All trams CANCELLED between Chorlton, Stretford and city centre on Manchester derby weekend

Replacement bus services will be in operation on three Metrolink lines this weekend due to engineering works.

The work involving the replacement of points systems at the Deansgate-Castlefield mean no trams will run between Chorlton, Stretford and the city centre on Saturday and Sunday (March 5 and 6).

Whilst services on the Airport, Ashton, Eccles and Rochdale will also be amended with some terminating early.

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Replacement bus services will be running between Chorlton and Victoria on the East Didsbury line, Stretford and Piccadilly on the Altrincham line and Wharfside and Piccadilly on the Trafford Centre line.

They will run every 10 minutes on Saturday and 12 minutes on Sunday.

Manchester City take on rivals United the Manchester derby at the Etihad on Sunday (March 6), kicking-off 4:30pm.

Alongside the tram replacement buses, a shuttle bus service is being laid on between the East Didsbury tram stop and the Etihad Stadium, especially for match-goers.

The double-decker buses will depart from East Didsbury every ten minutes from 2:50pm and 3:10pm, returning every 10 minutes from 6:30pm to 7pm from the bus stop on Ashton New Road outside the stadium after the game.

They will not stop anywhere en route.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “Our contractor, KeolisAmey Metrolink, is replacing a critical set of points at Deansgate Castlefield over the weekend. This work will improve the reliability of the network.

“Unfortunately, it requires some disruption on Saturday and Sunday as trams from the south of the network will have to stop short of Deansgate Castlefield. There is also preparatory work overnight from Wednesday March 2.

“A strengthened tram