Light Rail for better public transport
Metrolink Introduction > Oldham and Rochdale Line: updated 1 March 2013
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Light Rail Transit Association
Light Rail for better public transport |
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Metrolink Introduction > Oldham and Rochdale Line: updated 1 March 2013
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Phase 3a has converted the former railway loop line to Metrolink. The Oldham and Rochdale town centre lines, are under construction as part of Phase 3b.
On Saturday 3 October 2009, the last trains ran on the 22.5 kilometre line Oldham loop line. Rail services continue on the Calder Valley line between Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds. Both commercial and GMPTE subsidised services bus in the area were modified, normal bus fares applied on all the services.
The line has been completely rebuilt, all the stops are new. Former station platforms and buildings have been removed. On 13 June 2012 services to Oldham Mumps started, they were extended to Shaw and Compton on 16 December 2012. Rochdale Railway Station services started on 28 February 2013.
See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, Deansgate–Castlefield and the lines between them.
Open Metrolink lines are shown light green on the diagram; under construction phase 3b is shown orange. The main line railway is shown blue. At some future date, a railway station may be provided at Central Park.
At Irk Valley Junction, about 1.8 kilometres from Victoria Station and near the Metrolink depot, this line branches off the Bury line. It runs over the Smedley viaduct and the eastern half of the Cheetham Hill loop line. A connection has been built, but not yet commmissioned, from the Depot towards Monsall.
Monsall, the first new stop has two side platforms to the west of Jocelyn Street. There are two foot paths from Monsall Street down 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 give access to the inbound platform. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided at this entrance. Ramps from platforms and a track level pedestrian crossing have been provided at the east end of the stop.
Central Park stop, an impressive structure with a feature canopy, is part of The Gateway a new entrance from Oldham Road to phase one of the business park. It is located 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 have been provided at the west end of the stop.
Oldham Road, the rail and 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 two track bridge under Thorp Road. Metrolink tracks then run alongside the railway towards Dean Lane.
At Newton Heath and Moston stop, formerly Dean Lane, the Manchester bound track and platform have been rebuilt for Metrolink. The single bi–directional line and platform is similar to Navigation Road on the Altrincham Line. A foot path has been provided, this splits into a long all ramped part and shorter part with some steps. Cycle hoops are provided at the road level. Double track running resumes beyond the stop.
Freight trains use the former Oldham bound track for access to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Depot.
Failsworth stop has two new side platforms, both having steps and a lift from street to platform level. A ramp behind each platform gives access to a foot track level crossing at the north end of the stop.
Hollinwood stop has a stairway and lift from Hudson Street to each side platform. There are two sets of bollards across this street, fixed on the outbound and removable on the inbound side. Alongside the inbound line and south of Hudson Street; a decked car park opened on 1 September 2012, it provides 195 park-and-ride spaces exclusively for the use of Metrolink passengers. This stop is close to junction 22 on the M60. Ramps from the platforms to a track level foot crossing have been provided at the north end of the stop. These 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 provided adjacent to this point.
South Chadderton is between Drury Lane and Stanley Road. The embankment has been lowered here and the subway removed. A footpath, which passed through the subway, has been 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 have access ramps and steps linking to the pedestrian track crossing and surrounding footpaths.
Freehold at Block Lane is a new two side platforms stop. The outbound platform is on the north–west side of the line, west of Block Lane and parallel with Agnes Street. Access is from Robinson Street, cycle hoops and lockers are provided here. A new footbridge over Block Lane on this side of the line and track level foot crossing link the platforms. The inbound platform on the south–east side of the line is east of Block Lane. Both platforms have stairway and lift access from ground to track level foot crossing/bridge level. A ramp and steps connect this level to each platform. Disabled parking and passenger drop–off is also provided east of Block Lane and north of Ridings Way.
The railway line through Werneth station site, tunnels and south of Oldham Way has been converted to Metrolink. Werneth Railway station, historically had low passenger numbers, a Metrolink stop has not been built here.
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 has a ramp down to an outbound track level crossing to steps and a ramped path to the Oldham Way pavement. The Rochdale end has a ramp down to track level crossings to both Oldham Way and footpath to the south of the line. A trailing crossover and part of the outbound line formed a turnback siding at the Rochdale end, used while trams ran to Mumps from 13 June to 16 December 2012 when they were extended to Shaw and Compton.
The bridges plus retained embankment stonework and earth fill which carried the rail line over Mumps roundabout have been removed. Mumps roundabout and its subways have been replaced by extending Oldham Way (A62) across the site to Bottom O’ Th’ Moor. There is a new signal controlled ‘T’ junction with Lees Road. Phase 3a crosses this junction under signal control. Metrolink runs at ground level.
This begins at the bridge under Featherstall Road South. Leaving the phase 3a alignment the route turns northward and passes through the former car wash site then east of two buildings on Featherstall Road South. There will be a signal controlled crossing of West Street, just east of which is a new entrance to Westwood Business Park. The route passes over a cleared space 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.
The line will cross Winterbottom Street at a signal controlled junction and then turn south to run alongside the Oldham Way slip road. It will pass under the flyover at surface level, through the section to the north of centre, and have signalled road crossings.
Pedestrian underpasses were removed at Manchester Street roundabout. A surface level route will have signalled road and Metrolink crossings. This and two new road traffic lanes for eastbound road traffic from Manchester Street to Oldham Way will pass through the centre section under the flyover.
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 have been 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 Prince Street, which has been extended to Oldham Way and is the new link road.
Crossing this link road the track curves slightly southward using the former car park and bus stop bays which were 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 2014.
Derker stop is south of Yates Street. The inbound platform has a footpath access from Yates Street. The outbound platform has a lift and stairs from Yates Street; cycle stands and lockers are at the upper level. Ramps are provided from both platforms to a foot track level crossing at the south end of the stop. An over 250 space car park has opened.
Shaw and Crompton stop is south of Beal Lane. Platforms have ramps from pavement level. A single faced outbound platform is on the west side of the line. The double sided inbound platform is on the east side of the line, its western face for through trams and eastern face for terminating trams. Road traffic and tram signals have been provided for the line to cross Beal Lane. A remodelled car park provides 44 spaces. There are 5 cycle lockers and 5 ‘Sheffield style’ cycle stands to accommodate 10 bicycles, providing parking for 15 bicycles.
Newhey stop has two side platforms to the south–east of Huddersfield Road. The outbound (Rochdale) platform ramped path has a folded back route, with some steps shortening it. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided at road level of the inbound platform ramped and stepped paths.
Milnrow stop has two side platforms. The outbound (Rochdale) platform has a ramped path to Elizabethan Way also a stepped path to the southern end of Harbour Lane North. The inbound platform has a stepped path to the north–western end of the existing path between Harbour Lane North and car park. Both platforms have a ramp down a track foot crossing at the south–eastern/car park end. The inbound platform also has a short stepped path. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided between ramp and car park.
Kingsway stop serves the large scale Business Park development and housing on the other side of the line.
For Newbold the embankment between Kingsway and Milnrow Road has been altered so this stop is near ground level alongside the Morrisons supermarket car park. A new foot path from Kingsway runs alongside the outbound (Rochdale) track; which has foot level crossings to ramps at both ends of an island platform. There is a further short ramp to car park level.
The route becomes single track to the south of the eastern bridge over Milnrow Road, this bridge carries Metrolink. A new flyover has been built within existing railway land. It has 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 ramps down onto a former loop line track bed. After the east and west bridge abutments were built, the steel bridge was installed during a 72 hour possession of the rail line on 1st to 3rd January 2011.
Just east of the bridge over Richard Street, the tram route leaves the railway alignment, crossing on to the former High Level Road. It then becomes double track and turns right into a reserved way on the west side Maclure Road. Rochdale Railway Station stop is 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.
Road junction layouts and one way street modifications have taken place. Northbound general traffic uses the the eastern side of Maclure Road to Drake Street. Southbound general traffic uses Richard Street and Station Road. Only fire service vehicles are allowed to drive southwards between the fire station and Station Road junction.
Trams started running to Rochdale Railway Station on 28 February 2013. More than 200 park-and-ride spaces are available to passengers travelling on Metrolink and heavy rail services from Rochdale.
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 track level pedestrian crossings at the Drake Street end. A new Rochdale Interchange is under construction across Smith Street from this stop and the existing bus station.
At present there is a 12 minute interval service from Manchester to Rochdale Railway Station stop. The plan is for a twelve minute interval service from Rochdale 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.