
We all like the concept of trams, it would seem. They are faster and more attractive than the bus, more frequent than the train. And now that the Congestion Charge is history and we're getting most of the "Big Bang" anyway, the future looks bright for the Metrolink in Manchester. If only the present looked so good – what a total shambles the current system is in! Here's a little list:
- No trams in the city centre for nearly six months due to track replacement work: city centre looks like a building site
- No trams on two of the three existing lines during August, only two years after a similar summer holiday closure
- No trains on the Oldham line for two to three years from this October: no dedicated rail replacement services for Oldham line rail services
The last point is presumably a plus point as far as GMPTE and First are concerned – the bus operators will strengthen their existing routes to cater for the former train passengers during the closure, at no/little/less* cost to the taxpayer (* delete as appropriate)
The thing that really annoys me though is the new livery. I think it's pretty rubbish on several counts:
- I don't understand why yellow and grey has been chosen as a colour scheme – there's no historical explanation I can think of, and it seems a bit like they're copying Merseytravel.
- The actual device of circles decreasing in size between the two colour areas is very "turn-of-the-millennium desktop publishing" to my mind. There's only so many ways to skin a cat, but to pay a design agency to remind you of one?
- Why not call a tram a tram, and have a pictogram of a tram as the logo? It would make far more sense at stations etc than some abstract square-full-of-circles. Or would that belie the concept of the integrated transport system where you can't get a combined season ticket for the tram and another mode of transport?
I'll enjoy the idea of being able to get a tram into Chorlton from Didsbury, once it's built, although in my housebound state I'm not sure how often I'd make use of it.

