A Tram Crossing Underneath Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station, Greater Manchester

Tram 1: 00:15
Tram Number: 3020/3050a
TOC: Metrolink
Time Passing this Location: 13:00
Destination: Altrincham
Tram 2: 01:30
Tram Number: 3105b
TOC: Metrolink
Time Passing this Location: 13:02
Destination: Bury
Tram 3: 02:03
Tram Number: 3050a/3020a
TOC: Metrolink
Time Passing this Location: 13:05
Destination: Altrincham
Tram 4: 02:45
Tram Number: 3045a
TOC: Metrolink
Time Passing this Location: 13:07
Destination: MediaCityUK
Date Filmed: Monday 3rd October 2022
Video filmed at: 13:00 - 13:07
Location: Fairfield Street, M60 7RA, Manchester
Timetable: N/A
This video was filmed on the iPhone 13 in 1080p60fps.
Hope you enjoyed, Thanks for watching!

[@MervynPartin]

The clearances look pretty tight. I've never seen even photos of this location before, so your video was fascinating. It was reminiscent of Boston's Green Line.

[@UKLCSandT]

Yeah I found this crossing and thought it would be an interesting place to film, with it being somewhat underground and next to such a tight curve, I’m surprised the trams even make it around that bend safely.

[@robrossington7118]

The clearances are less tight with an M5000 than they were with the slightly longer T68s… Also, the curve is nowhere near minimum radius for an M5000 (25m). If you look up Don Coffey on here, you’ll find driver’s eye videos of this bit with yours truly at the helm.

[@pacificostudios]

That's exactly what I thought about: Park Street station in Boston. It's probably better now, but I remember it as this dimly lit three-track station that made you cross live tracks just to get out of the station.

[@nickel1565]

@@pacificostudios its similar, but there is now a tunnel under the tracks to cross, ppl can still cross the live tracks tho so...

[@edgy1357]

agreed there!

[@raishallen4345]

Wow, it sounds amazing when it's going around the corners, love it!

[@silassheriff7868]

Sounds like a light saber

[@ArissonMercinova]

Very unique level crossing, i like to watching it more.

[@theuncalledfor]

This looks like many of my recurring dreams that I've had all my life. Not a perfect match, of course, but it evokes the same feeling, it has the same style. IT IS BEAUTIFUL

[@jvgreendarmok]

I know what you mean. I often dream about versions of underground rail that don't exist (as far as I know) in real life.

[@nathansvlog]

I thought the same thing. Look up "liminal spaces" and you'll find pictures that evoke similar feelings!

[@davidbull7210]

Glad it's not just me who has these dreams!

[@johndelahaye]

Exactly what I was thinking when I scroll down to the first comment and find this. I've dreamt many times about walking on foot along the tracks of dark, complex underground railway networks avoiding the oncoming trains.

[@deepnaresh8970]

​@@davidbull7210🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😂😂😂rre❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😮😮i😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😅😅😅.😅😅😅.k😅😅😅😅😅.😅😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊and naksh

[@DarthCoco]

Wow, really satisfying and cool to see this. If I ever go to Manchester, I'll definitely want to go on them.

[@trainsandmodelshungary]

Thank you so much for sharing! Miss Manny so much AND the trams as well!

[@mrbluesky2050]

many, many years ago, the trams at Man. Pic. terminated and then LOOPED around to the opposite outbound platform, the loop was really tight, think radius 1 in Hornby! thanks to a freindly driver, I got to 'do' this small section of track, not long after the system opened

[@robrossington7118]

There was never a loop at Piccadilly. There were two dead end sidings (storage road and reversing road) after the platforms.

[@NWLevelCrossings]

Very Interesting! Great Video!👍🏻 I’ve been here a lot!

[@emeraldzebra9360]

I have ridden through there for years. But a few weeks ago because of the derailment, I actually got to go over the old X crossover & into the outbound platform inbound with wrong line operation. Was pretty cool

[@UKLCSandT]

Oh wow no way, yeah wondered if them points would be used.

[@robrossington7118]

Technically it’s not a wrong line move as it is fully signalled :)

[@kereta58]

Amazing video, beautiful train

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Brilliant video and find!

[@TransportForLuka]

That's really cool!

[@prasadmadival4582]

Nice time spent watching this video curiously thank you for this. Really cool engineering 🤩

[@flosletsplays5466]

I drive these trains in Cologne Germany and am very satisfied with them. In Manchester they drive in full equipment and another driver's stand it would be possible to get a picture of them to see the difference. Thank you so much for your help.

[@robrossington7118]

I can help you with that one (Metrolink driver here). Do you use Instagram?

[@flosletsplays5466]

@@robrossington7118 Yes i use Instagram. 🤗

[@flosletsplays5466]

prvt_.flo

[@robrossington7118]

@@flosletsplays5466 I will send you some pictures on there :)

[@flosletsplays5466]

@@robrossington7118 thank you very much. 🤗

[@joachimbiddulph1001]

Lovely purr and sound effects

[@NorthWestLevelCrossingsChannel]

Great video 👍

[@drivingottawa]

What an interesting station.

[@rmin]

really amazing. never see this before. thought it is subway

[@leveltrains1295]

Nice, nice crossings

[@Sxtsxmx47]

Never saw a crossing in a tunnel. Satisfying.

[@MissWizard]

Looks a spooky and scary crossing, yet strangely fascinating.

[@Thomas1980]

Super nice Video!

[@kobeloks]

This train is just adorable.

[@pacificostudios]

BTW, has anyone suggested installing bells on your trams? The trains in my neighborhood (southern California) all have bells as well as horns. Bells are a nice way to tell people that a tram is coming towards them.

[@AndreA-ke2id]

The horn tells people the train is coming. The bell system in America is ridiculous. Certainly don't need it in UK.

[@highvoltageswitcher6256]

@@AndreA-ke2id With respect 😃 I don’t agree that the bells used in the US are ridiculous, they are just of their place and culture. I think the Manchester Metrolink horns are part of our culture in GM now and I would not change them. When I used to travel to London on the train for a meeting then returned and got off at Manchester Piccadilly the first time I heard that Metrolink horn sound my heart, as well as my head, new I was back home in GM.

[@Lolwutfordawin]

@@AndreA-ke2id German trams use bells as well. Much friendlier way of letting pedestrians know they are in the way, and is distinctive as only trams have them.

[@dusty.7792]

@@Lolwutfordawin These are also distinctive. It's not a regular horn, kinda has a whistle tone to it.

[@johnd6487]

Think it’s just system choice, Nottinghams trams have bells, although I did recently hear one give a blast of a horn at a lorry driver doing something stupid, so evidently they do have horns as well

[@muncherofpizza]

This looks so weird to me. And those sounds, fascinating

[@NahuelPadilla1988]

I dont know why... But this looks amazing and beautyfull

[@Musician-Lee]

Really good video. I never knew about the underground tram in Manchester.

[@trueriver1950]

It's not really underground, though it looks it in this video Where it runs under the station at Manchester Piccadilly it is actually at ground level: it looks underground because the main line station is built on legs (like many city centre stations, it's on lugs to be at the level of the bridges needed to get the trains over the roads that were there before the railway)

[@AndreA-ke2id]

It's not an underground tram system. Just this little bit.

[@loco4loco]

The only underground Manchester nearly got was en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picc-Vic_tunnel

[@pRopaaNS]

Surreal, feels like a train indoors in a house!

[@ishouldgetalif3]

No idea how i ended up here but, that's really tight!

[@UKLCSandT]

Hmm your not the only person who’s had my video suggested for them lol. They really are tight bends.

[@blackcats8672]

素晴らしい動画感謝します。

[@oc2phish07]

A very interesting video. Most unusual and very watchable. Looks like a scary and potentially dangerous crossing for pedestrians. I did enjoy it so well done for making it and thanks for posting.

[@Maloy7800]

DO NOT give brits ideas. They will think it's "dangerous" and will put an aircraft carrier to regulate traffic. (Not that it's good for anything else) And open special courses for pedestrians. With brits' love for unnecessary credentials, I'm surprised there is no walking license in uk.

[@yixnorb5971]

@@Maloy7800 The Beatles sang "If you walk the street he'll tax your feet". (from the song Taxman.)

[@z00h]

Scary in what way? STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN.

[@Naturelady-rf5zx]

And put your dumb phone away.

[@Owen01]

@@Maloy7800 Do not leave dumb comments 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

For some reason, I like it when trains fast by confined spaces

[@loco4loco]

Is probably going like 15 mph

[@billtuckwell1399]

This is common on tram/metro systems in Germany, Essen, Dusseldorf and Koln being only a few examples

[@bfapple]

Alas, this is more of a ‘built over’ route, rather than a proper underground.

[@BrokenCurtain]

I've never seen anything like this in Berlin, though.

[@EugeneAyindolmah]

All are pre-metro lines

[@outtokill7]

Toronto has a couple loops like this. The one at Union Station in particular is similar but doesn't have the level boarding platform.

[@TimTimGo99]

Cool. This is the k5000 from the KVB Cologne it is a nice Tram in cologne drive this tram on six lines

[@robrossington7118]

It’s a very close relative of the K5000, but there’s quite a few differences.

[@user-cj7dv8ot5k]

世界にはこんな鉄道もあるのか…と驚かされた。地下駐車場のような狭いトンネルに超キツいカーブ。このトラム（地下鉄？）に乗ってみたいですね。👍

[@grebog2431]

Interesting solution :)

[@mattstrainsandthings5577]

Excellent video!

[@tristanstrains]

Very nice 👍

[@transitdude3352]

Reminds me of New Jersey transit Newark underground light rail 🚈

[@theindianrailguy]

wow 😳

[@MasterBait1]

A "train" that drives indoor squeeze through pedestrian walk on which you can get so close to it, this will make the 5 year old me so happy to watch

[@notmo.]

An unrelated fact to this video: When I activate night mode (dims screen and makes it more yellowish) on my phone and I go on this video, it deactivates, and then reactivates if I close it. This doesn't happen with any other video.

[@UKLCSandT]

It’s probably the lighting in the video as well from the “street lights” I’ve never known that to happen before either though

[@BusseUndBahnen]

oooh, Bombardier Flexity Swift, just like the ones in Bonn, Germany

[@akockulot4991]

What is that noise as the tram is ready

[@michaelsandford1015]

Cool

[@lmlmd2714]

Are the bogies articulated on the Manchester tram sets? It looks like they aren't, but that seems an odd decision given they are high floor.

[@robrossington7118]

Yes they are.

[@Damien.D]

Strange station. I'd totally see this place in a dystopian cyberpunk near future movie.

[@trueriver1950]

Well spotted The distopian concrete is there to absorb impact should a tram derail or two trams collide. It was felt at the time of construction that this was the only safe way to route light rail through a space designed to take horse drawn carts and suchlike. Those in charge of the mainline station were concerned to ensure that even a major tram incident could not disturb the pillars that support the station up. Above the team stop is a terminus for heavy rail with 12 terminal platforms and the team stop is right underneath two or three of those. (There are another two platforms nearby for through trains). You can see the point: a tram collision would be bad news but the survivors would maybe appreciate not having a couple of mainline locos coming down on them to add to their problems ;)

[@UKLCSandT]

Wow you sure know a lot about the trams in Manchester, I would of thought that at this crossing it would of been under like the ticket hall of Piccadilly station not under the actual lines? I’m not too sure my self what’s above this point. That makes sense how you say the concrete is there to absorb impact from a derailing tram as the walls in between each tram line are so thick.

[@highvoltageswitcher6256]

@@UKLCSandT I think where you were stood is close to the buffers of platform 12? Not sure really will have to Google earth it or use an old fashioned map. The footpath crossing you were filming at is at the Oldham/ Rochdale end of the station not then Piccadilly Gardens/ Manchester City Centre end?

[@petermichaelgreen]

​@@highvoltageswitcher6256 The crossing in the video is at the overbridge end, rather than the main concourse end of the station. If you continue past the crossing you come out the side of the station near a lift that takes you to platform 12 and the "link bridge lounge".

[@Knight465]

Looks like in my dream

[@gormenfreeman499]

This is reminding me of the tram levels in Half-Life. 😆

[@user-uj9zi9zk7n]

What is rail gauge and minimal radius here?

[@robrossington7118]

Standard gauge and the minimum radius on the system is about 20m.

[@britishwillywanker]

I recently flew from Houston to Manchester the gate was like 210 seemed the furthest away from passport control, the moving walkways were not working had the get a train to Manchester Piccadilly train station ,then another to York and on to Northallerton ,would this have helped me ? .

[@randomworldofneil]

Not really. The trains and trams run from the station at the airport and the tram t takes a lot longer than the train. Plus the tram station is underground at Pic so you'd have had lifts to deal with to get to the train platforms

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

looks so odd seeing them just go through what looks like the middle of a building-

[@UKLCSandT]

Yeah it basically is. It’s underneath a railway station…

[@alexanderk.3056]

It's so weird to see them like this!

[@mbo191]

At 8 seconds - Tram arrived earlier that expected? / B.

[@13garage._]

sounds like there is pitched down voice saying something when the trams are passing 😮

[@Brillemeister]

It's odd to see a tram go through such a tight space -- almost looks like pathways to parking structures under old office buildings here in the US.

[@BeakNFeathers]

The thumbnail image, along with the red text and composition, really makes it look like one of those creepy "backrooms" images

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

You’d think the whole point of being underground is to be both effective to relieve traffic but also be safe and not have any crossings lol

[@trueriver1950]

It's not really underground: it's under the mainline station. That crossing is actually at ground level even though it doesn't look it. Most stations on the Manchester tram system have pedestrian crossings to change platforms: the exceptions are usually where the tram has taken over heavy rail stations.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

@@trueriver1950 oh interesting

[@loco4loco]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picc-Vic_tunnel closer then the trams

[@toddhunter3137]

It's not really underground, it is ground level and just goes under the main line rail station, I think the powers that be at the time when they were building this were simply trying to make it look a bit metro-like.

[@caryhammond4943]

The reason it looks "underground" is that it is built as a large concrete box. When the system wax being planned, the railway authorities apparently required the Metrolink station to be in a "bomb proof" box. They had also required a large concrete block in the Victoria Station Metrolink stop to "deflect" trains if they were derailed, which has since been removed. The proposed replacement for the Piccadilly stop is expected to be much more "open" as it has since been decided that the box wasn't really needed, and made the stop seem oppressive,

[@trueriver1950]

@@caryhammond4943 my understanding at the time was that it was more because of the feared consequences of there was a major collision, given that there is a mainline station immediately above that stands on legs designed to cope with collisions with nothing heavier than a horse drawn cart.

[@samuelfellows6923]

Interesting to see that those lamp posts have a horn speaker on them ~ it used to have alarm warning? But they turned it off and now relies on the slow speed and the driver honking the tram at the person crossing

[@robrossington7118]

No, that’s a speaker for the PA system.

[@Kaczorek2366]

And on top he leaves?

[@ilghiz]

This looks surreal as if the entire world were underground. I'm not used to seeing trams underground, although I know subway trams _do_ exist.

[@UKLCSandT]

Technically this isn’t underground, it’s under the big main railway station but it’s because it’s such a big station that it looks underground, we are actually at normal street level, don’t worry I said that as well when I first uploaded this video lol

[@ilghiz]

@@UKLCSandT , if I got in that place I'd probably have a different perception. Maybe even more surreal trying to apprehend the enormity of the structure

[@combinegaminggmod8529]

Krivoy Rog: i see this as my another friend with metro tram

[@Weeklydoseofrailways]

Nice capture... Can I use this video in my train compilation video credit to you in video will be given

[@ambassadorkees]

Looks like an unhappy circumstance dictated solution. And that LF grinding!

[@wintersun398]

at 3:01, does the driver control the direction of the points ?

[@robrossington7118]

Indirectly, yes. The points are controlled by the signalling system (TMS). The driver inputs a route code to the vehicles on board computer that tells the signalling system where that LRV is to go, TMS then routes the LRV appropriately. Not all signals are called automatically though, some have to be called by the driver from the cab by pressing the Ready To Start button (RTS).

[@Someonesaidthis]

We got the exact same thing in SF

[@Stache987]

The USAs underground streetcars are of such vintage every curve they take, "screetch"

[@nonamenecessary9450]

Is that a subway?

[@allanegleston4931]

never seen one in a tube (subway) , but ive seen one in a parking garage though. anything is possible in your world horatio.:)

[@allanegleston4931]

@@nicklindsey1765 oregon usa

[@-M0LE]

The sounds remind me of war of the worlds

[@blueryan12346]

Wow it’s Adelaide

[@Takada_Masaki_K]

路面電車が地下を走るのが不思議だなあ。 I feel wonder that street car run underground.

[@loco4loco]

Is not underground more underneath a railway station Manchester Piccadilly

[@bennimu1233]

Im german and i realize that in this video it´s the same tram model as in cologne!

[@UKLCSandT]

Ahh yeah that don’t surprise me, my local main line we use trains made by stadler that I’ve seen I think in Germany? I can’t remember exactly what country I saw them in.

[@pacificostudios]

Where does this pedestrian passageway go to, anyhow?

[@robrossington7118]

Between the platforms and to the Fairfield st entrance.

[@petermichaelgreen]

It brings you out of the side of the station, near the taxi rank and near the lift that takes you to platform 12 and the link bridge lounge. I only discovered it existed one time when there were evacuation announcements and the stairs/escalators/lift to the mainline station were closed (dunno why, the mainline station itself seemed to be open as normal).

[@edhoc2]

In Germany, subway stations have different levels for trains and pedestrians, and pedestrians either have an extra floor above or walk above the surface, but they do not cross the tracks subway.

[@loco4loco]

This isn’t a subway/metro is a tram system en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Metrolink

[@edhoc2]

@@loco4loco The crossing at 0:14 is in a subway!

[@loco4loco]

@@edhoc2well sort of still above ground

[@edgargalustian5126]

Interesting, we have the same train models in Cologne Germany

[@robrossington7118]

These are based on K5000s but there’s a number of differences.

[@loco4loco]

@@robrossington7118on metrolink is the M5000

[@oddities-whatnot]

Used to be quite a good salary before house prices and the cost of living went up.

[@lotaikei7455]

Where is t68 tram

[@McRocket]

0:19 - and, like all polite trams, now that all the people are off? The tram can let go of the fart that it was holding in for hours. ☮

[@aqiu635]

好酷的輕軌系統

[@tornadoking3330]

Ужасная система, никакой безопастности

[@robertduffuk]

Looks like something form original half-life!

[@loco4loco]

Good morning and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System

[@gerardburton1081]

Is this a new Tram Stop in Manchester?

[@Owen01]

It’s been there for quite a while

[@Funhat56]

Looks like something from a weird dream.

[@Profimaulwurf48]

People in a Tunnel crossing tracks... Every one of our Dispatcher would loose his heart

[@Rebelnightwolfe]

Parking garage so big it has its own Transit system.

[@kingcorona89]

And their all yellow 🎵

[@thomasbemme]

That looks scary: How does this work during rush hours? Why are there no traffic lights, this seems dangerous? The whole place seems to be build for one specific tram type, so it needs to be completely rebuild if new models are ordered.

[@theblah12]

Very few people actually use this crossing even in busy periods, in fact I’m a bit surprised it’s open to the public considering there’s escalators to the other platform from the main concourse.

[@Trainspotter229]

SCARY tunnels

[@Hannsliu419]

They already know the turn is tight and they still put a double in that line!? Note: if you don’t see the coupling between two teams it means it’s a single tram single: 2 cars double: 4 cars

[@ard20691]

First time seeing underground tram

[@Owen01]

It’s not actually underground. It’s at street level going under a building

[@rankepicdino8194]

It actually isn't underground, the tram goes through a tunnel under a building but it is still at surface lvl

[@UKLCSandT]

Yes I made this mistake when I uploaded my first video of this crossing haha

[@jawad6436]

Is this in uk?

[@evening2005]

Yes.

[@goclunker]

That is so fking sick!

[@UKLCSandT]

I’m sorry???

[@goclunker]

@@UKLCSandT its awesome! The tight curves! Its excitement to the senses. Is it gonna fit? Tight tram curves are cool

[@Zralock79]

Real life Half-Life level... :D

[@paulsutcliffe9169]

Hardly underground it's under a building not really the same thing. There is a proper old railway tunnel that is used, now that is obviously underground.

[@UKLCSandT]

Okay, well I mean I know it’s not technically underground but at the same time I would of thought it was with it being underneath Piccadilly station.

[@NONOOBZ4EVR]

Dunno why I was reccommended this, but that looks like it's just going through a mall or something lol

[@UKLCSandT]

I mean it’s going under a big train station, the tram as you can see just runs underneath

[@peteramaranth85]

Fallout 3 flashbacks intensify

[@natagush]

That tram looks like the one from Cologne, Germany.

[@UnbelievableEricthegiraffe]

Or Thetram in Cologne looks like the Trams in Manchester.?. It is the same model of tram . K5000 In Köln M5000 in Manchester only difference is the K&M Both made by Bombadier.