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Empty trams to run all night to beat cold snaps

Ailsa Cranna
1/12/2003

AFTER the Metrolink was forced to shut-down because of a rapid build up of ice, service bosses say next time they will run empty trams continuously throughout the night - to keep the tracks warm.

Drivers will man trams on a continuous basis from Eccles to Manchester and back should temperatures drop dramatically.

This follows delays to commuter traffic on Monday in and out of Manchester after a night when temperatures plumetted below freezing with ice forming on overhead power lines, cutting off the electricity supply.

Services that should have been up and running by 6am were delayed by over an hour with normal services not being re-established until 9.30am.

A spokesperson for Serco Metrolink apologised for the widespread disruptions and the long waits that passengers suffered.

"We have contingency plans, which normally enable us to manage services in bad weather. However, they were overwhelmed by the speed with which the ice was reforming after the passage of each tram."

This is the first problem of its kind since Metrolink started operations in 1992 and a thorough review is being held this week to ensure that all possible lessons are learnt.

The spokesman added: "In future, when the weather starts to drop we are going to consult the weather centre more closely and will be keeping a tram on the lines continuously to keep the lines thawed."

The Eccles to Manchester service was not, she pointed out, as badly affected as other routes, especially the Altrincham line, where the freezing fog near Sale Water Park caused considerable problems.