Work has begun to repair Heaton Park's tramway after it was targeted by thieves last week.
The repairs are a collaboration between Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM) and specialist transport engineering firm, Pod-Trak.
Volunteers who run the tramway discovered that the thieves had been targeted for the overhead power lines.
It was feared that the line may close indefinitely, but they were lucky to be approached by TfGM.
The repairs were completed in a day, meaning that the tramway will soon be back in action after some testing has been carried out.
What did the officials say?
Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, explained:
“The Heaton Park Tramway is a fantastic attraction, enjoyed by thousands of people every year, and an important piece of our transport heritage. As soon as we heard about this appalling theft, I picked up the phone to KAM and they were already on with finding a solution. Credit to them and Pod-Trak, they've pulled out all the stops and wasted no time in getting the tramway operational again, much to the delight, I'm sure, of future visitors.”
Graham Thornton, Head of Tram Engineering Projects for Keolis Amey Metrolink, was instrumental in getting the repairs done. He added:
“We've got strong links with the Heaton Park Tramway – over the years, our staff have volunteered their expertise and time, so we simply had to help. We've sourced the wires they need and organised for Pod-Trak to carry out the repairs. These trams are a vital piece of Greater Manchester's heritage and for us, and we're proud to get the tramway operational again, for the volunteers and public to enjoy.”
Keith Whitmore, Chairman of Heaton Park Tramway Trust said:
“I want to place on record our thanks to TFGM, Keolis Amey Metrolink, Pod-Track and our own City Council Officers based in the park for the tremendous response, and working in partnership to come to the rescue of our much loved heritage tramway, which will now be up and running again so quickly. Without their help the future of the tramway looked very bleak indeed. When our volunteers arrived to see the tramway in such a state following the theft of the wiring there was doubt that trams would not operate for some time. Now everyone wants to just say a big thank you for the massive response to get our tramway moving again.”
Geoff Senior, Operations Manager at the Heaton Park Tramway said:
“Ours is the only tramway that operates on its original 1901 track. All our volunteers are so grateful for the support given to keep our tramway operating; we rely on gifts, grants and donations to survive, and we will always remember this marvelous response.”
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Thieves don’t know how live overhead wires is dangerous because of the voltage inside the wires that powers the trams. But they everything to steal copper wires and putting themselves and others at risk and causing misery to people who use the trams and trains of course. As there has been lots of overhead wires stolen from criminals.