dobobobo said:
KippaxCitizen said:
Cheers. It was the Alty line. I always remember the speed they'd pick up between Dane Road and Stretford when I was a kid, it seemed snails pace last time I went on it compared.
Good point about the other lines, must have a fair impact in each other now.
Aye, it infuriated me at first because I didn't realise it was happening when the tram stopped between Old Trafford *spits* and Trafford Bar. But then a decent driver informed passengers what was going on, so I've learnt to add it on to my journey.
I too remember the days when the'd whiz between Dane Road and Stretford. I'm just guessing but, I think the drivers have been told to slow down between that link to reduce the impact it has on the rail line.
I believe the reason for the slow speed betwwen Dane Road and Stretford is because of the new trams.
They were modified for the Metrolink by raising them up from the boggies to be at the correct hight for the platforms which are in the main old railway station ones.
They were designed for street level platforms in European cities and the manufacturer told Metrolink that they would need special dampers to combat swaying a high speeds.
Metrolink declined to buy the dampers because of the cost and now any high speed running on long stretches of track leads to violent swaying of the carriages.
On the south Manchester line to Altrincham this can happen between Warwick Road (refuse to use the new name) and Stretford, between Stretford and Dane Road and also between Brooklands and Timperley. If you have never experienced it I can tell you it is quite scary.