Metrolink to / from Etihad

[Northerndave]

Hmmm 48000 people leaving a stadium. One station. Now I wonder why there are queues. Instead of waiting for your Royal Quadruple Tram with your velvet cushioned seat, here's an idea, If youre able bodied, walk into town. By the time you do the trams are less full and you'll have done yourself some good.

Not with single units serving most of South Manchester, all Metrolink are doing at the moment is moving the congestion further down the line.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Not with single units serving most of South Manchester, all Metrolink are doing at the moment is moving the congestion further down the line.

Honestly never had a problem.

 

[Northerndave]

Honestly never had a problem.

You''re not a Tram driver are you ? :)

 

[andyhinch]

Hmmm 48000 people leaving a stadium. One station. Now I wonder why there are queues. Instead of waiting for your Royal Quadruple Tram with your velvet cushioned seat, here's an idea, If youre able bodied, walk into town. By the time you do the trams are less full and you'll have done yourself some good.

It’s a bit of a problem for those of us who aren’t mind.

 

[dawlish dave]

Tue night tram I was on ran to Picc station and terminated in the Ashton direction platform take it then returned to Etihad Campus .If this becomes a regular service after the match it shows somone is taking note and trying to clear the queues at the Campus tram stop,

 

[chesterbells]

Not always the case. I walked back to Piccadilly in the rain against Wolves, took me 4 trams to get back to Altrincham from there. ALL PACKED!! And I was lucky at Trafford bar waiting for the last leg, I only just got on one (Single Tram).

Never again......

If you’d walked to town, better off getting the train to Alty I reckon, honestly.

 

[chesterbells]

Tue night tram I was on ran to Picc station and terminated in the Ashton direction platform take it then returned to Etihad Campus .If this becomes a regular service after the match it shows somone is taking note and trying to clear the queues at the Campus tram stop,

Sounds a sensible move that.

 

[andyhinch]

Honestly never had a problem.

Assume you’ve never used it then ?

 

[blue b4 the moon]

First time on the tram for ages on Tuesday, well when I say on the tram I should say 'sort of' on the tram.

Bought a day saver, tram into St. Peter's Sq mid afternoon for a few scoops, walked with mate from that area to the ground as it's always heaving, after the game walked to Central Park to pick up the tram home....It was warm, dry and I'm fit enough to do the walking luckily.

So, had a day saver and only fit for purpose on 2 of the 4 trams I should have been able to catch. Both trams I caught arrived within 3 mins of me arriving which was a positive.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

as i dont live in manchester, could you not send emails to the people who run the show, if plenty do it, it might give them a kick up the arse and do something about it

Sadly the infrastructure is just not fit for purpose so they struggle to handle the sudden need of thousands of fans after the game, and Covid has just made it worse. Trams going to/from the Etihad have one line in and out so get stuck near Piccadilly and city centre. No point in keep complaining as they know already. The engineering works and depot are a 2 mile walk away at Queens Rd but to get one from there to the ground to help move fans would take the best part of an hour.

It’s a pity they can’t spur a tram line from Asda up ATW to the Rochdale line as that would allow spare trams to get from the depot to the ground much quicker. Too expensive though just for the occasional need. A new stop is/was mooted to be built at Sandhills/Collyhurst for both the Bury and Rochdale lines, which would be 1.5 miles walk, but not a nice walk.

 

[Gray]

The single units back to Altrincham are just crazy. They shuttle people back from the Etihad on trams bound for Bury, Eccles and Trafford Bar. The Altrincham bound passengers leave these trams mainly at Piccadilly, but also at other stops up to Trafford Bar.

Then an empty single unit arrives from the turn-round track just beyond Piccadilly and it is rammed full before it even sets off.

Metrolink must be aware of the problem but the fact they do nothing to rectify it is gross misconduct on their part. We have a Covid epidemic on our hands and not everybody is wearing a mask, there is also the possibility that if they don’t act somebody Is eventually going to get crushed.

 

[Gray]

I have this morning written to Metrolink about the single units back to Altrincham, I expect nothing but waffle as a response.

Next step will be the Mayor for Greater Manchester who I have tried previously and got a generic response. Third step will be my MP who I expect will be the only one to show any concern at all.

 

[staffsblue]

The single units back to Altrincham are just crazy. They shuttle people back from the Etihad on trams bound for Bury, Eccles and Trafford Bar. The Altrincham bound passengers leave these trams mainly at Piccadilly, but also at other stops up to Trafford Bar.

Then an empty single unit arrives from the turn-round track just beyond Piccadilly and it is rammed full before it even sets off.

Metrolink must be aware of the problem but the fact they do nothing to rectify it is gross misconduct on their part. We have a Covid epidemic on our hands and not everybody is wearing a mask, there is also the possibility that if they don’t act somebody Is eventually going to get crushed.

The problem with evening games & Alty seem to be that the Bury - Alty direct service stops running after the evening peak meaning service frequency drops from every 6 to every 12 minutes from St Peters Square onwards. The former all seem to be double sets too.
Depending on set availability, they could switch the double sets from Alty to Piccadilly rather than Alty to Bury on match days.
I guess the issue at the moment is the Xmas markets which makes everything busy throughout the day.

 

[Gray]

I have this morning written to Metrolink about the single units back to Altrincham, I expect nothing but waffle as a response.

Their response:-

Good afternoon

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry that you have had to contact us to complain about the service after a football event

Currently due to the Delta and Omicron Virus we are unable to staff the services that are required for special events, same as transport companies and the HGV Industry. During the height of the epidemic we were not able to recruit for new Drivers as Governmental restrictions prevented us from doing so. It is quite a lengthy process to recruit drivers

A Manchester City Match requires 113 vehicles to provide double units on the Eccles – Ashton Route and the standard contractual Timetable. This is without any “Special” services in addition to the Double units on the Ashton Line. Unfortunately due to the Timetable, logistics and infrastructure we are not able to increase the frequency or put any more vehicles out on any other lines to help with capacity issues.

Unfortunately we cannot stop people from boarding the Trams , it is an open Network, and it is the individuals choice whether they board the tram or not.
If the individual feels it is not safe to board the Tram then there is always the option to wait for a service that is less busy.

We are acutely aware of the issues and are working to rectify this as are all other industries. Due to vandalism and other factors there are circa 10 % of the vehicle fleet not available for service, we are also low on workshop staff as they are being hit with Covid

There is never any intention to delay or cause inconveniences to our fare paying passengers as we have nothing to gain by doing so.
Again thank you for contacting Metrolink customer services

Regards

Martine Lunn

Customer Services

My query was in regards to not using double units it never said anything about staffing. If they had no staff then we wouldn't have even got a single unit, is it any wonder we get pissed off with Metrolink. Also this problem was happening long before they had Covid to fall back on as an excuse, they are a pathetic company.

 

[Bluearmy]

If you’d walked to town, better off getting the train to Alty I reckon, honestly.

Yeah, might be worth another try. Its patchy service wise also at times. Last time i tried, it got cancelled and then there’s an hours wait for the next one/packed/bus replacement.

 

[Blue Mist]

Hmmm 48000 people leaving a stadium. One station. Now I wonder why there are queues. Instead of waiting for your Royal Quadruple Tram with your velvet cushioned seat, here's an idea, If youre able bodied, walk into town. By the time you do the trams are less full and you'll have done yourself some good.

That is always given as the answer BUT it is wrong. I walk into town and go to Piccadilly, here I am joined by people coming from the ground and we ALL wait for the single unit tram to Altrincham. By the time it is at Piccadilly Gardens it is rammed, so all the theatre goers, shoppers, boozers AND match going fans who try to get on at other stations can't.
They have been allowed to expand way beyond what they are capable of servicing. It is a shit show.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Their response:-

Good afternoon

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry that you have had to contact us to complain about the service after a football event

Currently due to the Delta and Omicron Virus we are unable to staff the services that are required for special events, same as transport companies and the HGV Industry. During the height of the epidemic we were not able to recruit for new Drivers as Governmental restrictions prevented us from doing so. It is quite a lengthy process to recruit drivers

A Manchester City Match requires 113 vehicles to provide double units on the Eccles – Ashton Route and the standard contractual Timetable. This is without any “Special” services in addition to the Double units on the Ashton Line. Unfortunately due to the Timetable, logistics and infrastructure we are not able to increase the frequency or put any more vehicles out on any other lines to help with capacity issues.

Unfortunately we cannot stop people from boarding the Trams , it is an open Network, and it is the individuals choice whether they board the tram or not.
If the individual feels it is not safe to board the Tram then there is always the option to wait for a service that is less busy.

We are acutely aware of the issues and are working to rectify this as are all other industries. Due to vandalism and other factors there are circa 10 % of the vehicle fleet not available for service, we are also low on workshop staff as they are being hit with Covid

There is never any intention to delay or cause inconveniences to our fare paying passengers as we have nothing to gain by doing so.
Again thank you for contacting Metrolink customer services

Regards

Martine Lunn

Customer Services

My query was in regards to not using double units it never said anything about staffing. If they had no staff then we wouldn't have even got a single unit, is it any wonder we get pissed off with Metrolink. Also this problem was happening long before they had Covid to fall back on as an excuse, they are a pathetic company.

Fair play to them for replying so quickly, but it seems like they’ve not read your email.

Surely a double Met only needs the same number of drivers as a single unit?

 

[GaudinoMotors]

That is always given as the answer BUT it is wrong. I walk into town and go to Piccadilly, here I am joined by people coming from the ground and we ALL wait for the single unit tram to Altrincham. By the time it is at Piccadilly Gardens it is rammed, so all the theatre goers, shoppers, boozers AND match going fans who try to get on at other stations can't.
They have been allowed to expand way beyond what they are capable of servicing. It is a shit show.

Walk to St Peter's. Can't speak for the Altrinchan line, but works for Didsbury.

 

[chesterbells]

Yeah, might be worth another try. Its patchy service wise also at times. Last time i tried, it got cancelled and then there’s an hours wait for the next one/packed/bus replacement.

I know what you mean pal - quite a few services were cancelled today (staff shortages).

 

[Blue Mist]

Walk to St Peter's. Can't speak for the Altrinchan line, but works for Didsbury.

Eh ? I stared quite clearly that by the time the Alty tram gets to St Peters Sq it is rammed and people can't get on. It is an utter joke. The Met was allowed to expand without showing how it could cope with the extra lines. They are still looking to open more routes, it is a political farce.