Manchester United fans in Altrincham won't be able to get the tram to Old Trafford for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth - for the first time in over a decade.
The match kicks off at 2pm on Sunday 25 October, according to the club, and TfGM is advising supporters to leave around an hour earlier than normal.
Ian Davies, TfGM's network director for Metrolink, said: "There is no good time to disrupt passengers to carry out these works, and this is the first time in over a decade that trams won't serve Old Trafford on a match day, but these works are essential and will enable us to provide a better service in future. I am very sorry to fans who face disruption."
Why there are no trams
From Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November, no trams are running on the Altrincham, Trafford Park and Eccles lines while improvement works are carried out at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar.
TfGM says about 4,000 metres of track is being replaced as part of a £150m programme, with drainage and other infrastructure also being upgraded. Trams on these lines restart on Monday 2 November.
How to get to Old Trafford from Altrincham
Shuttle bus: Dedicated football shuttle buses will leave from Stand D at Altrincham Interchange, also calling at Navigation Road, De Quincey Road and Stanley Mount. TfGM says buses will run every 20 minutes from 10am (10am, 10.20, 10.40, 11am, 11.20 and 11.40), then every five minutes from midday. The last bus leaves Altrincham at 12.30pm. The club says buses will drop off on Chester Road near the Ford garage.
The shuttle isn't free. TfGM says all Bee Network tickets are accepted, and tickets can be bought from the driver or on the Bee Network app. A single "hopper" bus ticket costs £2 for adults and £1 for children, and a one-day bus travelcard is £5. The club says all Bee Network buses and stops are fully accessible, and disabled supporters will get priority at loading points, where TfGM staff will be on hand.
Regular bus: TfGM is increasing the frequency of the 263, which runs from Altrincham Interchange through Sale and Stretford to Trafford Bar and normally runs every 30 minutes on Sundays. From 30 minutes before kick-off, the 263 and other routes near the ground will be diverted.
Train: Northern's Sunday trains from Altrincham to Manchester Piccadilly, via Stockport, leave at 10.01am and 11.56am. From Piccadilly Gardens, the city centre shuttle runs to the ground, with the last departure at 1.25pm. Northern only accepts Metrolink tickets if they are seven-day, 28-day or annual tickets. TfGM says the old Old Trafford railway station is no longer in use.
Driving and cycling: TfGM says traffic near the ground builds from about two hours before kick-off, and drivers coming from the south via junction 7 of the M60 should allow an extra 30 minutes along the A56. After the match, Wharfside Way, Sir Matt Busby Way and Warwick Road will close, and TfGM warns of delays of up to 50 minutes. There are free cycle racks at the N2, E2 and W2 car parks, and Starling Bikes hires that start or end near the tram works are free for up to 20 minutes until 1 November.
Getting home
Shuttle buses back to Altrincham will leave from Chester Road outside Tesco on a "load and go" basis after the final whistle.
The tram replacement express bus from Piccadilly (Minshull Street, Aytoun Street) to Altrincham runs every 15 minutes until 7pm, and Sunday trains from Piccadilly leave at 3.09pm and 5.09pm.
Live updates are on the Bee Network website.
