Tram improvement works and disruptions

Orange header with bus, tram and train logo to show improving journeys

Planned improvement work will take place across the tram network throughout 2026.

We’re investing almost £150m through to 2027 on maintenance, upgrades and improvements. This includes crucial work to fix and replace older tram tracks in the city centre.

Some projects will require multiple phases of work throughout the year, and there will also be times where we need to close parts of the network to complete other planned maintenance.

Here you’ll find everything you need to help plan your journey when we need to close tram stops and change tram services.

Look at how we’re working to keep you moving in the section below__ and thank you for bearing with us as we work to make your tram network more reliable.

Works starting in March
Works starting in April
Works starting in May
Works starting in June
Works starting in July
How we're keeping you moving
Staying up to date
Key improvement projects
Out of hours works (with no tram service changes)

Works starting in March

On Sunday 29 March, from the start of service until 10am, no trams will operate through Victoria to facilitate track repair works.

A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria - Piccadilly until 11am.

Find out more about the Victoria pre-10am works.

Works starting in April

From Friday 3 to Monday 6 April, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar. During this time track renewal works will also take place between Timperley and Stretford, allowing us to reduce further closures of the Altrincham line.

The following changes will be in place across the network:

No trams will operate on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines
Services operating on the East Didsbury/Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood.
Services operating on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square.
Other tram service changes include: Bury - Ashton-under-Lyne, Bury/Victoria - Etihad Campus.

Replacement buses will operate between the affected stops.

Tram services will resume as normal from start of service on Tuesday 7 April.

Find out more about the works taking place over East Bank Holiday.

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April, due to track repair works, no trams will operate between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne.

A replacement bus service will operate between the affected stops.

Find out more about the Ashton line works.

On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April, track repair works will take place on the Ashton line.

No tram service between Etihad Campus and Ashton-under-Lyne.
Tram services from Eccles (via MediaCityUK) and Altrincham will operate as far as Etihad Campus.

Bus replacement services between Piccadilly Gardens - Ashton-under-Lyne throughout the day to help customers continue their journey.

Find out more about the Ashton line works.

On Sunday 26 April, from the start of service until 10am, no trams will operate through Victoria to facilitate track repair works.

A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria - Piccadilly until 11am.

Find out more about the Victoria pre-10am works.

Works starting in May

On Sunday 3 May, from the start of service until 10am, no trams will operate through Victoria to facilitate track repair works.

A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria - Piccadilly until 11am.

Find out more about the Victoria pre-10am works.

On Sunday 10 May, from the start of service, track repair works will take place near Victoria until 10am, while the Rochdale line will undergo improvement works until 11am.

From the start of service until 10am:

No trams will operate through Victoria.
Services from Bury will terminate at Victoria, the East Didsbury line will terminate at Exchange Square and services from Manchester Airport will operate to Piccadilly.

In addition, from the start of service until 11am:

No trams will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.
From 10am to 11am, services from East Didsbury will continue to terminate at Exchange Square.

Bus replacement services will operate Victoria - Piccadilly, and Victoria - Rochdale Town Centre during the affected times.

Find out more about the Victoria and Rochdale line works.

From Saturday 16 to Friday 29 May, improvement works will take place on the Rochdale line. During this time, no trams will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.

Tram services to East Didsbury will start from Exchange Square, and tram services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Crumpsall via Market Street.

A bus replacement service will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.

Find out more about the Rochdale line works.

From Monday 25 to Friday 29 May, improvement works will take place at Piccadilly Gardens. During this time, no trams will operate between St Peter's Square/Market Street and Piccadilly.

Changes to the tram service include:

Ashton-under-Lyne services will start from Piccadilly
Eccles services will start from Deansgate-Castlefield.
East Didsbury services will start from Exchange Square
Services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Crumpsall via Market Street.
All services from Altrincham will operate to Bury via Market Street.

Find out more about the tram works taking place at Piccadilly Gardens.

Works starting in June

From Monday 1 to Tuesday 9 June, improvement works will take place in the city centre. During this time, no trams will operate via Market Street and Shudehill.

Changes to the tram service include:

All services from Altrincham will operate to Bury via Exchange Square.
Services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Etihad Campus.
Services from Manchester Airport will operate to Victoria via Exchange Square.

Find out more about the tram works taking place in the city centre.

On Sunday 7 June, improvement works will take place on the Rochdale line.

No tram services will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre during this time.

A bus replacement service will operate between the affected stops.

Find out more about the Rochdale line works.

Works starting in July

On Sunday 12 July, improvement works will take place on the Rochdale line.

No tram services will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre during this time.

A bus replacement service will operate between the affected stops.

Find out more about the Rochdale line works.

From Monday 13 July to Sunday 2 August, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar. During this time, additional works will take place in the city centre and along the Eccles line, allowing us to reduce further closures of the tram network.

The following changes will be in place across the network:

No trams will operate on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines
Services operating on the East Didsbury/Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood.
Services operating on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square.

Replacement buses will operate between the affected stops.

Tram services will resume as normal from start of service on Monday 3 August.

Find out more about the Deansgate-Castlefield & Trafford Bar works.

How we're keeping you moving

We're working hard to minimise disruption during tram improvement works by keeping you up to date, running replacement bus services where needed and listening to your feedback.

Keeping trams moving

We are keeping as many trams running as possible – this could mean that trams operate to different destinations than usual, and some lines may have separate tram services, linked by a replacement bus service. You can find travel advice to complete your journey within the works pages above.

Replacement bus services

We’ll provide replacement bus services and work with operators to match these with tram connections wherever possible. Any valid Metrolink ticket is accepted on replacement bus services.

Journey planner and timetables

We’ll keep our journey planner up to date so you can plan your journey in advance. We’ll also provide timetable and bus stop information for replacement bus services on the Bee Network website.

Information at tram stops

All affected tram stops will have printed information – look out for the orange and white posters. We’ll clearly signpost walking routes to replacement bus stops where necessary and staff will be at busier stops to help assist customers during improvement works.

Accessibility and assistance

The Bee Network website will have complete information to help you plan your journey. You can also speak to staff, call us on 0161 244 1000 or use the Help Points on stop if you need assistance. Lines are open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Staying up to date

Information about tram improvement works will be posted to this page regularly. You can also stay up to date in other ways:

Follow us on X @BeeNetwork for live travel updates.
At the tram stop: Information posters will be displayed on all affected stops (look out for the orange and white posters) and messages on the departure displays.
Sign up to the Bee Network WhatsApp channel – and be sure to tap the bell so you don't miss an update from us.

Please plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your journey on dates where work is taking place.

Key improvement projects

From replacing tracks to maintaining the overhead lines, find out about our projects and how we’re investing in the tram network.

More details on key improvement projects will be added in due course. Please check back for updates.

Co-ordinating improvement works

We are only closing what we need to complete improvement works and doing so for the shortest possible time. We’re also completing multiple projects together to limit the number of closures.