Metrolink lift replacement program begins

(last updated 14 Aug 2026)

On Wednesday 29 July 2026, a project began to replace eight ageing lifts across the Metrolink network in poor condition, funded by the UK Government. An investment of £1.7 million will fund this project, and will take place over the next nine months.

The eight lift repairs will be done two at a time, starting with Heaton Park and Failsworth, estimated to take 2 months. Then it will be Hollinwood and Freehold on the Rochdale Line, Dane Road and Brooklands on the Altrincham Line, and Firswood and Chorlton on the South Manchester (Didsbury) Line.

Boarded up and closed lift at Heaton Park, 4 August 2026.

The lift replacement work began at Heaton Park on 29 July 2026. Here, the outbound-platform lift is being replaced (for trams towards Bury).

Heaton Park is an ex-British Rail station which did not have step-free access before its conversion to Metrolink, therefore a lift was placed on each platform to fix this problem.

There is no pedestrian track crossing at Heaton Park, meaning there is no step-free access to the outbound platform for the duration of the lift replacement work.

This scrolling message is displayed on some of the outbound platforms along the Bury Line:

“From 29 July, there will be no step free access to the Bury platform at Heaton Park for two months while we replace the lift. The Manchester lift will stay open. Check BeeNetwork.com/Lift-Replacement.”

Apparently, the majority of the works will happen during the day, but between 00:30 and 05:30 on 4-7 August and 17-18 September, overnight works will take place on the lift, which may cause noise. Noisier works will be limited to the daytimes as much as possible for local residents.

Passengers requiring step-free access from Heaton Park’s outbound platform are suggested to, on an outward journey, travel to Crumpsall (two stops), use the track crossing, and board a tram to Bury there. Bowker Vale is just one stop away, but although it has step-free access, it is much more difficult to cross platforms there than at Crumpsall. Same with if you’re on a journey towards Heaton Park from Manchester. It is recommended to skip Heaton Park and Prestwich and alight at Besses o’ th’ Barn, which has an island platform (easy switches between platforms), then board a tram heading to Manchester to get to Heaton Park’s accessible platform.

Older sign at Heaton Park’s inbound lift, 4 August 2026.

An older sign at Heaton Park states similarly what to do in the event of a lift being out of service. The only difference is it recommends Prestwich instead of Besses o’ th’ Barn, even though it is much more difficult to cross platforms at Prestwich.

The lift replacement work began at Failsworth on 3 August 2026, just after the major works at Deansgate-Castlefield, Cornbrook, Anchorage, etc. had finished. Here, the outbound-platform lift is being replaced also (for trams towards Oldham and Rochdale). Failsworth has a track crossing, so no scrolling messages were on any display boards, and this lift closure wasn’t advertised as much either. Passengers requiring step-free access can, of course, simply use the track crossing to get to the Manchester platform and use that lift.

Banner at Failsworth’s outbound platform, 4 August 2026.

Cabin at Failsworth (probably having to do with the lift works), 4 August 2026.

The TfGM website states that “Works will take place during the day however, this is subject to change and any updates to working hours will be provided as soon as possible.”

There is also additional support provided for passengers during these works, where a support line can be called (one number during normal working hours, which is the normal Customer Services line, and another number outside of working hours) where passengers can request a taxi to assist them in getting to an accessible tram stop.

Heaton Park’s lift boarded up, 4 August 2026.

Rather upsettingly, within 10 days after the works at Failsworth began, the other lift (the Manchester platform’s lift) was taken out of service as well, so that there is currently no step-free access to and from Failsworth tram stop at all. However, several notices on the TfGM website have still not been updated to reflect this recent news.