Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed further disruption to Metrolink services affecting Rochdale this month as part of a major programme of track renewal.
What is changing and when
There will be no trams running to Rochdale town centre on two occasions in August due to planned engineering works:
- Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August – no trams between Victoria and Rochdale town centre.
- Monday 17 to Friday 28 August – no trams between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale town centre.
TfGM says a tram replacement bus service will operate between the affected stops for the duration of the works. Tram services are scheduled to resume at the start of service on Saturday 29 August.
“Any tram ticket valid for all the zones of a journey is also valid on a tram replacement bus,”
The disruption forms part of a wider renewal project across the network. Recent reporting notes around 1.6km of track is being replaced on parts of the line because sections are more than 30 years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. The wider Metrolink upgrade has been valued at about £150m and is described as the biggest work since the network opened in 1992.
Practical impact for passengers
Commuters and visitors planning journeys to or from Rochdale town centre should allow extra time during the affected dates. TfGM has advised that:
- Replacement buses will follow the tram route where possible, but journeys may take longer than usual.
- Tickets valid for the tram zones covered by a passenger’s journey will also be accepted on replacement buses.
- Regular service is due to resume from the start of service on Saturday 29 August.
Separate works at Deansgate‑Castlefield and Trafford Bar are also concluding on 2 August after three weeks, which have affected other lines and required replacement buses on those routes.
| Date | Service affected | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15–16 Aug | Victoria ↔ Rochdale town centre | Replacement buses in operation |
| 17–28 Aug | Oldham Mumps ↔ Rochdale town centre | Replacement buses in operation |
| 29 Aug | All affected services | Tram services scheduled to resume |
Passengers are advised to check TfGM updates ahead of travel for any timetable changes or additional travel advice during the works.
Reporting on these works has framed them as part of long‑term investment in the Metrolink network intended to replace ageing infrastructure and improve reliability, while acknowledging the short‑term inconvenience for passengers served by the Rochdale line.
