Home | Metrolink Introduction | Oldham and Rochdale Line: updated 8 December 2011
See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, Deansgate–Castlefield and the lines between them.
The Oldham loop line’s last trains ran on Saturday 3 October 2009; this 22.5 kilometre line is now being converted to Metrolink. Rail services continue on the Calder Valley line between Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds.
Metrolink services between Manchester and Oldham Mumps temporary stop are expected to start during 2012, onwards to Rochdale some months later.
In early March 2009 two detailed passenger surveys indicated the number of people using the loop line and journeys made. Bus operator First Manchester has made significant enhancements to the commercial network. GMPTE has also modified its subsidised services. Normal bus fares apply on all the services; single journey, day, week and month tickets are available.
The existing Metrolink line is shown light green on the diagram, phase 3a extension is shown purple, phase 3b extensions are shown in orange. The main line railway is shown blue. At some future date, a railway station may be provided at Central Park.
Manchester to Oldham
At Irk Valley Junction, about 1.8 kilometres from Victoria Station and near the Metrolink depot, this line branches off the Bury line. It will then run over the Smedley viaduct and the eastern half of the Cheetham Hill loop line. A connection has been built from the Depot towards Monsall.
Monsall, the first new stop, will have two side platforms and be in the existing railway cutting to the west of Jocelyn Street. There will be two foot paths from Monsall Street to the outbound platform; a ramped one from near the junction with Rushwick Avenue, also a stepped one from a point east of the end of Lathbury Road. From Ruislip Avenue steps and a lift will give access to the inbound platform. Cycle hoops and lockers are proposed at this entrance. Ramps from platforms and a track level pedestrian crossing will be provided at the east end of the stop.
Central Park stop, approximately midway between Monsall and Newton Heath & Moston, is part of The Gateway a new entrance from Oldham Road to phase one of the business park. An impressive structure with a feature canopy has been built for the stop, it is to the north the railway line and on the west side of the road. Bus interchange facilities are also included. Stairs and a lift are provided between both side platforms and ground level. Ramps from platforms and a track level pedestrian crossing will be provided at the west end of the stop.
Oldham Road, the rail and future Metrolink lines are at similar levels. The pedestrian route passes under both lines before rising again, towards Northampton Road. There is a steeper dive and rise for the roadway.
In the 320 metres between The Gateway and Thorp Road a new concrete bridge has been built to carry Metrolink. A central load bearing ‘fin’ along the top which supports this bridge; together with the twisting design enables it to pass over the railway and then quickly drop to go through a disused bridge under Thorp Road. Metrolink tracks will then run alongside the railway towards Dean Lane.
At Newton Heath and Moston stop, formerly Dean Lane, the Manchester bound track and platform will be upgraded for Metrolink use — similar to Navigation Road on the Altrincham Line. A foot path will be provided, this splits into a long all ramped part and shorter part with some steps. Cycle hoops are proposed at the road level. Double track running resumes beyond the stop.
Freight trains will use the former Oldham bound track for access to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Depot.
Failsworth stop will have two new side platforms, both having steps and a lift from street to platform level. A ramp behind each platform will give access to a foot track level crossing at the north end of the stop. The old railway platforms have been removed and the former subway filled in.
Hollinwood stop will have a stairway and lift from Hudson Street to each side platform. Bollards across this street will fixed near the outbound stairway and removable near the inbound stairway. An up to 120 space car park is proposed on a site opposite the end of Railway Road and near the inbound stairway. This stop will be close to junction 22 on the M60. Ramps from the platforms to a track level foot crossing will be provided at the north end of the stop. These will also connect with the existing shared use pedestrian/cycle path at the south end of the bridge over Hollinwood Avenue and the M60. Cycle lockers and hoops are proposed adjacent to this point. The former station access and underpass will be removed.
South Chadderton will be between Drury Lane and Stanley Road. The embankment has been lowered here and the subway removed. A footpath, which passed through the subway, will be diverted slightly to the pedestrian track crossing at the stop. Located close to ground level, on the Manchester side of the former subway, both side platforms will have access ramps and steps linking to the pedestrian track crossing and surrounding footpaths.
Freehold at Block Lane will be a new two side platforms stop. The outbound platform will be on the north–west side of the line, west of Block Lane and parallel with Agnes Street. Access will be from Robinson Street, cycle hoops and lockers are proposed here. A new footbridge over Block Lane on this side of the line and track level foot crossing will link the platforms. The inbound platform on the south–east side of the line will be east of Block Lane. Both platforms will have stairway and lift access from ground to track level foot crossing/bridge level. A ramp and steps will connect this level to each platform. A car park is also proposed east of Block Lane and north of Ridings Way.
Rail Route, phase 3a
The railway line through Werneth station site, tunnels and south of Oldham Way is being converted to Metrolink. Track, infrastructure, Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), and tram stops works are now substantially complete to Oldham Mumps temporary stop. A Metrolink stop will not be built at Werneth, historically the former station had low passenger numbers.
At Mumps a temporary island platform stop has been built between the footbridge (over Oldham Way and the tracks) and the old Mumps Station site. At the Manchester end it will have a ramp down to an outbound track level crossing to steps and a ramped path to the Oldham Way pavement; this will be the main entrance during the continuing construction period. The Rochdale end will have a ramp down to track level crossings to both existing hard standing area alongside Oldham Way and footpath to the south of the line. A trailing crossover and part of the outbound line will form a turnback siding at the Rochdale end. Trams are expected to start running to this stop in 2012.
The northern bridge over Mumps roundabout was demolished during the August 2010 Bank Holiday weekend. By late November 2010 most of the viaduct stonework and earth fill has been removed; both from north of the northern bridge and almost to the southern bridge. The southern bridge was removed on 22/23 January 2011.
Prince Street, a new link road from the junction of Union and Yorkshire Streets to Oldham Way, has been built. It runs along the western edge of the car park and interchange site; it is now open to vehicular traffic but pedestrian access will only be available when Mumps stop opens in 2012.
Mumps roundabout is being removed, Oldham Way (A62) will be extended across the site to Bottom O’ Th’ Moor. There will be a new signal controlled ‘T’ junction with Lees Road. Phase 3a will have a ground level crossing of this junction. Stage works are using the southern and eastern section of the former roundabout while construction takes place.
Oldham town centre line, phase 3b
This begins at the bridge under Featherstall Road South. Leaving the phase 3a alignment the route turns northward and passes through the car wash site, east of two buildings on Featherstall Road South then over a signal controlled crossing of West Street. East of the line, a new entrance to Westwood Business Park will be made from West Street. The route passes over a cleared space just to the west of Greenwood Builders then through open ground, turning eastward as it passes to the west then north of a covered reservoir, to run parallel with and along the south side of Middleton Road.
Westwood stop will have 2 side platforms west of Winterbottom Street. There will be steps from each platform to track level foot crossings at both ends of the stop. The outbound platform, adjacent to Middleton Road, will also have a ramp towards the western track crossing; also the inbound platform will have ramps towards both track crossings. After crossing Winterbottom Street at a signal controlled junction, the line will turn south to run alongside the Oldham Way slip road.
At Manchester Street roundabout the underpasses will be taken out of use. A surface level pedestrian route will have signalled road and Metrolink crossings. Two new road traffic lanes for eastbound road traffic from Manchester Street to Oldham Way and the pedestrian route will pass through the centre section under the flyover. Metrolink will pass through the section to the north of centre and it will also have signalled road crossings.
From Manchester Street roundabout the line will run through a cutting across an elevated area, previously occupied by The Pennine Way Hotel, before passing under John Street. Car park access arrangements will be modified, enabling the route to reach King Street stop.
After crossing King Street trams will run along Union Street, sharing with road traffic till the junction with Peter & Hobson Streets. Between that junction and Clegg Street it is tram only with an island platform Oldham Central stop which will have a ramp at both ends. East of Clegg Street there is sharing with road traffic till the new link road.
Crossing this link road the track curves slightly southward using the present car park and bus stop bays which are just south of Yorkshire Street. Mumps stop will be just east of the link road with side platforms; then east of the platforms there will be three saw tooth bus stop bays on each side of the track. The track to the east of the bus stops will curve round to the left taking over the route between Bell and Brook Streets. There will be a Park and Ride facility on the land south of the line and north of Oldham Way providing an efficient and convenient tram/bus/car interchange.
The phase 3a route will close when phase 3b is opens in Spring 2014.
Oldham to Rochdale
Derker stop will be to the south of Yates Street. The inbound platform will have a DDA compliant ramp from Yates Street. The outbound platform will have a lift and stairs from Yates Street; cycle stands and lockers will be at the upper level. Ramps will be provided from both platforms to a foot track level crossing at the south end of the stop. Former rail station entrances will be closed. A site has been identified for an up to 80 space car park on the east side of Shaw Road and north of Yates Street.
A new Shaw and Crompton stop will be built to the south of Beal Lane. Road traffic and tram signals will be provided for the level crossing. Platforms will have ramps from pavement level. A single faced outbound platform will be on the west side of the line. The double sided inbound platform will be on the east side of the line, its western face for through trams and eastern face for terminating trams which will not cross Beal Lane. A remodelled car park will provide 52 ordinary and 4 mobility standard spaces. There will also be 5 cycle lockers and 5 ‘Sheffield style’ cycle stands to accommodate 10 bicycles, providing parking for 15 bicycles.
The railway line between Shaw and Rochdale was single track, Metrolink will be double track.
Newhey stop will have two side platforms to the south–east of Huddersfield Road. The outbound (Rochdale) platform ramped path will have a folded back route, with some steps shortening it. Cycle hoops and lockers are proposed at road level of the inbound platform ramped and stepped paths
Milnrow stop will have two side platforms. The outbound (Rochdale) platform will have a ramped path to Elizabethan Way also a stepped path to the southern end of Harbour Lane North. The inbound platform will have a stepped path to the north–western end of the existing path between Harbour Lane North and car park. Both platforms will have a ramp down a track foot crossing at the south–eastern/car park end. The inbound platform will also have a short stepped path. Cycle hoops and lockers are proposed between ramp and car park.
Kingsway Business Park stop will serve this large scale development. A funding package has now been agreed and the stop will be provided as part of phase 3a.
For Newbold the embankment between Kingsway and Milnrow Road will be altered so this stop is near ground level alongside the Morrisons supermarket car park. A new foot path from Kingsway will run alongside the outbound (Rochdale) track; which will have foot level crossings to ramps at both ends of an island platform. There will be a further short ramp to car park level. Cycle parking facilities are proposed near the Kingsway end of the new footpath.
The route will become single track to the south of the eastern bridge over Milnrow Road, this bridge will carry Metrolink. A new flyover is being built within existing railway land. It will have three sections; first an earth embankment just to the north of the former loop line track; second a new bridge over the main line; third a concrete viaduct which will ramp down onto a former loop line track bed.
The east and west bridge abutments have been built and the steel bridge was installed during a 72 hour possession of the rail line on 1st to 3rd January 2011. Further work is required to complete the flyover.
The tram route will leave the railway alignment and cross onto High Level Road, which is closed to road traffic, just east of the bridge over Richard Street. It then becomes double track and turns right into a reserved way on the west side Maclure Road. Rochdale Railway Station stop will be an island platform with ramps at both ends, alongside the Health Centre and Church also opposite the Fire Station. For phase 3b this reserved way will be extended to Drake Street. A phase 3a reversing siding will be provided using part of the outbound track to the north of the stop.
There will be road junction layout and one way street modifications in the area. Northbound general traffic will use the the eastern side of Maclure Road to Drake Street. Southbound general traffic will use Richard Street and Station Road. Only fire service vehicles will be allowed to drive southwards between the fire station and Station Road junction.
Trams are expected to start running to Rochdale in Summer 2012.
Rochdale town centre line, phase 3b
At the end of Maclure Road, a signal controlled junction will allow trams to turn right onto a reserved section on the south side of Drake Street. The stop proposed at Drake Street will not be provided, it would have been only 200 metres from the Railway Station stop.
From the junction of Drake Street with Milnrow Road there will be on–street running along Drake Street to Smith Street; with a short single line section on the outbound track from the end of Fleece Street, over the Butts Bridge, to the town centre stop. Provision of the planned double track here would have required significant structural improvements to or replacement of Wellington Bridge over the River Roch.
The route will terminate at Rochdale Town Centre stop by the existing bus station and Council Offices. This will be an island platform with ramps at both ends and foot track level crossings at the Drake Street end. A new relocated bus station is planned across Smith Street from this stop.
Services
There will be a twelve minute interval service from Rochdale railway station and another twelve minute interval service from Shaw and Crompton. This will give, during the daytime, a tram every six minutes to and from Shaw and Crompton to Manchester and Chorlton. During early mornings and in the evenings, this will reduce to a Rochdale, Manchester and Chorlton tram every twelve minutes. At weekends, the six minute service will run for a shorter period each day; on Sundays the off peak service will offer one tram every fifteen minutes.
Oldham and Rochdale Line: top of page
This page was written and illustrated by Tony Williams, Manchester Area Officer, Light Rail Transit Association. Contact manwebm@lrta.org if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions about these pages.