Rochdale line works

Sunday 7 June

On Sunday 7 June, track renewal work will take place on the Rochdale line. During this time, no trams will operate between Victoria and Rochdale Town Centre.

Additional works will take place in the city centre from Monday 1 to Tuesday 9 June, with no trams operating via Shudehill and Market Street.

Changes to the tram service include:

Services from Altrincham will operate to Bury via Exchange Square. Not calling at Market Street or Shudehill.
Services from the Trafford Centre will operate to Etihad Campus.
Services from East Didsbury will operate to Piccadilly.
Services from Manchester Airport will operate to Victoria via Exchange Square. Not calling at Market Street or Shudehill.

A bus replacement service will operate between the affected stops.

Tram services on the Rochdale line will resume from the start of service on Monday 8 June.

Sunday 7 June

Services will operate every 15 minutes:

• Bury - Altrincham via Exchange Square
• East Didsbury - Piccadilly
• Trafford Centre - Etihad Campus
• Manchester Airport - Victoria via Exchange Square
• Ashton-under-Lyne - Eccles (via MediaCityUK)

No trams will operate on the Rochdale line, and trams won't serve Market Street or Shudehill stops.

Replacement Bus Route Map V3

Click on the stops to view the replacement bus stop maps:

Victoria to Rochdale:

Victoria - Monsall - Central Park - Newton Heath and Moston - Failsworth - Hollinwood - South Chadderton - Freehold - Westwood - Oldham King Street - Oldham Mumps - Derker - Shaw and Crompton - Newhey - Milnrow - Kingsway Business Park - Newbold - Rochdale Railway Station - Rochdale Town Centre

Rochdale to Victoria:

Rochdale Town Centre - Rochdale Railway Station - Newbold - Kingsway Business Park - Milnrow - Newhey - Shaw and Crompton - Derker - Oldham Mumps - Oldham King Street - Westwood - Freehold - South Chadderton - Hollinwood - Failsworth - Newton Heath and Moston - Central Park - Monsall - Victoria

Please note: The replacement bus service is unable to serve Oldham Central tram stop due to the pedestrianisation of the town centre. Please board or alight at Oldham King Street. This stop is short walk away.

First bus

05:00 - Victoria to Rochdale

05:42 - Rochdale to Victoria

Bus services will then operate every 15 minutes.

Last bus

23:00 - Victoria to Rochdale (23:15 & 23:25 services will terminate at Shaw & Crompton)

00:12 - Rochdale to Victoria

Find more details including departure times from your stop by viewing the replacement bus timetable

Key ticketing information:

During tram improvement works you still need to pay for your journey.
Any tram ticket valid for all the zones of your journey is also valid on a tram replacement bus.
1-day Bee Bus tickets (adult, child, family) are also valid on tram replacement buses.
Tickets cannot be purchased from a driver on a tram replacement bus.

Buying a ticket in the Bee Network app:

You can buy a range of tickets on the Bee Network App. Download the Bee Network app.

During these tram improvement works, 1-day Bee Bus tickets will be accepted on tram replacement buses as well as any other bus in Greater Manchester, giving you more flexibility.  

*Please note: the 1-day Bee Bus ticket will not be valid on any trams that are operating. If your journey includes a replacement bus and a tram, you will need to have a tram ticket. 

Buying a ticket from a ticket machine on a tram stop:

You can also buy a tram ticket from the ticket machines on a tram stop at the start of your journey, as you usually would if travelling on the tram. Keep your ticket handy to show the tram replacement bus driver.

Most replacement bus stops are only a short walk from tram stops, but some can be up to 5 minutes’ walk away. So for some stops you may find it easier to buy a ticket on the Bee Network app. Find out how to reach the Replacement Bus stop from your local tram stop here.

Tap-in and tap-out at a tram stop:

If you prefer, you can continue to use Tap and Go. You must tap-in on a tram stop at the start of your journey before boarding the replacement bus (as you usually would if travelling on the tram). Keep the card you have used to tap-in handy to show the tram replacement bus driver. Always remember to use the same card to tap-out at a tram stop when you reach your destination.

Most replacement bus stops are only a short walk from tram stops, but some can be up to 5 minutes’ walk away. So for some stops you may find it easier to buy a ticket on the Bee Network app. Find out how to reach the Replacement Bus stop from your local tram stop here. 

Frequent Bee Network bus services also call at the bus stops near each tram stop. These may provide a faster or cheaper journey option than the replacement bus, depending on your destination.

Please note: Tram tickets are only accepted on the replacement bus and will not be accepted on numbered bus services.

The following Bee Network bus services serve stops on the Rochdale line: 17, 18, 52, 53, 56, 57, 59, 76, 76A, 81, 83, 84, 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 135, 149, 151, 156, 159, 163, 171, 172, 181, 182, 402, 403, 409, 411, 415, 434, 435, 436, 450, 451, 455 and 471.

Please note: The 76A, 151, 159, 171, 181, 403 and 455 will not operate on Sunday.

To continue your journey by bus, you can also visit our journey planner. Please select ‘options’ and check only the bus icon is highlighted. This feature is also available on the Bee Network app where you can also find bus tracking information.

During the works, you’ll need to access the platforms at Monsall tram stop from street level via Ruislip Avenue or Upper Monsall Street. Customers will not be able to cross the tracks.

Step-free access to the Manchester-bound platform is only available via the lift during the works.