Metrolink passengers 'evacuated onto tracks' as Manchester line damaged amid Storm Agnes

Metrolink passengers were 'evacuated' from a tram last night after the overhead line was damaged amid Storm Agnes hitting Greater Manchester.

Eyewitnesses said the tram, that had travelled from Sale, came to a halt near Deansgate on Wednesday evening. Passengers reportedly had to get off and walk along the tracks to safety, with pictures showing Metrolink staff helping people off.

A spokesperson for Transport for Greater Manchester said a piece a metal fell onto the overhead line. This caused damage and led to delays and service changes until the end of the service last night.

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The line was repaired in the early hours of this morning. This came as Storm Agnes brought strong winds to our region last night, with a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office.

In a statement, a TfGM spokesperson said: "At around 10.18pm last night (Wednesday evening) we received reports that a piece of metal had fallen on the overhead line near the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.

"Service changes were put in place in the city centre which led to delays across the network until the end of service, when the damaged line was repaired after 1am on Thursday morning."

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