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On Wednesday 29 July 2026, a project began to replace eight lifts across the Metrolink network, and was said to take place over the next nine months or so. The eight lift repairs will be done two at a time.
Sign at Victoria tram stop notifying passengers of future Heaton Park lift replacement, pictured on 27 July 2026.
Works began on Heaton Park’s outbound lift on 29 July 2026, and on Failsworth’s outbound lift on 3 August 2026. Though the works were expected to take two months for each lift, they are both still closed.
Also, the inbound lifts at both Failsworth and Hollinwood were out-of-service for a time during the works, meaning there was no step-free access at these tram stops for some time. Metrolink provided a taxi service for passengers needing to alight at these tram stops.
The outbound lift at Hollinwood boarded up for replacement works, pictured on 5 October 2026.
Now, works have begun at Freehold and Hollinwood. They were planned to start on Monday 5 October 2026.
The lift to be replaced at Freehold, pictured on 8 October 2026.
Weirdly, the lift at Freehold actually wasn’t boarded up or even closed for that matter. It was still completely operational and open to public use for at least 4 days after the works were scheduled to begin.
Once again, at Freehold, both lifts were out-of-service for a time, meaning that there was no step-free access at the tram stop. The Bee Network website says: “Customers should alight at South Chadderton or Westwood stop and use the orange call point situated on all stops and request assistance to complete your journey.” South Chadderton and Westwood are at street level and have step-free access via ramps instead of lifts.
The next lifts to be replaced will be at Dane Road and Brooklands on the Altrincham Line, and Firswood and Chorlton on the South Manchester (Didsbury) Line.
Banner notifying passengers of lift closure, pictured on 14 October 2026.
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