Metrolink between Victoria and Exchange Square set to resume in early May

Metrolink services between Victoria and Exchange Square are set to resume in early May following months of repairs, transport bosses have said.

'Complex' repairs involving a cracked rail have caused disruption to the East Didsbury-Rochdale Town Centre and East Didsbury-Shaw and Crompton lines since January 22. The Exchange Square tram stop, which was initially closed, has sinced reopened - but routes did not return to normal.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have now said repairs to the damaged crossing 'have been completed', and final checks are in progress.

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They added they hope to 'reinstate full operations' through Manchester Victoria in early May, aiming for the 'least amount of disruption for passengers'.

The route changes were made in January after engineers discovered a cracked rail on the approach to Victoria station, which forms part of a crossing linking Victoria to Exchange Square and St Peter’s Square.

Initially, temporary service changes were introduced, but further investigation of the rail revealed that the track would not be able to be fixed in situ, due to the crack being close to a crossing between two tracks, TfGM said.

In February, bosses announced Exchange Square would reopen, but services will still not go back to normal. East Didsbury-Rochdale trams are still going via Market Street, and the East Didsbury-Shaw and Crompton service is operating between East Didsbury and Exchange Square only.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “Repairs to the complex crossing have been completed and final checks are in progress ahead of reinstalling the rail.

“TfGM is working closely with the operator