Where are the new trams on the Altrincham Line? ….
Quite a few people have been commenting that the new M5000 trams seem not to be on the Altrincham Line any more.
We’ve been doing a bit of digging and have heard the following, though it may not be correct ….
Apparently, it seems the M5000s ride very roughly once they travel over 35mph. On the Altrincham Line in order to keep time, it’s important they operate at 50mph between stations. Otherwise, this leads to lots of knock on delays.
We also hear that the clearance into platform 1 at Altrincham is such that the M5000s have to approach it very slowly and have to stop short of where the trams normally stop, otherwise they hit the platform edge.
How much of this is true, we don’t know, but it may explain why we don’t seem to see them any more.
As the older trams are more comfortable, have more seats and are less bumpy, we’re happy about that!
If you know more, please let us know.
8 comments 
Category:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Your information is basically correct.
Solutions to the poor riding of the M5000 trams are being investigated, including changing the wheel profile.
July 29th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Metrolink tram 3020 is the latest to arrive from Austria. http://railway.noelbaxendale.fotopic.net/p66192317.html
3001 is back at Queens Rd depot, joining the other long term out of action 3007…
http://railway.noelbaxendale.fotopic.net/p66192312.html
A notice on Piccadilly station says from 1st August the taxi rank is moving to the approach road, which presumably means the slope which is currently restricted to the Metroshuttle 1 & 3 plus British Transport Police vehicles. Does this mean the buses will be moving the the old taxi rank on Fairfield Street? I’d imagine the new Hybrid Versas due for the Metroshuttle need more space to turn round than the current Solos
July 31st, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Paul,
If you read the notice carefully it says “on the 1st August”. The taxi rank is only moving for one day due to the Skyride cycle event.
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:12 am
As you say there are more of the new trams operating on the Altrincham line. I understand that this is because of problems with these vehicles and the new TMS (Tram Management System) which is now live on the Eccles line.
I travelled on one of the new vehicles this morning to Piccadilly. Unfortunately because the new trams are slower they can’t keep time. So this morning the Bury tram was pulling away from Piccadilly Gardens as we were alongside Mosley Street platform despite leaving Navigation Road on time.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Traveller, I was surprised when you said the new trams are slower.
According to the fact sheets they have the same top speed as the old T68 trams; but what is slower is their acceleration…which with the number of stops makes a difference.
Info here…
http://www.lrta.org/Manchester/vehfact.html
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Has anyone seen the new trams ‘doubled up’? They always seem to run as single units.
As a supplementary question can the new trams be paired with the old trams?
October 1st, 2011 at 2:17 pm
TfGM are planning to fast track the T68 withdrawal starting in 2013, with the T68s replaced by M5000s.
http://www.tfgm.com/tfgm_news.cfm?news_id=9007865?submenuheader=3
It’s a shame that Pacers were never fast tracked for withdrawal.
Re: Mike the M5000s doubled up are too long for Mosley Street, which means pairs of M500s could only operate on the Bury-Piccadilly services at present.
October 1st, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@Peter, thanks for clearing up the reason for no double M5000s.
The retirement of the T68s also answers another question, why were they not rebranded in yellow and silver when the stations were redone.