Metrolink to go to Rochdale and Oldham

[jackandyclare1]

Pacers don't take 25 minutes to get from Hollinwood to Werneth, I'm not taking it literally right but if they did take 25 minutes and Sprinters take just under 3 minutes then they would have to do a new timetable which had a slot for Pacers. They don't do the timetable to suit the train, they don't know what train Northern are gonna put on, they all take the same amount of time, give or take a few seconds. Class 142's have 2 460 bhp engines and Class 156's have 2 285 bhp engines according to Wikipedia. And Pacers are lighter. It doesn't take pacers 25 minutes to get from Hollinwood to Werneth. Infact if someone got on a 142 and a 156 at Hollinwood and timed the journey, they would probably find that the Pacers are quicker.

[daveannjon]

Bit of a misunderstanding - I didn't say all Pacers take 25 minutes - it's been reported on the Northern Rail forum by Northern employees that there have been occasions of poor railhead conditions when it has taken 25 minutes for a Pacer to get up Werneth Bank.

Cheers
DaveW

[bdy26]

I don't know if the oldham / rochdale conversion was contingent on Thursday's referendum outcome?

My daily commute is Altrincham to Piccadilly Gardens, and the idea of running more services into the centre via cornbrook worries me. There doesn't seem to be the capacity as it stands, units frequently (50% ish) get caught outside Cornbrook ("stuck at Signal 131" has its own radio code), so add in new traffic from Didsbury connecting at Old Trafford is going to be an issue. I would think that running additional traffic into Victoria too is going to create a bottleneck somewhere on the system, whether that is at Victoria, or more likely Picc Gardens.

[daveannjon]

How right you are! In addition to the Oldham line which is going ahead without TIF, there will be the Chorlton/Didsbury line that's being worked on now, the additional services to Salford Quays Media City and the Droylsden line, all using the same city centre line, could be chaotic. There is talk of a second city centre crossing but this will be the most difficult and expensive extension of the lot. GMPTE, don't you just love 'em

The Oldham Loop closes next autumn for two years for conversion.

DaveW

[jackandyclare1]

Sorry about that mate. I have seen pacers come past going really slow on bad weather days. When they power up, they wheelspin so they have to power down and start over again. That's why when they come past at 5 mph constantly powering up and then powering down, they go at snails pace.

[slipdigby]

I don't know if the oldham / rochdale conversion was contingent on Thursday's referendum outcome?

My daily commute is Altrincham to Piccadilly Gardens, and the idea of running more services into the centre via cornbrook worries me. There doesn't seem to be the capacity as it stands, units frequently (50% ish) get caught outside Cornbrook ("stuck at Signal 131" has its own radio code), so add in new traffic from Didsbury connecting at Old Trafford is going to be an issue. I would think that running additional traffic into Victoria too is going to create a bottleneck somewhere on the system, whether that is at Victoria, or more likely Picc Gardens.

The Cornbrook viaduct is going over to "on sight" operation (against colour light signalled) along with most of the remainder of the network from 2009 I believe. This should allow a very considerable boost in theoretical capacity.

The second city crossing via Cross St was dependent upon TIF being cleared, but as we all know how that transpired

Regards,
Slip

[jackandyclare1]

Does anyone here know when the Loop Line is closing, I don't want it to close to heavy rail vehicles but it would be good to know when abouts because they said they were closing it several months back and they havent yet so, I dont know, thanks anyway

[daveannjon]

Does anyone here know when the Loop Line is closing, I don't want it to close to heavy rail vehicles but it would be good to know when abouts because they said they were closing it several months back and they havent yet so, I dont know, thanks anyway

Stated as 3 October 2009 at the moment, hopefully there will be some specials to mark it.

Cheers
DaveW

[jackandyclare1]

Ah right, thanks a lot

[andyw823]

The Manchester Metrolink is to be extended to Rochdale and Oldham. But i don't see the point in it because there is a good enough train service that uses the line already and it is just a complete waste of money. Why they want to change it to light rail, is completely stupid. What are everyone elses opinions on this?

Matt C

I agree it is a waste, now that the congestion charged has been voted out the tram will only operate the oldham loop like the the current pacers/sprinters, they wont be routed thorugh oldham and rochdale town centres. Even though im a driver i use the line alot for going to and from manchester on nights out ect (80p return bargain) Once the line does close there will be a minimum 3 year wait for services to return which means me either driving into manchester or getting the bus at a rip off charge of over £2 one way.

[daveannjon]

Yes it's a waste, but GMPTE are fixated with Metrolink. Electrifying Shaw to Rochdale is barmy. A pretty good service could be provided with heavy rail for a fraction of the investment going into Metrolink.

DaveW

[model321]

Is there any organisations against the conversion of the Oldham Loop to Metrolink?

Matt C

[andyw823]

Also the current trams are nearly as old as the sprinters

[jackandyclare1]

Did anyone see that special that went up the loop line last Saturday, what a sight that was. Bleeding pity it was dark outside, you could still count the carriages though, it had 12, and it didn't half make a racket, still, a good racket at that though, it must be said

[rowan826]

Oldham has population of 103,544 (info from Wikipedia). It will be one of two towns over 100,000 people without a railway station (the other is West Bromwich).