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When
they first arrived in Manchester, we all fell in love with the trams.
Quiet, quick and efficient - they seemed like a dream come true.
But
Metrolink has its faults. Fares have risen steadily. An adult weekly
season ticket costs more than £20 to commute from the suburbs
to the city centre. A peak return from say Bury to Manchester costs
£4.00.
Services are frequent but not so good if you want to stay out late
in town on a Friday and Saturday night. And the trams are now showing
their age, ticket machines don't always work and the network breaks
down frequently.
Are you happy with the service? Or are you a long-suffering passenger?
And what about the thousands of commuters who endure the 'sardine
trip' every morning and evening?
Does Metrolink deliver value for money? Or are you being taken
for a ride?
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From
Dan in Manchester, England
It would be nice to see an answer to some of these questions from
a Metrolink Executive! Since this is lacking, i'll put forward my
point of view. Metrolink, overall, is a fantastic system. I use it
daily to travel from the city centre to Exchange Quay. I guess that
60% of the time, the trams are on time, clean and unthreatening. 80%
of the time, they are close to the above. The remaining 20% - an unacceptably
high figure - they are not. Why? Because Metrolink is initially given
cash to build the infrastructure, but is given no subsidies to run
the system. What we pay is what we get minus Serco's (the operator)
cut. If we want an improved service we either pay higher ticket costs,
or accept slightly higher council tax to subsidse the network. I,
personally would opt for the latter, on the condition that the network
was not run as a PPP, but a not-for-profit organisation. Look out
London...do you want this? Perhaps a referendum at the next local
elections! f! or boroughs lying within the system's reach would demonstrate
what I believe the people want. A fast, frequent, clean, accessible,
(everything Metrolink claims to be) AND affordable, not for profit
network, run by the people, for the people, funded by the people that
use it. I could go on, but we're all to apathetic to do anything about
it. Aren't we?
From
Darren in Radcliffe Phone
Yes the tram is expensive, yes it is overcrowded at peak times and
yes it is dirty but there is a bus stop near every station and you
could save upto £50/month. the journey might take an extra 20+ minutes
depending on where you live but almost invariably that will be about
the same amount of time you spend travelling to the metro station.
Oh and why does it cost £1 less to get a metromax day ticket from
the machines on the Eccles line?
From
- Danny C in Bury
I am pleased with the metrolink especially at the bury station end.
It is clean, being modernised and there is a nearby information desk
if you need help. However, i think i should point out that this is
the only station that seems nice, traveling down the line other stations
arent exactly eye pleasing nor is victoria station when you get off
there.
From
- claire in manchester
i think the tram is OK, yes it is dirty, over crowded and is expensive
sumtimes but it gets me and my friends to where i wanna go quit quickly
so...... i can't moan
From
Pauline Greenway in Manchester
The Metrolink system appears to be crumbling, certainly on the Bury
line. The company should concentrate on their existing routes before
investing more money on other lines. This is a comparatively expensive
mode of transport in the Greater Manchester area and the service should
be reflected in these high fares.
From
Trevor
My annual ticket costs £878.20. The trams are dirty and un reliable.
The doors frequently don't work. Beggers have started asking for money
whilst travelling on them, and drunks seem to have free rein to abuse
passengers. The platforms are dirty and dangerous, and the staff disinterested.
A great service - NOT!!
From
Mark Clegg inStretford
What over country would have a major event like the games or build
a shopping centre like the Trafford centre and have no decent public
transport system to them?
From
Dave in Sale
It amazes me how many people moan about the trams! Yes, they're not
cheap and over-crowding is a problem but I still think it's a superb
system. I use them every day to travel from Sale to Manchester (and
have done for 5 years) and only rarely have I experienced severe problems
that have really disrupted my journey. Maybe it's just me but a lot
of people seem to have little patience with the trams, e.g. tons of
people trying to squeeze on to one tram simply because they can't
be bothered to wait six -12 minutes for the next one. At St. Peter's
Square the other day I saw two women fighting to get on an Altrincham
tram. An inspector said that the tram that had pulled in behind, which
was also for Altrincham, was almost empty. Nobody paid a blind bit
of notice to him but at least I went home in comfort on a half-empty
tram.
I agree
that many stations are grotty and intimidating and the trams need
a good clean but I think a lot of people don't appreciate the work
that goes on behind the scenes to keep the trams running. I don't
work for Metrolink but I work for a large company in the north-west
that supplies services everyone uses (figure it out) and I can fully
understand how difficult it is to keep a system such as the trams
running. Yes the system has it's faults but spare a thought for
the people who keep it running and work to correct the problems
when they happen. I think this is something a lot of people often
overlook. Next time you grumble about trams being late or breaking
down, think of the people who've been up all night trying to fix
it. End of rant
From
Louise in Ashton-under-Lyne
I
have only used the Trams at off-peak times but come from Norfolk,
where public transport is either rare or non-existent. If I wanted
to go to work by public transport there I could do so on a Wednesday
for a few hours. Having regular public transport has to be a plus
if you don't drive, and I am still amazed that not only do I have
all this public transport to choose from but also amenities within
walking distance i.e supermarkets, swimming pool and cinema. Don't
grumble, just think what you could be missing by living in the country.
From
Ian Hodgson in Ashton Under Lyne
I've read many of the comment above. I have one problem about the
trams from Ashton U Lyne. There arn't any! It might just be nice to
have the opportunity to experience some of the so called problems
the lucky commuters from Bury and Altricham have to 'suffer'. Think
yourselves lucky you live in the real world rather than that forgotten
part of empire called Tameside. I really thought we had a slim chance
when the Commonwealth Games came to Eastfields. Can you imagine Sydney
or Montreal hosting such an event without putting in such an obvious
addition to the region's transport infrastucture? How DID we get away
with it? So when are we to expect trams up in these Pennine wastelands,
remind me again? I'm 60 now. What chances in my lifetime? What's that
I here you say? "Don't hold your breath!"
From
David in Chorlton-cum-hardy, Manchester
Why can there not be an entrance in Cornbrook? Is it becausae it's
a dodgy area and Metrolink can't be bothered with extra security?
If they can have a station (a not very necasarry one) in Pomona and
Shudehill why not in Cornbrook, a densly populated residential area!!??
From
Nell in Bury
The prices are ridiculous. The service itself regularly breaks down
these days, and when it's working we have to put up with dirty, dangerous
and threatening platforms and equally as unwelcoming trams. At rush
hour, there is absolutely no chance of a seat, which for the price
you pay, you'd expect. I've also to date, received no reply from their
Customer Services department about a complaint. Shoddy treatment.
I appreciate that the service is available to us, but there are an
awful lot of things to be looked at before they can claim to deliver
value for money. Security at stops should be one of them.
From
Mark Gee in Sale
I see that the Metrolink have decided they don't need the planned
extra center carriage for each tram on the Altrincham line, why? it
will cost to much. Don't we pay enough to at least have a chance of
a seat on the tram? Two carriages is a joke, I was recently on the
London underground and there was six carriages per train!
From
Chris from Trafford, Greater Manchester
For all you people who don't pay your metrolink fees, especially the
girl who I saw being taken off to be fined I say hahahaha you deserve
everything you get. some people seem to think they are exempt from
buying a ticket. Also they should have inspector patrols on all platforms
and all trams all the time to keep those awful council estate scummy
types out. They should have double trams in the morning times as I
can hardly ever get on. Can't wait for the next phases of Metrolink
to begin, it's good to see that Shudehill has now been opened. Bye.
From
JiammadC in Altrincham
It seems a little daft to me, sorry if i repeat anyone who has posted
a response but i cannot read all of that text!!! The Metrolink is
a gold mine for all of those little tear aways, i have seen the same
group of people on a tram in the morning and in the afternoon, they
spend all day riding the thing and mugging/ abusing the passengers
that actually pay for a ticket. OK- in short, i do not mind being
ripped off/ paying an extortionate price for a ticket as long as there
is some sort of security ensuring that you are well looked after during
your journey. End of Moan!!! Monkeys rule!!!
From
Chao Kuoin Hyde Manchester
I once took the metro from piccaddily and there was secret inspecters
dressed as civilians actually i found the experince fearful...
From
tramboy in timperley
with regards to the ticket machines not working, if u have a mobile
phone, phone up the cutsomer sevice number and tell them. They have
an obligation to allow u to travel that part of ur journey without
charge. This applies to the "note " machines as well. If they dont
work fone them up and tell them ur not prepared to walk to a shop
to change ur note. Ive lost count the amount of times ive done that
a timperley. Be warned however..... nobody seems to answer the phones
at customer services after 6.30pm
From
David in Salford
I currently take the Metrolink from Salford Quays to City Centre at
a cost of £2.60 a day; this is a journey of 2 miles!! I then have
the pleasure of usually standing on a crowded and dirty tram. Don’t
get me wrong it is on the whole a great service, but it is far too
expensive. My colleges think I’m stupid for not paying an extra £1.50
to park my car in town, which would be with a guaranteed seat and
at a time that suits me. I don’t want to add to the congestion of
the city centre when I have another option, but I am becoming more
and more disillusioned with the system. I thought the government was
trying to entice people away from their cars? Wouldn’t it be best
to offer a cheap alternative, rather that just making the car even
more expensive to run? Yet again the people of Manchester are paying
for the failings of the local and national governments!!
From
Ashley in Hulme, Manchester
To Eric of Eccles. At Cornbrook there has never been an exit to the
street, those doors now boarded up, is the fire escape from the station,
they boarded it up because vandals regularly smashed the windows,
so metrolink gave up replacing it and just boarded up leaving it looking
an unsightly mess. Being originally from Merseyside, Metrolink is
a brilliant system, it a lot cleaner and a lot less threatening than
the MerseyRail Underground system.
From
George in Bury
It is good to have the tram and when the network expands according
to plans it will be really good for GrtrMcr. In the meantime though
there are problems:
1. Whoever designed the trams made a mistake. Most of the day usage
is low and there are plenty of seats to spare. At peak times, there
isn't enough standing space!. Half the seats could be removed and
this would solve the problem. Simple.
2. Ticket machines are not user friendly. They are OK if you are an
individual passenger with enough change. They breakdown frequently,
esp. the few ones that handle bank notes. There are no provisions
to buy with debit or credit cards. There are no provisions to buy
tickets for another day, or for groups, or for travelling a ticket
in, say, Prestwich to Town, then back all the way to Bury (I admit,
this latter case must be rare, the former two are not).
3. There is limited positive incentives to buy season tickets. Again,
doing this is a hassle. Price for me is £20.50 a week... or £80.50
a month. If I used the tram several times a day, or at weekends, this
would mean a marked saving, but I don't, I suspect few people do.
I only have to miss a day a week and the pass works out no cheaper.
It is expensive as it is. I buy it mostly to avoid wrangling with
the ticket machines.
4. Their "passenger information systems" are poor. When their relay
msgs on their loudspeakers, nobody can understand a word. And their
electronic screens are usually baffling. They may display a msg for
10 min saying that the next Bury train is "due in 10 min"... only
for the train to arrive 5' later (when suddenly the display is updated).
On top of all this: Metrolink are arrogant! Whenever I've written
to them with views, their response has been dismissive or defensive
or both, with references to their 'market research' (ie "we know best")
or with suggestions that I alter my lifestyle to fit in with their
services.
Andrew
Huggett in Prestwich
I use the service every weekday
to get to work (from Prestwich to Manchester). It's very expensive,
uncomfortable (they really rattle along - I think the tracks badly
need maintenance) and always, always badly overcrowded at peak times
(as bad as the London tube). Prestwich station has half-heartidly
been 'upgraded' but is still dirty with newspapers and rubbish and
is frequented by groups of loud obsene teenagers loitering about.
I am seriously considering driving to work.
From
Frequent Passenger in Timperley
Metrolink is increasingly becoming more expensive and has definetly
become more crowded this year. Double trams regulary pass Timperley
in rush hour which presumambly break up in to two single units at
Altrincham when travelling back to Piccadilly or Bury. Trams in rush
hour are usually full at or after Brooklands which is only three stops
from Altrincham! Staff need to be present at some stations in the
morning as some passengers will try and force themselves on to trams
when there clearly isn't enough room. Ticket machines constantly reject
coins and most of the time do not accept notes properly. Why doesn't
Metrolink invest in Croydon Tramlink style machines that can accept
cerdit/debit cards? And why are 2000 series trams only used between
Piccadilly and Eccles?
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