Metrolink to / from Etihad

Our tram to the stadium ran past the incident in Carruthers Street, which was cordoned off and had several emergency service vehicles present. The air ambulance helicopter was on the grassed area between Pollard and Merrill Streets.

No delay getting to the ground but a bloody shambles afterwards. The tram from the stadium got to Holt Town and the driver announced he would not be going any further than Piccadilly. not a problem because that is where I wanted to get off. When he got to New Islington he repeated the message but added that he would be going into the opposite platform in Piccadilly and that anyone who wanted a tram to Altrincham, Bury etc should leave the tram at New Islington. That was utterly stupid as no trams run from the Etihad to Altrincham which the driver should have been aware of. The tram arrived in Piccadilly and those of us who know the ropes turned right out of the tram to cross the tracks and get to the other platform from ground level instead of funnelling up the narrow staircase to cross above the tracks.

Then there was a wait of roughly 10 minutes for the Altrincham tram an empty SINGLE unit that was overcrowded before it left, yet people still tried to get on in the Gardens and at St. Peter's Square. Metrolink was not at fault earlier on in the evening but there is no hiding the fact that they are bloody useless and not fit for purpose.
And shit like this is why I now brunt the cost of a cab from town to Alty after a midweek game. I just can’t be arsed with the shit show offered by the Met.
 
And shit like this is why I now brunt the cost of a cab from town to Alty after a midweek game. I just can’t be arsed with the shit show offered by the Met.
And that is why I do not attend Champions League and Carabao Cup matches, bad enough doing it by Metrolink for mid-week league matches.
 
Our tram to the stadium ran past the incident in Carruthers Street, which was cordoned off and had several emergency service vehicles present. The air ambulance helicopter was on the grassed area between Pollard and Merrill Streets.

No delay getting to the ground but a bloody shambles afterwards. The tram from the stadium got to Holt Town and the driver announced he would not be going any further than Piccadilly. not a problem because that is where I wanted to get off. When he got to New Islington he repeated the message but added that he would be going into the opposite platform in Piccadilly and that anyone who wanted a tram to Altrincham, Bury etc should leave the tram at New Islington. That was utterly stupid as no trams run from the Etihad to Altrincham which the driver should have been aware of. The tram arrived in Piccadilly and those of us who know the ropes turned right out of the tram to cross the tracks and get to the other platform from ground level instead of funnelling up the narrow staircase to cross above the tracks.

Then there was a wait of roughly 10 minutes for the Altrincham tram an empty SINGLE unit that was overcrowded before it left, yet people still tried to get on in the Gardens and at St. Peter's Square. Metrolink was not at fault earlier on in the evening but there is no hiding the fact that they are bloody useless and not fit for purpose.

The Single trams on the Altrincham line, possibly the busiest line on the network are a joke. IF you can get on at Picc then you are like a Sardine in a poorly ventilated tin, no chance of getting on at Cornbrook, Trafford Bar etc. This has been like this for months.

Then when you go past the Trafford Park depot there are loads of trams parked up for the night. Get them attached and run doubles, every 6 mins after the game.
 
Which must add another £20 to the cost of going to the game.
Unfortunately £30. Thankfully it looks like Tuesday is the last match of the season I’ll need to get a cab as it does get tedious, but when I need to be up early I’d rather foot the cost.

The last time I got the tram after a midweek match I was back for midnight ish. Get a cab and it’s 22:30. Big difference.
 
The Single trams on the Altrincham line, possibly the busiest line on the network are a joke. IF you can get on at Picc then you are like a Sardine in a poorly ventilated tin, no chance of getting on at Cornbrook, Trafford Bar etc. This has been like this for months.

Then when you go past the Trafford Park depot there are loads of trams parked up for the night. Get them attached and run doubles, every 6 mins after the game.

I don't know what metrolink have against Altrincham. In their infinate wisdom they decided to stop running direct trams to the stadium and back on one of the busiest routes. As the bloody tram goes into Piccadilly station anyway, how hard is it to do the few extra stops to the stadium then turn it around? Instead everyone piles off at Cornbrook to wait for an already packed tram to arrive, it's ludicrous. Surely the job of a public transport system is to get people to and from events as quickly and safely as possible? Sort out a schedule to get as many trams as possible going directly to and from the stadium in the peak two hour window before and after a game. When I asked why they stopped the direct tram from Altrincham they said it was only fair to allow other routes the same privilege so it was now the Eccles routes turn. On matchdays why can't both routes run directly?
 
Unfortunately £30. Thankfully it looks like Tuesday is the last match of the season I’ll need to get a cab as it does get tedious, but when I need to be up early I’d rather foot the cost.

The last time I got the tram after a midweek match I was back for midnight ish. Get a cab and it’s 22:30. Big difference.

Is that an Uber? I used to get a cab from Altrincham to Piccadilly station for work a few years ago and it was around £15 with passenger cars ( Who are now unfortunately useless.)
 
Is that an Uber? I used to get a cab from Altrincham to Piccadilly station for work a few years ago and it was around £15 with passenger cars ( Who are now unfortunately useless.)
Hackneys. The times I can get an Uber it has been cheaper (last one was £22), but when you throw in events at the arena it can drive up demand which means a long wait.

I tend to walk from the Etihad to Piccadilly Station, although I’ve likely flagged down a hackney at some point along the way before reaching the station.
 
But worth it to protect your sanity?

If you can afford to do so. With all the rising bills I sat down and worked out my utility costs last night. Since I took early retirement five years ago they have risen from about £250 a month to just over £450 a month. Almost double. As I'm living on a meagre navy pension until I can claim my state one to boost my income itsy really starting to bite. Thank God I have savings I can draw on otherwise I'd be forced back to work again.
 
Hackneys. The times I can get an Uber it has been cheaper (last one was £22), but when you throw in events at the arena it can drive up demand which means a long wait.

I tend to walk from the Etihad to Piccadilly Station, although I’ve likely flagged down a hackney at some point along the way before reaching the station.

Ouch black cabs are horrendously expensive. I've just started using Uber and they are great, quicker and cheaper on the whole. I'm not sure if you can book them in advance?
 
Just after full time on Wednesday whilst still waiting to get down the stairs they put up the tram times as usual...trams to Ashton due 2 minutes next one 3 minutes and then another in 5 minutes.
So 3 fucking trams that would have left before I even get out of the ground..
It's a joke..tram arrived about 10.25 and was followed by another one 2 minutes later...
It's a factor in why some fans leave early..
The buses back to Ashton are usually worse.
 
Ouch black cabs are horrendously expensive. I've just started using Uber and they are great, quicker and cheaper on the whole. I'm not sure if you can book them in advance?
I think you can, but I’m weary of the surge. I’m late twenties with no kids as a responsibility, so I’m in the privileged position where I can factor in a hackney and eat up the cost to get me back at a reasonable time after a midweek match.

If I could rely on the met to get me back at a reasonable time, I wouldn’t think twice about packing the cabs in.

Having lived in London, the tram is my biggest frustration now I’m back home. I could get back from the office on south bank to Wimbledon within 30 minutes (absolute max). Between the tube and train, I had an option every 3 to 4 minutes.

I appreciate we’re not London and don’t have the budget nor demand for round the clock transport, but you’d think we’d have the mental capacity to prioritise public events when demand is at its peak.

Manchester’s grown rapidly, but I don’t think our public transport has the capability to facilitate it.
 
I think you can, but I’m weary of the surge. I’m late twenties with no kids as a responsibility, so I’m in the privileged position where I can factor in a hackney and eat up the cost to get me back at a reasonable time after a midweek match.

If I could rely on the met to get me back at a reasonable time, I wouldn’t think twice about packing the cabs in.

Having lived in London, the tram is my biggest frustration now I’m back home. I could get back from the office on south bank to Wimbledon within 30 minutes (absolute max). Between the tube and train, I had an option every 3 to 4 minutes.

I appreciate we’re not London and don’t have the budget nor demand for round the clock transport, but you’d think we’d have the mental capacity to prioritise public events when demand is at its peak.

Manchester’s grown rapidly, but I don’t think our public transport has the capability to facilitate it.

I get you. When I was younger and on leave from the navy with plenty of cash I rarely caught public transport I just ordered cabs everywhere. Looking back if I'd saved that money my bank balance would probably be a lot healthier but you can't revisit your youth and the fun you had.

Public transport in this country is appalling. The last bus from Altrincham to my house is 22:50 at night. So any event at night as good as means I have to catch a taxi home. It's like imposing a curfew on people. They are only one an hour after 18:30 anyway surely they can schedule the last one a bit later so people can catch a bus home after a night out?
 
I think you can, but I’m weary of the surge. I’m late twenties with no kids as a responsibility, so I’m in the privileged position where I can factor in a hackney and eat up the cost to get me back at a reasonable time after a midweek match.

If I could rely on the met to get me back at a reasonable time, I wouldn’t think twice about packing the cabs in.

Having lived in London, the tram is my biggest frustration now I’m back home. I could get back from the office on south bank to Wimbledon within 30 minutes (absolute max). Between the tube and train, I had an option every 3 to 4 minutes.

I appreciate we’re not London and don’t have the budget nor demand for round the clock transport, but you’d think we’d have the mental capacity to prioritise public events when demand is at its peak.

Manchester’s grown rapidly, but I don’t think our public transport has the capability to facilitate it.
Good points especially the comparison of Manchester to London. But whoever it is that runs Metrolink wants taking down to London and learning how to run a public transport system for the benefit of its users especially where major events are concerned. Single trams to Altrincham after a match is just irresponsible on their part.
 
Good points especially the comparison of Manchester to London. But whoever it is that runs Metrolink wants taking down to London and learning how to run a public transport system for the benefit of its users especially where major events are concerned. Single trams to Altrincham after a match is just irresponsible on their part.

Hardly anything seems logical that they do. You'll often see two trams turn up almost one after another empty going to media city or Bury and leave almost empty while waiting for an Altrincham tram, which when it does turn up is instantly packed.
 
Just after full time on Wednesday whilst still waiting to get down the stairs they put up the tram times as usual...trams to Ashton due 2 minutes next one 3 minutes and then another in 5 minutes.
So 3 fucking trams that would have left before I even get out of the ground..
It's a joke..tram arrived about 10.25 and was followed by another one 2 minutes later...
It's a factor in why some fans leave early..
The buses back to Ashton are usually worse.
True. Raised this with tfgm and they basically said it’s fuck all to do with them and to contact metrolink and stagecoach.
Got be be 4/10 times there’s no bus towards Ashton after a game and it’s a long fucking walk.
You’d think they could spare a couple from all the buses going into town.
 

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