Atomic Systems

i was at Manchester yesterday and used the Metrolink. Why have they resorted back to the pre 1998 practice of off loading passengers on one platform at Picc. Driving into the sidings changing ends and driving back into the other platform to pick up passengers wouldn't it be quicker to operate the way they did between 1998 and 2003 where Altrincham/ Eccles trams went on one platform and Bury trams went on the other. that way the driver can change ends while passengers get on/ off instead of this outdated practice.

The only reasons I can think of is to reduce usage of the crossover on London Road, and to allow passengers to get to Piccadilly Gardens without guessing which tram is going to leave first

Cheers
Slip

Ultimately, of course, the Piccadilly Metrolink Terminus will be a through station with the other direction being the line to Ashton. If you go under the viaduct at Fairfield Road and take the first left on the 'backside' (so to speak) of the station, and walk up that side you can actually see the arches from which the Metrolink will emerge one day...

My point being that when it IS a through station, you would want to run in from the Gardens on one line and run back out again on the other.

missed you then lol, im at manchester for this week, and like to run around the trams alot!

ive noticed the annoying practices, and what i dont like is when half the blasted escolators stop working!

best places to sit:
-Behind the driver at the front
-In the middle!

slipdigby wrote:The only reasons I can think of is to reduce usage of the crossover on London Road, and to allow passengers to get to Piccadilly Gardens without guessing which tram is going to leave first :

The reason the crossover was installed was to put an end to the practice as described in the first post, but i suppose that they reverted back to the old ways to prevent drivers being distrackted by passengers asking whether they're on the right tram when they change ends at piccadilly.

from what i gather it's because the met is getting busier so it simply wouldn't be safe to have so many passengers going in opposite directions. i think it also simplifies things somewhat.