Tram passengers in Altrincham face three weeks without services this summer, with replacement buses running the length of the line into Manchester.
The closure of the Altrincham line - part of a near-£150m programme of upgrades across the Metrolink network - will run from Monday 13th July to Sunday 2nd August while improvement works take place at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar.
Commuters from Altrincham, Navigation Road and Timperley can expect longer journeys, with anyone travelling beyond Piccadilly facing at least one further change en route.
Services are due to resume as normal from Monday 3 August - but the line will close again on Sunday 9th August, from the start of service until 2pm, for further works at the same two stops.
The works form part of a wider programme of planned improvements across the network throughout 2026, with Transport for Greater Manchester investing almost £150m through to 2027 on maintenance, upgrades and improvements, including work to fix and replace older tram tracks in the city centre.
The Eccles and Trafford Centre lines will also be suspended during the same period, while East Didsbury and Manchester Airport services will terminate at Firswood and Rochdale line services at Exchange Square.
Replacement buses
Replacement buses will run between Altrincham and Piccadilly, serving the affected stops.
Monday to Saturday, buses will operate every 7.5 minutes between 6am and 8pm, then every 30 minutes until the end of service. On Sundays, they will run every 15 minutes between 7am and 8pm, and every 30 minutes thereafter.
Tram tickets will be accepted on replacement buses, but not on regular numbered bus services.
Connecting to the rest of the network
- Bury or Ashton-under-Lyne: take the replacement bus to Piccadilly and change for tram services.
- East Didsbury or Manchester Airport: alight at Trafford Bar for a second replacement bus to Chorlton, then continue by tram.
- Eccles: change at Cornbrook for a replacement bus towards Eccles, alighting at Exchange Quay as Pomona will not be served.
- The Trafford Centre: change at Cornbrook, alighting at Wharfside rather than Pomona. After 8pm, passengers will need to use a Bee Network bus.
- Rochdale: take the replacement bus to Piccadilly, change for a tram to Victoria, then continue towards Rochdale Town Centre.
Alternative bus routes
Regular Bee Network bus services also call at stops near each tram stop on the line, which may offer a faster or cheaper option depending on the destination. These include the 11, 15, 23, 25, 41, 53, 79, 245, 248, 249, 250, 255, 256, 263, 281, 285 and 286 - though the 281 does not run on Sundays.
Journeys can be planned at tfgm.com or via the Bee Network app.
