Home | Metrolink Introduction | Oldham and Rochdale Line: updated 22 December 2009 | pages list
See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, G–Mex and the lines between them.
On Saturday 3 October 2009, the last trains ran on the 22.5 kilometre Oldham loop line. It has now closed for the Phase 3a conversion to Metrolink. Rail services continue on the Calder Valley line between Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds.
Metrolink services between Manchester and Central Park should start in Spring 2011. Manchester to Oldham Mumps is expected to open in autumn 2011 and onwards to Rochdale in spring 2012.
Earlier in 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 confirmed extension is shown purple. Phase 3b extensions are shown in orange. Oldham Mumps stop may be relocated, see below for details. 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.
Monsall, the first new stop, will be to the west of Jocelyn Street and in the existing railway cutting. A new foot path — between Monsall Street, near Lathbury Road, and Ruislip Avenue — together with a new bridge over the cutting, steps and DDA compliant ramps will give access to the platforms. Additionally there will be two lifts, one from each platform, to the bridge link.
Central Park stop, approximately midway between Monsall and Dean Lane, is part of The Gateway a new entrance from Oldham Road to phase one of the business park. An impressive structure 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.
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.
The Design Build Maintain Contract for this line will be arranged so that the Irk Valley Junction to Central Park section is completed first. This can be done with a minimal effect on Network Rail. Metrolink operation between Manchester and Central Park is expected to start in Spring 2011.
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. 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 station will be retained and updated to Metrolink standards.
Hollinwood station will be retained and updated to Metrolink standards. A site has been identified for an up to 120 space car park at this stop, which will be close to junction 22 on the M60.
South Chadderton will be between Drury Lane and Stanley Road. The embankment will be lowered here and the subway removed, locating the new stop close to ground level. A footpath, which crosses under the line through the subway, will be diverted slightly to the pedestrian track crossing at the stop. Access ramps and steps will link surrounding footpaths to the pedestrian track crossing and platforms on both sides of the track, which will be on the Manchester side of the former subway.
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. 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 level.
Oldham Werneth, the railway line through the tunnels and south of Oldham Way will be converted to Metrolink. Trams are expected to start running to Oldham Mumps in autumn 2011.
Oldham town centre line
Phase 3b, Greater Manchester Transport Fund
This begins at Featherstall Road where it turns north towards Middleton Road, turning east for the 2 side platforms Westwood stop. This is parallel with Middleton Road and west of Winterbottom Street.
After crossing the latter, the line will turn to run alongside the Oldham Way slip road in a cutting, before passing beneath Manchester Street and continuing in a short tunnel then surfacing at the 2 side platform King Street stop.
Trams will then run along Union Street, sharing with road traffic till the Peter Street / Hobson Street juction. Then to Clegg Street it is tram only with an island platform Oldham Central stop. East of Clegg Street there is sharing with road traffic till the possible Mumps stop.
Oldham Mumps stop
As the existing railway route will be converted to Metrolink in pahse 3a and the town centre route built later as part of phase 3b, various possible options are:–
- The present island platform Mumps station — where pedestrian access is by subways or a footbridge over the Oldham Way — could be refurbished to Metrolink standards.
- A new side platform stop may be built, at viaduct level, between Bell Street and Brook Street — next to Mumps Bridge. At the south — Bottom o’ th’ Moor — end it would have steps from pavement level to the inbound platform and a track crossing to the outbound platform; also there would be two lifts, one for each platform. At the north end a track crossing would be connected to the outbound platform and Bell Street by a path with steps; the inbound platform would have a ramp down to the track crossing and on to Brook Street. This stop would be able to serve the existing line or the Union Street line or both.
- A new stop may be built, for the Union Street line, adjacent to the bus stops at Mumps.
Oldham to Rochdale
Derker stop will be upgraded to Metrolink standards. A site has been identified for an up to 80 space car park.
A new Shaw and Crompton stop will be built, located south of the level crossing at Beal Lane, removing the need for terminating trams to cross the road. A secure park and ride site, with up to 40 spaces, will be provided here.
The railway line between Shaw and Rochdale was single track, Metrolink will be double track.
Newhey and Milnrow stops will be upgraded to Metrolink standards.
Kingsway Business Park passive provision is being made in the Phase 3a design and works for a stop; which will serve this large scale development.
Newbold will be a new island platform stop between Kingsway and Milnrow Road. The embankment will be altered so this stop is at ground level alongside the Morrisons supermarket car park.
South of the eastern bridge over Milnrow Road, Metrolink will become single track. For railway use, a short section of the former loop line (north of Milnrow Road) has been made into a reversing siding for train services from Manchester which previously continued towards Oldham.
Immediately north of this reversing siding, a flyover will carry Metrolink over the Manchester via Rochdale to Leeds main line. It will be built within existing railway land and consist of an earth embankment, a bridge over the main line and concrete ramp down onto a former loop line track bed.
The tram route will leave the railway alignment and cross onto a pedestrianised High Level Road 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, 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 spring 2012.
Rochdale town centre line
Phase 3b, Greater Manchester Transport Fund
At the end of Maclure Road, a signal controlled junction will allow trams to turn right onto a reserved section, which is on the south side of Drake Street and includes the two side platform stop.
From the junction of Drake Street with Milnrow Road there will be on–street running along Drake Street to Smith Street. The route will terminate at Rochdale Town Centre stop by the existing bus station and Council Offices. 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.
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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.