Metrolink grinds to halt
TRAMS were running normally this week after a major fault shut the entire Metrolink network.
All services were suspended for more than six hours on Sunday following a communications failure.
Engineers worked late into the night and have identified and fixed the problem, according to Transport for Greater Manchester.
Trams began running as normal on Monday morning, although were reports of some minor delays on the line linked to the computer system failure.
A spokesman for Transport for Greater Manchester said in a statement late on Sunday night: “All tram services are set to operate as normal on Monday morning following a major technical issue on Sunday which affected the network.
“This is not an issue Metrolink has experienced previously.
“Technicians have worked throughout the evening to identify and fix the issue which is believed to have been caused by a component attached to the Metrolink control network sending out spurious communications, which resulted in the safety system correctly shutting down.
“Metrolink runs a closed IT network with high levels of security and there is no indication of any form of hacking or cyber attack which would also result in shutting down the system. Passengers are advised to check the Metrolink website and Twitter feed for the latest updates.
“But a full service is expected to be running as normal.”
And Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink at TfGM, added: “I’d like to apologise once again for the disruption caused on Sunday and to let people know that we have now identified and fixed the problem.
“We have had a team of technicians working hard to resolve the issue and they have done so. Tomorrow morning (Monday) there will be a full service running across all lines and looking ahead we will conduct a review to look at what lessons can be learnt to avoid this type of issue occurring again.”