Metrolink to / from Etihad

Gray said:
Went on the 1pm train from Navigation Road to Picadilly then tram to the stadium. Worked a treat absolute doddle.

Coming back was a bloody nightmare.

No sign of the replacement bus back to Old Trafford so gave up at 17:45 and headed to the station to catch the 18:10 Chester train. This train was due in to Navigation Road at 18:38. It eventually got there at 19:12 after stopping three times due to running over debris and having to get it checked out by an engineer.

So got home about two and a half hours after the game ended, the Fulham fans would have got back to London quicker.
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I was on that train. Absolutely awful it was.
 
Found out about the Metro this morning, took the decision that I really could not be arsed with the hassle of travel , particularly the return journey back on the Alty line. Shame as I was planning on attending the pregame at the co op and my ST seat was left empty today. It's never a coincidence that weekend closures of Metrolink and the Mancunian Way are always scheduled when we are at home.
 
I took the bus today for the first time from Hale. I wasn't sure how long the delay would take on the Metro with all the nonsense at Cornbrook and beyond, so I took the alternative option and, well, it was very pleasant.

It was so much more comfortable. Seats that didn't leave me wriggling in pain after 20 minutes, and not being squeezed in like a sardine were definate plus points.

I'll be using the service again at the next game. There was absolutely nothing to dislike, unlike the Metrolink.
 
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bluesmith said:
Rugby league grand final and Manchester half marathon
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Well why not incomvenience them instead of City fans, or better still wait until the Rags have a home game.

Where were the replacement buses after the game? They should have been lined up ready to go. The only one that came while I waited was going to Eccles, about a dozen people got on. Those of us who wanted the Olt Toilet bus were just left stood about like spare you know whats at a wedding.
 
NPBlue said:
I took the bus today for the first time from Hale. I wasn't sure how long the delay would take on the Metro with all the nonsense at Cornbrook and beyond, so I took the alternative option and, well, it was very pleasant.

It was so much more comfortable. Seats that didn't leave me wriggling in pain after 20 minutes, and not being squeezed in like a sardine were definate plus points.

I'll be using the service again at the next game. There was absolutely nothing to dislike, unlike the Metrolink.
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I caught it for the second time yesterday, a great service. It was more packed due to Cornbrook station being closed.
The only disappointment was the driver was late picking up in Altrincham by a good 25 minutes. I had a chance to talk to him after the game and apparently he'd had to drive the bus from Eccles to Hale and got caught in lots of traffic. Maybe something tfgm need to.look at, having a more local bus ready to go on match days?

Coming back went a lot more quickly than my first time where I was dropped off at the Cheshire cheese on Manchester road at 18:50. This time it was at 18:15 which was really good considering we don't leave the stadium until 17:25. I had a couple of nice chats to the blokes sitting next to me there and back. Hopefully your ears aren't still ringing lol.
 
Gray said:
Well why not incomvenience them instead of City fans, or better still wait until the Rags have a home game.

Where were the replacement buses after the game? They should have been lined up ready to go. The only one that came while I waited was going to Eccles, about a dozen people got on. Those of us who wanted the Olt Toilet bus were just left stood about like spare you know whats at a wedding.
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You see I tell everyone Eccles is the best place to live. They give us replacement transport. :-) ;-)



Sorry not making light of your travels and travails. Just my weird humour. @jimharri will ban me for you. ;-) :-)
 
Eccles Blue said:
You see I tell everyone Eccles is the best place to live. They give us replacement transport. :-) ;-)



Sorry not making light of your travels and travails. Just my weird humour. @jimharri will ban me for you. ;-) :-)
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Hope you got on ok yesterday Eccles blue?

I was planning on getting the 1.47 train to Piccadilly and picking the tram up there. But when that was cancelled as well as all the trams, I thought it could be problems.

But jumped on the 67 bus, which drops off right outside Victoria station and there seemed to be a plentiful supply of double trams straight to the ground from there. So worked out really well in the end. For me at least.
 
Passengers will be able to seamlessly pay-as-you-go on buses and trams from March 23 next year, it’s been confirmed.

The move means passengers can use their phone or contactless bank card on either a tram or bus, and be charged for one ‘multi-modal’ ticket, capped at £9.50 for unlimited travel within Greater Manchester for a day.

There will be off-peak discounts for journeys starting after 9:30am, with a lower £7.80 cap for all-Greater Manchester travel. By the time the new ticket system comes in, all of the region’s buses will be under public control.
 
I drive down Ashton New Road after the game and there is typically 1 or 2 trams going towards the ground, you would think there would be at least 4 or 5? It takes me about 30-40 mins before I get to the Snipe, so that 1 every 15-20 mins?
 
birchvillablue said:
I drive down Ashton New Road after the game and there is typically 1 or 2 trams going towards the ground, you would think there would be at least 4 or 5? It takes me about 30-40 mins before I get to the Snipe, so that 1 every 15-20 mins?
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out of interest where are you parking? I'm fucking the tram off.........
 
The Metro is reliably unreliable almost every day.

Our matches/opponents are known well in advance which in any other world would allow maximum capacity/flexibility to be in place.

The fact that it's not is disgraceful and a should be a resignation matter for Burnham.

Our Metro is an international laughing stock that brings ridicule on our fine city and club.
 
paulchapo said:
I caught it for the second time yesterday, a great service. It was more packed due to Cornbrook station being closed.
The only disappointment was the driver was late picking up in Altrincham by a good 25 minutes. I had a chance to talk to him after the game and apparently he'd had to drive the bus from Eccles to Hale and got caught in lots of traffic. Maybe something tfgm need to.look at, having a more local bus ready to go on match days?

Coming back went a lot more quickly than my first time where I was dropped off at the Cheshire cheese on Manchester road at 18:50. This time it was at 18:15 which was really good considering we don't leave the stadium until 17:25. I had a couple of nice chats to the blokes sitting next to me there and back. Hopefully your ears aren't still ringing lol.
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Hale is always snarled up with traffic at the scheduled time the bus is due to depart because the level crossing is usually closed for most of the time between 45 minutes past the hour and on the hour, to allow the trains to and from Chester to pass through.

It would make more sense to move the departure time in Hale from 12.48 to 13.05 after all the traffic has disappeared, becsause it just isn't realistic to expect the bus to depart at it's scheduled time, so maybe it is something the traffic planners ought to consider.

On Saturday, we had to wait after the passenger trains had passed through for an additional 5 minutes to allow a freight train to trundle past on it's way from the Chester direction.

The problem in Hale stems from trains coming from Chester. The last signal before Hale is at Ashley station, and the signal there can't turn green until the crossing gates are shut, meaning a 5 minute wait at the level crossing, and 10 minutes before the train from Chester arrives, the train to Chester arrives, hence the delays.

Anyway, as I said, I found it a much more pleasurable experience than travelling on the Metro, and as for my ears, I've had tinnitus for the last couple of decades or so, so yes, they are ringing, and they always will, but I don't hold you responsible for that!
 
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