Metrolink to Rochdale Town Centre

3019 at Rochdale Railway Station, the current terminus, dominated by the 1924 St John the Baptist Catholic Church

Ahead of the Monday 31st March public opening of the new Metrolink line to Rochdale centre, there were four days of shadow running over the town centre tracks from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th March. The current journey time to the temporary terminus of Rochdale Railway Station from Shudehill (the Victoria Station stop is currently closed for renovation) in Manchester is around 50 minutes, the journey to Rochdale being via Oldham and Milnrow. See Blackpool Trams on Flickr for more photos taken on the Rochdale line on 29th March.

3047 at Rochdale Interchange with the old 1970s bus station and car park being demolished in the background

Metrolink 3047 passing the former 1938 Regal Cinema on South Parade on the approach to Rochdale Interchange

Metrolink 3047 climbs out of Rochdale town centre along Drake Street while operating the shadow running service

Metrolink 3049 passing the Cask & Feather public house in Rochdale at the junction of Drake Street and Oldham Rd

Metrolink 3038 & 3056 shadow running along Maclure Road towards the Rochdale Railway Station stop

Two car train 3031 & 3029 arriving from Rochdale at the picturesque village of Newhey on the way to Oldham

Metrolink 3039 passing the 1906 Briar Mill, a former cotton mill, at Shaw and Crompton station on the way to Oldham

Metrolink 3001 at Oldham Central on Union St, passing the imposing Grade II listed 1856 Lyceum Building behind