Festival-goers and football fans are facing travel chaos this evening after Transport for Greater Manchester announced that major tram lines will remain shut overnight.
Revellers hoping to travel through Manchester using the tram after Parklife festival, using the Heaton Park stop, have been told the Bury line will remain suspended for the rest of the day due to damage to the overhead line at Victoria.
The news comes as a blow to thousands on what is one of the busiest weekends of the year, particularly for those at the Parklife festival and Soccer Aid, who will need to seek alternative travel arrangements.
TfGM have apologised for the disruption, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The Bury line has been suspended for several hours, but it was hoped that repairs could be completed to allow the line to re-open in time for the end of the festival on Sunday evening.
In an update, Metrolink said: "Due to severe overhead line damage at Victoria, the Bury line is currently completely suspended and is expected to remain suspended until the end of service on Sunday 11 June, with repairs being undertaken through tonight and into tomorrow morning."
It said a shuttle bus will be operating from the North Gate at Heaton Park to Shudehill bus station in Manchester city centre throughout the evening. Otherwise people are being advised to walk back into the city centre, which is estimated to take about an hour. A designated pick-up point is also in place Sainsbury's on Heaton Park Road.
For Soccer Aid fans at Old Trafford, trams on the Altrincham line are still operating between Altrincham and Piccadilly. People can connect at Cornbrook to other Metrolink lines to reach their final destinations.
In addition to several local buses that pass near to the stadium (250, 255, 256, 263 and x50), shuttle buses to and from the match are also in operation between Old Trafford and the Bridgewater Hall on Lower Mosley Street.
The incident at Victoria is also causing problems on other lines on the Metrolink network, with the Oldham/Rochdale line currently suspended between the city centre and Newton Heath and Moston.
The East Didsbury line will operate to Exchange Square, and the Eccles line will operate to Ashton. The Manchester Airport line will operate to Cornbrook. Delays are also expected this evening on the Ashton and Altrincham lines.
TfGM’s Interim Chief Operating Officer, Alex Cropper, said: "We apologise for the disruption to Metrolink services this evening and in particular, to those passengers attending Parklife and Soccer Aid who are affected. We are working hard to resolve the issues as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption to passengers.
"Additional staff will be on hand to support passengers across the network. Passengers are advised to check TfGM’s website for the latest travel updates for Sunday evening and Monday morning."
Tickets are being accepted on local bus services:
Tickets and passes can be used on the 17, 18, 41, 52, 53, 56, 66, 90, 95, 97, 98, 112, 117, 118, 119, 135, 156, 163, 524 bus services for the Bury line.
Tickets and passes can be used on the 57, 59, 76, 76a, 81, 83, 114, 149, 181, 182, 409, 411, 415, 471 bus services for the Rochdale line.
Tickets and passes can be used on the 7, 76, 76a 171, 172, 216, 219, 230, 231 bus services for the Ashton line.
