The Trams are coming Salty!!

teamplayer2 wrote:Very true Chill37. Being undemocratic seems to be the way of Rochdale these days.

Anyway better not stray away from the subject of the trams.

Aye lets.

Wikipedia says that the Metrolink runs on standard guage track so in theory it should be able to run on normal train tracks. Though you'd need to find some way of providing electricty...

linky - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Metrolink

anexium wrote:Wikipedia says that the Metrolink runs on standard guage track so in theory it should be able to run on normal train tracks. Though you'd need to find some way of providing electricty...

linky - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Metrolink

Which is why a Rochdale-Heywood-Bury line would be cheaper to build along the A56 road.
A couple of years ago the whole of the Bury-Manchester line was lifted and new tracks were laid. Metro likes running on its own track.

Historically all except mineral lines and narrow gauge runs on standard gauge in UK.

Metro was laid originally over standard gauge trackbed as a cheap way of refurbishing an obsolescent third rail line. Trams are lower voltage than mainline electrification.

There is no reason why a diesel service could not link Bury and Rochdale - eventually batteries will be efficient enough for this to be electrified without wires.

Well I went on it today- superb stuff. I travelled all the way to Manchester, and travelled to Rochdale and back to Newhey.

Fast, clean,. friendly staff and I felt safe.

Shall be using it again this weekend.

Some very interesting comments, some well worn ones in there too. Just to clarify. Trams are light rail vehicles and as such cannot share the main line with heavy rail, tram trains excepted.

The failure because of the ‘cold’ did not affect the lines apart from the Oldham line due to an oversight that the ice breaker trams were not scheduled, these trams run through the night to free the overhead wires of ice, not frost which doesn’t cause a problem.

The fare from Rochdale Station to Victoria is cheaper on the tram, a fact STORM are questioning, journey time is approx 20 minutes longer via tram to Victoria but as I have stated ad nausium the trams cross the City and , wait for it the trains don’t.

Trams from Rochdale will eventually run to East Didsbury, and for those of a less sober mode reach 7 Wetherspoons, details on application HIC. The turn back trams at Shaw will go to the airport, giving a 6 minute frequency from Shaw to the City centre and a same platform connection to Ashton, Eccles, Altringham, Bury and the East Manchester lines. As trams are basically a street based method of rail travel a line alongside the East Lancs is not desirable not least the effect an electrified line would have on the image of a 1950’s themed heritage railway line, but hay better to be negative about things, and to my knowledge sheep and cows don’t want to go on trams which is why trams don’t stop in farmland. Tram stops are in the main closer together than train stations, this is why new tram stops are available on our line in between the old stations, so journey times are longer but at 6 minute interval and with more stops the passenger is better catered for and can still arrive at destination on time by using an earlier tram.

As for linking across country this will not happen as the system is based on the City as a hub, buses should be improved to fill this role, hang on though they do.

It was ‘hinted on local radio this morning that the Smith street stop could be opened before Christmas.

Matron had a ride into Victoria today and the trams were well loaded, I will ‘inspect’ the Wetherspoons at Shaw tomorrow afternoon, it’s a rotten job but……..!

Sorry for long reply me computer went bang and has just come out of intensive care by the lads in Castleton Computer Repairs.

The big argument though is that though the hub and spoke model is potentially okay for commuting into the city, most of the journeys people want make are circumferential.

There is no geographical sense whatsoever, if in Oldham, going all the way into Manchester to go immediately back out on the next spoke. Three times the distance and lots more time.

Airport? Change at Piccadilly - there is a five minute train service!

I'm not sure that some of the above matters very much. Train v Tram. Time v time. I thought some of the thinking behind these kinds of projects was to relieve the roads and the constant congestion theron. The more people prepared to leave the car at home (as access is improved to various areas) means less aggro all round and is per pro rata considerably more enviromentaly friendly. I think we need to 'think' in wider terms before getting to hot under the collar regarding like for like.

Oh Dear !!!

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/first-day-forget-new-metrolink-1691030

These things happen. Soon have it right.

Totally agree Atlas.

We got the train from Rochdale to Victoria a couple of Fridays back. Two return tickets were £4.10 in total. As long as the tram remains loads more than this I'll not be using it to get to Manchester.

Dalelad wrote:We got the train from Rochdale to Victoria a couple of Fridays back. Two return tickets were £4.10 in total. As long as the tram remains loads more than this I'll not be using it to get to Manchester.

It may work better for you to get to and from places, but for me its easier getting the Trams. Only 30 pence more for an off peak ticket. Or 80pence more for an all day ticket anywhere on the Tram.

Yes, for people that don't have a car/drive and don't live next door to a railway station, the trams fill the gap between the long and monotonous circular bus routes or, having to take a bus to the nearest railway station to get on a train.

Going into Mcr tomorrow on the tram from Morrisons.... beats the 182 bus route any day!

Hurrah for the trams then -!

johnb wrote:The big argument though is that though the hub and spoke model is potentially okay for commuting into the city, most of the journeys people want make are circumferential.

There is no geographical sense whatsoever, if in Oldham, going all the way into Manchester to go immediately back out on the next spoke. Three times the distance and lots more time.

Airport? Change at Piccadilly - there is a five minute train service!

Why do I feel nothing short of a small controlled explosion would get some people out of their cars and onto public transport? Here’s an idea convert the M66 into a circle line for the trams.

‘most people’ get on which ever mode of transport gets them to where they want to be as cheap and quick as possible. I know this may surprise some but the trams meet the needs of those folk who are silly enough not to live at the end of a ‘spoke’ and may not be so parochial.

By the way Rochdale to Airport train to Salford Crescent then one to the Airport is the best way, especially with luggage.

Real world:

People have to travel to get to their places of employment by a given time and planners have seen to it that such places of employment are ill served by public transport.

Most pele would love to use public transport if it did not cost them twice as much and take twice as long - and don't cloud the issue by including fixed costs of car ownership because most people would still run their cars whether they commuted or not.

Maybe there is a downside to taking the tram, there are no toilets! according to one drunk who protested loudly about the lack of this facility on my return journey from Mcr today.....

I tried to check the price to Rochdale today by tram, but the official Metrolink site fare checker did not have Rochdale or any of the other new stops in the drop down option box. They have had plenty of time to get the systems ready, and still miss fairly obvious details. Some other pages, for the ticket purchase do seem to have been updated.

I could now get the tram to work, but for a 9 mile journey it would cost £4.50 single or £6.70 return. I would have a 5 minute and 10 minute walks at the journey ends. Not great value, but an option. Some days I need to drive to go to other sites, or to go to activities after work, so would still have to pay monthly parking etc. Not happy taking laptop on packed public transport either.

I doubt it will be packed at those prices...

johnb wrote:I doubt it will be packed at those prices...

I beg to differ.

I used the Tram today. Tram back to Rochdale, not to mention towards Manchester, was standing room only at some points.

Have you actually used the Tram yet John B?

If you have to stand, you should get a refund on the ticket. All this standing up in trains and trams is not on.

I have used the tram twice in the last 3 weeks for journeys into Manchester, on the return journey on both trips the trams were absolutely packed and standing room only....

cyfrifia wrote:If you have to stand, you should get a refund on the ticket. All this standing up in trains and trams is not on.

Thats my only gripe. Theres not enough seats on the Trams. Maybe double units at peak times/during the day.