Trams are worth including on the channel occasionally as they are a form of railroad. With the zig-zag route I'm not surprised it took an hour. At least the scenery was nice.

@chrisamies2141

Жыл бұрын

It literally takes twice as long to get from the airport to the town centre as the train does - but the day tram ticket (which surely should be called a "Manchester Rambler"?) costs the same as the rail fare.

@stephenhemingway8218

Жыл бұрын

Ye but the Train is intended as going from A to B, the tram links and serves the area inbetween - very few go the whole way

@OwlGreene

Жыл бұрын

Occasionally? Always worth including.

@planestrains3676

Жыл бұрын

What wythenshawe is classed as nice scenery, are you for real?

Metrolink is a great system for travel to and from the city centre. But if you're trying to get around Greater Manchester, being forced to go into the centre and back out again makes it very slow. An outer ring line would really improve traffic congestion around Greater Manchester. They are talking about doing this, they've been talking about it for a while, and no-doubt will keep talking about it for many more years. By the way, at Old Trafford the team wear white, because that's the cricket ground. For the team in red, you need to take the Trafford Centre line and get off at Wharfside.

@southofthemersey7351

Жыл бұрын

An orbital route connecting the surrounding towns would be ideal and could use existing mothballed trackbed, parliamentary or freight only lines. Just in North-East-South you could use the ELR line to link Bury - Heywood - Rochdale. Oldham - Ashton would be straightforward as a street running route on the 409 bus route. Ashton area, Guide bridge, already has a little used rail link to Stockport and could be used to bring places like Denton and South Reddish back into a rail service. This sort of idea has been under "proposal" for years.I won't hold my breath on this ever happening. Takes years and years for a decision to made let all breaking any ground to build something.

@egpx

Жыл бұрын

To be fair, Lancashire Lightning wear red!

@andrewnelson4057

Жыл бұрын

Orbital bus routes already exist.

@southofthemersey7351

Жыл бұрын

@@andrewnelson4057 In Greater Manchester? Where?

@stanislavkostarnov2157

2 ай бұрын

@@southofthemersey7351 the 1452 in orbit of Planet Zog....

We love the Manchester trams. When we visit Manchester we stay near Piccadilly Station so we do usually arrive by train - including train from the airport. However, we take advantage of the weekend special ticket you can get for the Metrolink service. This is available after 6pm on Friday evenings, and gives you unlimited travel until late Sunday night. Our favourite trip is out to Ashton under Lyne. Mind you, the last time we got a train going to Manchester airport it was a Saturday morning and was rammed full of hen parties from Leeds going to Jersey or somewhere, who had opened their second bottle of Prosecco before they got to Huddersfield.

Having used this route myself, compared to other routes to the airport, it's not the quickest route, given the amount of street running, but it makes up for it by giving rail access for communities close to the airport to go either to the airport or to the city

@Mgameing123

Жыл бұрын

Yes you anyways got a fast train connection so the trams can just run local.

Great accessibility features of these M5000 trams - you can ‘advanced call’ the door opening buttons when on the tram before you get to the stop. This then leaves you free to be prepared for arrival at the tram stop (i.e. crutches, sticks, shopping, wheelchair etc) without having to press the button at the moment of arrival.

Ah my home city. The Metrolink has made travelling round the suburbs a lot quicker than using the bus. This line is really meant for people working at the airport who live nearby, travelling between suburbs or taking the tram into the city centre but it’s very well used. There may eventually be a loop that links to the Airport around Whythenshaw Hospital which has been on the drawing board for decades but fell foul of funding issues but could still be built. The longest trip is from Rochdale to East Didsbury where you will be onboard for around 2 hours!!

@maqueexxtv7241

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, tbf the Manchester Airport tram line was the best place to end the branch, as for South MAnchester residents its easy and cheap. Though if i were heading to/from Rochdale or Bury, I would definitely shy away. Very handy for local trips, like Chorlton to Wythenshawe or Old Trafford to Sale as the bus is still extortionate!

Thank you for the nice video.I think it is a very good idea to show us a tram system and I do hope you'll make similar videos about tram systems in the UK or anywhere else in the world.Excellent as usual....

Very unusual to see a tram review; not many UK towns and cities have tram networks! Trams would probably be better than buses (at least if they had enough seating for the busier parts of the journeys), though I can see why a train to the airport would be the preferred option as it would be quicker, not stopping everywhere in the city center!

To some extent, the Metrolink is somehow hybrid between railway and trams as many parts of it included the recovery of former railways including the Oldam-Rochdale and the Bury-Manchester one. I travelled a few times on the Metrolink and tbh I love it as a system.

@truedarklander

Жыл бұрын

so it operates as a tram-train in some lines is what you're saying

@enricomonti156

Жыл бұрын

@@truedarklander yes. In some sections it does

@YT_JoshSausage

Жыл бұрын

I live on the Metrolink system and it’s perfect for swiftly getting into the city centre for some shopping! These services are very frequent and that makes them great!

I had the pleasure of travelling on the Metrolink tram system in 2017 from Manchester Piccadilly to Prestwich as I had travelled up for a cycling event which was at Goshen Sports Centre in Bury. I stayed overnight at the Premier inn at Prestwich which was about a 10 minute walk from Prestwich tram station

These LRVs are quite new, these units (M5000) were built between 2007(ish) to 2021. They replaced the older T68 LRVs between 2012 and 2014. They were replaced because of corrosion in the undercarriage as they were built in Italy and weren't too keen on the Manc weather, and fun fact the first few M5000s were tested in Vienna!

@ianrobertson2634

Жыл бұрын

They were originally going to fix the rust but when the M5000s arrived they realised how much reliable they were than the T68s ever where so they decision was made to scrap the T68s rather than repair the rotting chassis. I am guessing the cost of a full refurb of the T68s would have eaten a lot into the cost of a new M5000 too. It also makes a lot more sense having an identical fleet from a maintenance point of view. The M5000 production line is now closed though, and the Flexity Swift wasn't actually brand new when they were introduced in to Metrolink in 2009 so hopefully in the future will see a different design added to the network, possibly a high floor Flexity Swift 2.

@juliew1824

Жыл бұрын

Blue trams, yellow trams!

@lrvproductions

Жыл бұрын

@@ianrobertson2634Yes, they were also thinking of keeping the T68a's in service instead of the T68 but they found out they were heavier than the M5000s, so they were also taken out of service

@lzh4950

Жыл бұрын

I rode the M5000 during a day trip to Manchester in 2017 & I felt as much NVH on it as the low-floor Cobra trams in Zurich as they went round corners, even though the former is high-floor & its bogies should have enjoyed more un-encumbered movement

@watcherzero5256

5 ай бұрын

They did consider a rebuild (keeping the chassis and bogies and replacing all the electricals and motors) before they decided it wasnt worth it with corrosion vs new which were quite cheap. Two factors that influenced that were the Italian tram electricians were just as good as their car electricians and couldn't follow a wiring plan so no two vehicles were wired exactly the same way often mixing wire colours (see also T-69). Secondly Italian steel in the 70-90's predominantly came from the scrapping of Soviet cargo ships and so had a high salt content from its maritime life. I think its quite similar today in Bangladesh for example where between 80 and 90% of steel comes from ship breaking.

I'm visiting Manchester in 3 months time, so can't wait to try them out. which is helpful as I'm going to a concert there, so I will be using that .

Great video as always, it was good to see you using the trams, it would be nice to see more like this

I loved this trip. I'm quite a fan of trams, but recognise that the train is better for this route. The Metrolink has expanded quite a lot since I worked in Manchester.

I hope you enjoyed the travel around the system! A circle line has been talked about for years, because popular journeys like Oldham to Bury are only possible by going to Victoria and back the same way to Bury, with a journey time of 50 mins. Hopefully this gets incorporated in the near future.

Some trivia about the Metro link: The are the only Trams that can run multiple units in the UK. It is the only system to use MPH instead KPH. They are the only Trams that are of railway height, all the rest are low level boarding.

Very interesting video of a very interesting tram. Top quality! 👍

That’s the strangest thing. I was in Manchester on Wednesday and having never been on the tram I wondered what it would be like and even how long it would take to get to the airport. And here we are, two days later and your video pops up! You even went past the offices I was in at 5:58 by the Emmeline Pankhurst statue.

You should take a look at the Newcastle metro system when they introduce the new rolling stock. :)

Yes, I enjoyed the tram journey for a change. I was amazed to find there is such a service

Fun fact is that these trams are of the same type as in Cologne, in Germany. And one notice: If you're taking off from Manchester Airport, you should check the "Which Terminal?" label and find the airline from it, unless this departs from more than one terminal.

From Trafford Bar what you can see from the tram as it negociates the junction towards South Manchester, is Lancashire County Cricket Ground and not the Old Trafford Football Ground at all, as the latter is situated away and only can be seen from the Altrincham line at nearby Old Trafford station and even from there just part of the main facade metal structure. The only line that provides full sight of the Old Trafford Football Ground is the CLC Manchester to Liverpool via Warrington Central that less than a decade ago used to be served by the football ground halt, dedicated to match days only. As long as i know, security concerns led to its closure around 2017.

Oml I need to ride this Thank you so much for making this Video Dylan and must of been Hard work editing thanks so much for making it

The airport line is my local line, mostly used for people from Wythenshawe to get to Manchester City Centre or in my case I needed to get to Stretford or Trafford Park, it was not intended to get to the airport from point A to B, more to get people along the line connected, Absolute nightmare getting from Wythenshawe to City Centre on a bus that takes 1hr to 1hr and 20mins! Absolute nightmare to get from Barlow Moor to City Centre, a bus to Southern Cemetery bus station (10mins walk) to connect with a bus down Princess Road & Moss Side. I've seen people get on for the airport and they've not been been impressed because they were expecting a direct link, the train is the best way, as you have stated...

The metro link is good but I think the Tyne and Wear metro in Newcastle would be a good video to complete. Love the videos 👍

You were at the bottom of my road on this trip!!! I could have brought you coffee for your long journey!!!! I think even the bus is quicker into the city from places like Wythenshawe, Baguley and Chorlton!

Great video!

Great trip. I think next time you should try the tram again, especially in Mainland Europe. After watching this, looks like Old Trafford location in somewhere between Manchester Victoria Station and Manchester Airport, or I must say the middle point of the route/line.

Compare using the tram to the cost of airport parking (which in the USA is astronomical even for economy lots far away) a hours tram ride is worth it, especially avoiding a taxi

Dylan that was very interesting thank you....

I love the Metrolink system. So reliable when I'm up in Manny for a Kosher grocery shop near Prestwich (I get off at Bowker Vale). Since I'm a uni student in the west midlands, there's not a lot of kosher shops here so have to make an expensive trip to Manchester which I love going to 😁

I love travelling the metrolink. Good coverage of suberbs and city centre but trams can get extremely busy and being disabled this can be an issue. I would love to see more trams in the UK on the channel. Nottingham has a good coverage of trams as has Sheffield but wouldn't recommend my local West Mids.

Just a few points to expand on your excellent film. The Manchester city centre shopping area is much the worse for the closure of Debenhams. You see the huge store now looking almost derelict as you passed the Market St stop. Branching off to the left over the junction at Trafford Bar the rail line used to be the Midland main line from Manchester Central (now the exhibition centre next to Deansgate Castlefield tram stop) to London St Pancras. The track bed was relaid for the trams. Finally, like you, I would never use the tram to get to the airport simply because it goes through not so nice areas like Wythenshawe. Thanks for uploading and many congratulations on your marriage.

Used the Metrolink system back in the mid 2000s to travel to work office in Eccles (end of the light blue line from Piccadilly). Always found it reliable, clean and convenient.

@RailFan4000

Жыл бұрын

Yeah we had better trams back then! Miss T68s so much.

I think the reason why platforms are risen, has its origins in cut rebuild costs, as no other tram network even using reopened railway sections or using old railway stations, kept the original platform hight. In shared light rail and heavy rail stretches of lines, high platforms are a very effective way to disencourage railway trespassingwithout using other methods, such as barriers on the 6th foot as installed at Rotherham Central railway station in South Yorkshire, due to the flat tram platforms on the western end of the station main platform.

I think the tram system in Manchester is great for getting around the area if you have the time as it shows you areas that are not necessarily served by the train and is also more at “ground” level if you know what I mean.

Been on tram in Manchester to Salford quays near old Trafford from the centre once which was nice although very quick lol

Trams are light rail and usually fun to ride at time. Be safe on your trip!!

Being a Mancunian maybe views on the other side of the tram (eg central library, Midland hotel amd GMex or even Bridgewater Hall than Oxford Road might have been more picturesque. Plus I agree if in the city centre, the train is a lot quicker although if you live to the south of the city, tram becomes a possible/better solution.

I once did the airport to Piccadilly in 9 minutes on a TPE Clas185. . I think I'll stick to the train.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Vienna. There the Eastern Austrian Verkehrsverbund ensures that identical ticketing (and fares) apply to all modes of local public transport, - tram, local train and bus. The one significant exception to this is the CAT trains between the Airport and the City Centre. The Verkehrsverbund arrangement is to be found in all German-speaking cities in Europe. And in Zurich the verkehrverbund tickets ARE valid on Inter-City trains between the airport and the city centre.

@TheEpicAppleEater01

Жыл бұрын

In Dublin they have engaged an identical flat fare and ticketing system through the smart card. 90 minutes unlimited travel in the city and suburbs for €2 adults, €1 young adults/students, and 65c children (the disabled and poor already travel free). It is a huge innovation in making PT simpler to understand and more affordable.

You should review the Nottingham trams as they're quite interesting

Nice informative video, and useful to know there's an alternative way of getting to Manchester Airport. At 04:15 you equate seat softness with comfort. What do you make of cities such as Zurich that have hard wood polished seats even on their most modern trams? I doubt if cost is the issue; the Zurich seats are hand crafted and probably cost far more than a factory produced bus/tram seat.

@lzh4950

Жыл бұрын

Maybe trams don't experience as much bumps as buses as they ride on rails whose surfaces are already smoothened from grinding during regular maintenance

I live in the city centre and agree, I'd only use tram to the airport when the trains aren't running. Metrolink is a pretty good service though a bit pricey.

Old Trafford stop isn't on the Airport line, it's on the Altrincham line. Plus it serves Old Trafford cricket ground rather than the football stadium. The football ground is about half a mile away and better served by other stops on the Eccles and Trafford Centre lines.

Hi Dylan Thanks for tram history. Will you try Edinburgh trams when the new full route opens to Newhaven from Airport?

Can get the bus to the airport from Piccadilly gardens for £2. Probably a better option than a packed tram. Best option is of course the train if they are running.

@fluffycloudsdogadventures

Жыл бұрын

1 hour V 15/20 minutes from the city centre. Makes sense to take the tram if it's running.

Would love to see more tram videos.

I travelled the entire network when I lived there. That was 1994 though. I guess I must pay a visit sometime.

brilliant dylan mate i reviewed the blackpool tram i love the manchester tram review

Bouncy, is what they're like. They originally ran on old train track out of the city centre when they first came which was very bouncy (I'm a daily Bury line traveller).. Then they upgraded bits with new track and it was smooth for a bit. But weirdly, the bounciness and clattering eventually came back on the new track. And in general - they're good when they're working, but when there's a breakdown and nothing can run past the broken team or points, you get what is known as Metrolink Rage! I enjoyed watching this though.

I agree with you for old Trafford

Wouldn't mind seeing more tram videos being honest, really enjoy seeing Simonsway 🤣 but a great video

If you thought the M5000's seats were hard, wait until you try their K5000 siblings in Cologne. Solid plastic, no padding whatsoever 😳

The thing about Metrolink is that most people in Manchester don't remember a time before it unless they are bordering on retirement. Prior to it being built Manchester was a complete car clogged shithole with some of the worst pollution you can imagine. It still is, but now you can get on the Met in a sane town and get into Manchester, do whatever you went to do and then get out without getting stuck on flyovers towards Deansgate eternally

ive always wanted to ride a metrolink tram let alone a tram

As someone from Blackpool I just think of trams as normal (and I go to Manchester frequently).

I'd love to see more team videos!

nice video

The Manchester Metrolink M5000 trams are so efficient and quiet. There are plans to extend the Metrolink to Port Salford and to Stockport.

Definitely agree it takes two long

Metrolink has been a great success. Usually very reliable although I still miss the old T68 trams. The huge expansions now see the city centre area very slow to get through. Similar capacity problems to the national rail with the Castlefield corridor ironically. Metrolink and national rail share a small section of track between Navigation Road and Altrincham. Bury and Oldham should of been kept on national rail not trams in my opinion.

@alfiestewart6312

Жыл бұрын

I'd say the concept of trams being on rail lines is a bit daft in the first place. Trams and trains are very different modes of transport so the Bury line and the Oldham loop should have stayed as National Rail. Then it means for you can get a faster, probably more comfortable train into Victoria and then have a seamless transfer to the tram to go elsewhere in GM that is inaccessible to the rail network. The tram should act as an express, high capacity bus basically rather than a train.

@TheEpicAppleEater01

Жыл бұрын

​@@alfiestewart6312 it works in some places, such as Karlsruhe in Germany (probably the best international example)

@peeky44

Жыл бұрын

And yet usage of the trams on the Oldham & Rochdale line has far outstripped the former train service, despite the smaller vehicles and lower top speed. I still wonder whether it was necessary to do a full conversion, especially as it bars cyclists, but the patronage figures are impressive and that's without accounting for the (sadly significant) ticketless travel.

@alfiestewart6312

Жыл бұрын

@David Peek They might want to think about a solution to the city centre congestion. Do what some European city did and built a tram tunnel under the city centre giving a greater capacity. So then the likes of the Rochdale - Didsbury and Bury - Altrincham trams can alleviate pressure on the ground. Basically turning the longer, more train style routes from trams to being a bit like the Tyne & Wear Metro (minus the bit around Oldham Centre)

@peeky44

Жыл бұрын

@@alfiestewart6312 something along these lines is, at least in theory, proposed - but only in a "big picture" sense, and that was based on Metrolink's pre-pandemic income

Re toilets, I think it's good that you normally comment on them. I suppose that, with a tram every 12 minutes, toilets are not needed on board - but it would be good if tram stops showed where the nearest toilets are ...

We need more places to have trams in the uk. Manchester’s lucky.

@chrisamies2141

Жыл бұрын

True. Bristol could really do with trams. And South Wales (Cardiff / Swansea).

Hey Dylan perhaps you could take a look at Sheffield's supertram services because they are turning 30 years old this year there's also something called a tram train it's exactly what it sounds like it's a British rail class 399 built by staedtler and vussloh between 2013 and 2017

Hi. The picture at 1:24 appears to be Lower Briggate, in Leeds.

apparently was a great reason to use the train... still, the tram does look really cool, and, is not as slow as some trams are...

Love Metrolink but agree the route through to the airport is really slow. Still it provides needed links and I would do what you did if engineering works meant a rail replacement bus. Curious why the tram didn't pull up to the buffers? Seems to make an unnecessary long walk on the platform for passengers.

I use the tram frequently but the point of the airport service is not to get people from the city centre to the airport, but to get people from the suburbs either into the city centre or the airport. I agree with about the seats, they are fine for a quick journey into the city centre but for longer journeys they are not ideal. Considering some of the lines are very long e.g Rochdale to East Didsbury I think the seats should be more comfortable. What I will say is I think overall the Metrolink is brilliant, it is far easier to use and in many cases actually cheaper than the bus. For example a bus would cost me £4 return to the city centre, where as a all day ticket tram ticket to the city centre will cost me just £3.50.

jay foreman has some great videos about trams

Note that fares zone system is orbital for a network layout in star. If you purchase zone 2 fae zone 2 or 2+3+4 for instance, you only can travel sections part of specific group of boroughs as long as you do not use zone 1, where all seervices converge to jump from and to different boroughs excludding Manchester City, and that is not a good deal in my point of view.

@peeky44

Жыл бұрын

Useful in South Manchester and Salford though, given Cornbrook (the interchange between the Eccles, Trafford Park, South Manchester/Airport and Altrincham lines) is a boundary zones 1/2 station.

you earnt urself a sub

Interesting how you mention the network lines by their colours, what is not a usual way to class them here in Manchester, even when refered from Metrolink Services as they rather clas them by their destinations out of town instead. Whereas in my country town, metro system network lines are classed by their colours instead of their original names based on their local history that seems being an abandoned model dating from the late 90s 3rd generation architecture and new corporative image not just the satations but the whole company identity.

Great video! Manchester is lucky to have such a system - it would never have been expanded without critical EU funding. The EU also funded the regeneration after the 1996 IRA bomb, which the people of the city are very aware of and is one reason it had the strongest remain vote in the region in 2016. My one bugbear about it is that they won't allow bikes on board, which I understand for space/practicality reasons but makes it difficult for me to use. I work at the university so I need to get from the city centre to my office, which would take about 20-25 minutes on foot - I therefore use the train, which although very quick (just 10 minutes from Ashton) is really unreliable and doesn't run regularly. I hope Manchester either eventually allows bikes onto the trams, or (perhaps more likely) brings our suburban rail services under public oversight as Andy Burnham wants.

As far as end to end (Mcr city centre to Airport) journeys are concerned, you can't beat the train for speed and economy. The tram service was more for connecting the south Manchester suburbs to the employment areas in the city centre, airport and Wythenshawe areas. I don't think the end to end journey was in the minds of those who planned the line.

would just say, I WOULD ALWAYS TAKE THE TRAM unless there was a good reason not to, just more fun!!!!

As a regular tram user, idm the seats although they could be better

I live in Manchester so use the trams all the time. I aim to take the tram to the airport soon. I wouldn't take the train as where I live the tram to the airport stops there. I'm curious as to why you wouldn't take them again to the airport, cost & timing?.

Pity you do not live 'Downunder' and film the Melbourne tram network -- 250kms of track, 500 trams, 1700+ stops and 2M+ passengers a year (pre Covid)

Surprised to not see any complaints about the lack of toilets. People have been banging on about the lack of toilets on the new Merseyrail trains, and I'm pretty certain all journeys are shorter than this one. Makes me wonder why the old trains (or these trams) don't have human waste sloshing about on them if it's such a problem.

❤

I love trams

Paaaattroooonnnss Hit me up with some wonga yeah boys

While in Vienna, give us your opinion on their U-Bahns, and trams.

3:35 This tram really hates you, it closed the door on you then closed the opposite when you went in just incase you were about to walk through 🤣

One thing to mention is that the ticket used is for all 4 zones for the whole day allowing you to go across the whole network

@TwilightIlove4eva

Жыл бұрын

Not the £4.60 one, that as far as I'm aware is just a single... The one you're thinking of is £4.90

@arwelp

Жыл бұрын

£4.60 is the all-zones single ticket, £4.90 is the off-peak day ticket (after 0930 Mon-Fri, and all day at weekends and bank holidays), £7.10 is the peak day ticket, and £6.80 is the weekend ticket (valid from 6 p.m. Friday to the last tram on Sunday).

Boa tarde Dylans vrt lindo metrolink

It's the Lancashire Cricket ground not the Man U stadium, but easy mistake to make due to the same of the stop

Dylan: The seats are rock hard Also Dylan: the class 800's are Comfortable Sorry pal, cannot take your seat reviews as gospel 😂😂

Unfortunately Airport Line like wise Oldham and Ashton lines, have a huge problem of anti-social behave incidents, specially on weekends and half term seasons, involving passangers and Manchester Metrolink staff fearing to be in trouble after challenging abusive minors. Apart from that Airport Line although slow as a link Town-Airport, is very useful to serve local communities. Thank you for sharing.

@maqueexxtv7241

Жыл бұрын

I try to avoid going to wythenshawe or beyond by myself on the tram, yet the bus isnt cheap

The M25 does not “orbit” London. The Dartford crossing is an A road.

I men I hew never ben to London I will subscribe 🎉😮

Tram systems? Hm. But how about the Hamburg commuter ferry system?

Go there when I go home mate. Great system but trams are just a bit too small for me

So, when are you doing the local railways/tramways/buses of the Swiss canton of Ticino? There is a reason why your subscribers would like to see it.......😉

I do love a tram. I don't know why, they are really quite boring but there's something about trains running on roads that has always amused me. I use the Metrolink a few times every year, usually to travel to Bury on the Yellow Line or to Old Trafford on the Green /Purple Line. Interesting fact about the Bury Line, it follows the old National Rail line to Bury, Before it was converted to the Metrolink in the 90s, that line utilised a unique 1200V DC third rail system. Interesting fact about Old Trafford tram stop, it is right next door to the stadium. The cricket stadium that is. The football ground is nearer Wharfside. Very handy though the trams are for either Old Trafford stadium, they tend to be completely rammed.I tend to walk to Trafford Bar after the cricket and pick up a tram from there.

@ricktownend9144

Жыл бұрын

I once travelled on the old rail service to Bury - very good, but - I seem to remember - only every half-hour. It was double track, so there was nothing to stop a tram-frequency rail service, but railway managers seem to think that those sort of frequencies - which by now have proved again and again to generate extra custom - are something they just could not do!

I have probably made this comment on other channels before, but I think the Metrolink is a mixed bag. For somewhere like Oldham, removing their train stations is a bit of an identity loss (Oldham used to not be Manchester), and will effect through ticketing to other places (e.g. if you are travelling on an advance train ticket from MCR you can't use a disrupted Metrolink as an excuse).

The only tram I've been on before is the London trams

Try the Croydon Tramlink - I dares you !!

Your tram fares are expensive. Here in Melbourne (which of course never got rid of its trams) the fares are cheaper. Zone 1 and 2 2 hour fare is $AU4.60, daily is $AU9.20 (5 British pounds), which is the daily cap. So you can travel extensively and when you reach the daily fare total, the fare is capped. Our ticket system (Myki) is multi-modal so you can use any form of public transport. Note that for concession holders the fare is halved.