways being shut for minor accidents and breakdowns. If no-one is injured just push the offending vehicle(s) on to the hard shoulder FFS. I think they enjoy causing havoc sometimes

 

[mancityvstoke]

I was at Nottcutts garden centre at Ashton once and when we came out the road was blocked because a tram had hit a car. No-one was hurt and the damage was slight. The driver and the tram driver where talking to police who'd turend up. Waited five minutes and it was obvious it was going to be a while so went back to Nottcutts cafe. An hour and a half later we were finally able to cross the road. I'm sure it would have taken 2 minutes to move the car and shift the tram a few feet!! A bit like motorways being shut for minor accidents and breakdowns. If no-one is injured just push the offending vehicle(s) on to the hard shoulder FFS. I think they enjoy causing havoc sometimes

elf and safety innit

 

[mexico1970]

elf and safety innit

 

[mancityvstoke]

The parking restrictions is a massive piss take with the lack of any decent working alternative.


Someone needs to lose their job for that alone.

 

[DTKOAG]

Must be a blue on here who works for Metrolink who can answer a few of these issues ?
Also someone get on GMR on Sweenys show when Burnham is on for him to answer these questions

 

[mancityvstoke]

Must be a blue on here who works for Metrolink who can answer a few of these issues ?
Also someone get on GMR on Sweenys show when Burnham is on for him to answer these questions

Have you heard any answers he gives? Proper politician distraction techniques and BS

 

[East Level 2]

The parking restrictions is a massive piss take with the lack of any decent working alternative.


Someone needs to lose their job for that alone.

Lose their job? Manchester City Council are a bunch of motorist-hating bastards of the highest order. Someone who makes life difficult for drivers is more likely to be promoted.

 

[Blue Mist]

Lose their job? Manchester City Council are a bunch of motorist-hating bastards of the highest order. Someone who makes life difficult for drivers is more likely to be promoted.

This is what I don't get. All councils seem to be trying to force drivers off the road by many and varied means and yet, no trains on Boxing Day or most weekends, an appalling bus service, (don't let Burnham fool you) and simple sensible solutions, like temporary road closures, not acted on.

 

[Macca68]

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.

The tram I was on just after 2pm stopped at New Islington for about 5 minutes. The driver then announced that a tram had broken down ahead of us and he didn't know how long we'd be there for.
Fortunately we were still at the station so we opened the doors, got off and as we walked to the ground we passed a double unit with it's hazards flashing on Merrill Street. Nothing could get past it because of traffic coming the other way.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

That’s two home games in a row where a taxi has broken down on the tracks near Holt Town/Mitchel Arms. How’s that happening with all the Met/traffic stewards there? Just take the handbrake off and roll the car out of the way in seconds… don’t just fucking leave it on the tracks.

I wasn’t there so I don’t know what happened, but if it had broken down and was stuck in gear you can’t push it out of the way.

Being a taxi I doubt it had manual transmission, these days people are lazy and buy autos.

 

[nmc]

Walking to town after the game on Saturday- two things were obvious. The number of Taxis trying to get to the Etihad and the 5 - yes 5 Trams stuck in the traffic. That small section where the Tram runs along the main road causes chaos and blocks the entire line making it largely unusable after a game. Why didn’t the Tram line continue up Pollard Street and then go behind the stadium?

 

[Citycity76]

Even if that tram was free I would not get it.

Burnham is a tool

 

[Blue Mist]

Walking to town after the game on Saturday- two things were obvious. The number of Taxis trying to get to the Etihad and the 5 - yes 5 Trams stuck in the traffic. That small section where the Tram runs along the main road causes chaos and blocks the entire line making it largely unusable after a game. Why didn’t the Tram line continue up Pollard Street and then go behind the stadium?

Because originally they lied.
M/cr City Council and Sports England promised there would be a tram to the Commonwealth Games stadium.
There was no intention of building one so no planning went into the route they chose.
Many years later it was built using the same plans that hadn't been thought through.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

This is what I don't get. All councils seem to be trying to force drivers off the road by many and varied means and yet, no trains on Boxing Day or most weekends, an appalling bus service, (don't let Burnham fool you) and simple sensible solutions, like temporary road closures, not acted on.

Good point about the bus service. Burnham is going on about the new integrated bus service as if it is something special. The rest of Europe has had one for 50 plus years. We had one in Manchester in the 1960s and 70s. I heard him on the radio this week bragging about it. He is a total bullshitter. Our political leaders think we are all idiots. The total failure of infrastructure is blindingly obvious. We have a new 25,000 arena and 8,000 new seats and nothing has been put in place apart from a few footpaths. Not even a bloody taxi rank.

 

[East Level 2]

Because originally they lied.
M/cr City Council and Sports England promised there would be a tram to the Commonwealth Games stadium.
There was no intention of building one so no planning went into the route they chose.
Many years later it was built using the same plans that hadn't been thought through.

There must have been some limited route planning as the bridge over the tracks on Joe Mercer Way was there when the stadium opened, a mere 12 (?) years before the trams appeared.