Greater Manchester Combined Authority have been allocated funding of up to £77.61 million as a contribution towards Metrolink’s forecast losses for the period of 17 March 2020 to 31 March 2021.
The allocated funding has been used to subsidise the costs of operating the Metrolink network.
Due to patronage levels falling to circa 5% of pre-COVID19 levels during the intial lockdown period, four interim service patterns have been in operation since 23 March 2020:
- 23 March 2020 to 5 April 2020: a daily 12 minute service across all lines between 06:00 (07:00 on Sundays) and 23:00, supplemented with additional doubles where possible to assist social distancing;
- 6 April 2020 to 25 May 2020: a daily 20 minute service across all lines between 06:00 (07:00 on Sundays) and 22:00, supplemented with additional doubles where possible to assist social distancing;
- 26 May 2020 to 21 June 2020: a daily 12 minute service (20 minute service on Sundays) across all lines between 06:00 (07:00 on Sundays) and 22:00, supplemented with additional doubles where possible to assist social distancing; and
- 22 June 2020 to date: a daily service operating between 06:00 and 23:00 (07:00 on Sundays) supplemented with additional doubles where possible to assist social distancing, with a 10 minute service operating across all lines between the following times:
- Monday to Friday – 06:00 to 19:00
- Saturday – 08:00 to 18:00 (08:00 to 20:00 effective from 8 August 2020)
A 20 minute service is operating across all lines at all other times.
These interim service patterns compare against the following Pre-COVID19 service patterns:
Altrincham
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
Bury
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
Eccles
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
Ashton
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
East Didsbury
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
Rochdale
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 6 minutes (between Shaw and Crompton and City Centre only) between 07:00 to 20:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 – 18:30 Saturdays, 12 minutes at all other times
Manchester Airport
First tram - 03:00
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 20 minutes between 03:00 and 06:00 (07:00 Sunday), 12 minutes at all other times
Trafford Park
First tram - 06:00 (07:00 Sunday)
Last tram - 00:00 (01:00 Friday and Saturday)
Frequency - 12 minutes

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Greater Manchester is in National Lockdown
If you need to travel, read the latest guidance to help keep everyone safe

Metrolink customers
love contactless
It’s the safe, easy way and we cap what you pay.
See journeys and get receipts online.

Add tram and train renewal
Please don't travel to renew. Special arrangements are in place.