Eccles Line suspended after a tram derails (update)

The Eccles line was suspended completely from Tuesday evening after a tram reversing became derailed over a set of points and damaged the overhead lines. 40 people were on the tram at the time but no major injuries were recorded.

Services to the Eccles branch were restored on Wednesday but the new MediaCityUK stop is currently closed until future notice due to the damaged overheads.

Not the best start to the new extension.

The system came into use some two weeks later but was suspended again after a safety incident. The Line reopened a few weeks later again operating as an extension to the Eccles line.

MediaCityUK Opens

Monday 20th September saw the opening of the first extension of Manchester's Metrolink system phase 3. The short 0.25 mile (0.4KM) spur on the Eccles Line was brought into use in the early morning meaning that all Eccles - Piccadilly trams are now diverted to serve the new station meaning drivers have to change end. There is a plan to run a shuttle service from Cornbrook to MediaCityUK in the peaks but currently this isn't the case. Part of the reason for this is the fact the new TOS system isn't currently live meaning the points to MediaCityUK are currently manually changed.

Still this is a good sign of progress and the first of many opening for Metrolink in the coming years.

Trams serve the station every 12mins from 0723 until 1959.