TRAM services along the Bury line will be disrupted when work on a multi-million pound transformation of the Manchester Victoria’s Metrolink layout gets under way next week.

The nine-month project will see the stop completely redesigned and expanded to provide additional platforms and tracks.

It will accommodate the new Second City Crossing and wider network expansion — in conjunction with the transformation of the railway station by Network Rail.

The first stage of work begins on Friday, February 21, through to Sunday, February 23, when Metrolink services will be replaced with buses from Abraham Moss on the Bury line to the city centre.

Altrincham, Ashton, East Didsbury and Eccles services will run via Piccadilly.

From Monday, February 24, trams will have to pass through Victoria in both directions on a single line of track.

This has forced transport bosses to temporarily close the stop to passengers to maximise the number of trams that can run on the single line.

Instead, passengers will be asked to use the Shudehill stop, leaving a short walk for connections with Victoria’s rail services and the Phones 4u Arena.

Metrolink services will also change for the duration of the work:

  • A shuttle tram will run between Bury and Abraham Moss every 12 minutes, catering for about one-third of all journeys made on this stretch. Passengers travelling to stops between Bury and Abraham Moss are being asked to board the dedicated shuttle service, to ensure there is as much room as possible for city-bound passengers travelling at morning and evening peak times.
  • Every Bury to Altrincham service will be served by double trams from start to end of service — boosting capacity at the busiest times.
  • Instead of running to and from Bury, Ashton line services will run to Eccles via Piccadilly every 12 minutes. Rochdale and East Didsbury services will still run every 12 minutes but will not call or stop at Victoria.
  • Passengers travelling between Victoria and Piccadilly rail stations can use the free city centre Metroshuttle bus service.

Metrolink director Peter Cushing said: “We’ve considered these changes very carefully and they will provide customers with the most effective, safest and least disruptive option.

"They also mirror demand we’ve monitored on the network.”