TfGM has added a direct shuttle from Altrincham to Piccadilly for the tram closure: every 15 minutes, 7am to 7pm, from Stand B. Times, tickets and the gaps.
Altrincham will get its own replacement bus when the trams stop on 19 October. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) now lists an express shuttle from Altrincham Interchange direct to Piccadilly, every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm.
That reverses what TfGM’s own advice said a fortnight ago. When we read its stop-by-stop checker on 27 September, it said no replacement bus would run from Altrincham, Navigation Road, Timperley, Brooklands or Dane Road, and the only shuttle on the line started at Sale (our report from 27 September).
The shuttle is now on TfGM’s Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar works page, with a published timetable.
The shuttle in brief
- Where to get on: Stand B at Altrincham Interchange.
- Where it goes: Piccadilly only. TfGM describes it as a direct shuttle with no stops in between.
- How often: every 15 minutes, at 00, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour.
- First and last: 7am and 7pm from Altrincham. TfGM says the service only runs from 7am to 7pm.
- Which days: Monday to Sunday, from Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November.
- How long it takes: the timetable allows 42 minutes. The 7am bus is due at Piccadilly at 7.42am.
In town, it stops at the Piccadilly Rail Station bus stop. Coming home, you board at the Minshull Street (nr) stop on Aytoun Street. The first bus back leaves at 7am and the last at 7pm, and each is timed at 44 minutes to Altrincham. TfGM’s timetable says all times are approximate and asks you to allow extra time.
Which stops it does not help
The new shuttle serves Altrincham only. For the rest of the line, TfGM’s advice is:
| Tram stop | What TfGM says to do |
|---|---|
| Altrincham | Shuttle from Stand B, the train, or the 263 |
| Navigation Road | Walk to Altrincham Interchange for the shuttle (about 15 minutes via Grosvenor Road), the train, or the 263 from Manchester Road |
| Timperley | No shuttle. The train from Navigation Road, or the 263 |
| Brooklands | No shuttle. The 263, or walk to Sale for the Sale shuttle |
| Sale | Shuttle every 10 minutes from Stop H on Broad Road, via Stretford, Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield to Piccadilly |
| Dane Road | No shuttle. The 263, or walk to Sale |
Timperley and Brooklands are still the stops with the least on offer. Neither has a railway station, and neither is on a shuttle route.
Shuttle, train or 263?
The train is still the quickest way in. Northern’s service from Altrincham takes about 28 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly. On weekdays and Saturdays during the closure it leaves at 57 minutes past the hour from 8.57am, according to the National Rail timetable for Tuesday 20 and Saturday 24 October (National Rail timetable).
Sunday is where the shuttle earns its place. The first Sunday train from Altrincham on 18 and 25 October and 1 November leaves at 10.01am, and the next at 11.56am. The shuttle starts at 7am and runs every 15 minutes all day.
The timetables we checked for 18, 20, 24 and 25 October and 1 November showed no rail engineering work on the Altrincham to Manchester line.
| Express shuttle | Northern train | 263 bus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Stand B, Altrincham Interchange | Altrincham or Navigation Road | Altrincham Interchange and along the A56 |
| To | Piccadilly station | Manchester Piccadilly | Piccadilly Gardens |
| How often | Every 15 minutes | About hourly; about every two hours on Sundays | “Frequently throughout the day”, with extra buses added |
| Hours | 7am to 7pm | Normal timetable | Normal timetable |
| Journey time | About 42 minutes | About 28 minutes | Not published for the works |
Tickets
TfGM’s wording differs by service, so check yours before 19 October.
- On the shuttle: accepted “for Metrolink passengers with a valid ticket”.
- On the train and the 263: accepted only for tram season tickets (7-day, 28-day and annual).
- On other buses: 7-day, 28-day and annual pass holders can also use 17 Bee Network routes that serve the Altrincham line: the 15, 19, 23, 25, 41, 53, 79, 245, 248, 249, 250, 255, 256, 263, 281, 285 and 286.
The shuttle timetable adds one line: “During tram improvement works, you still need to pay for your journey.” If you have no tram ticket, buy one before you board.
What it means for you
- If you commute between 7am and 7pm: the shuttle saves a walk to Sale or a wait for an hourly train. Allow the full 42 minutes, plus time to walk from Piccadilly station to your office.
- If you travel after 7pm: there is no shuttle. Use the train or the 263.
- On Sunday mornings: the shuttle is the only direct option before 10am.
- From Timperley or Brooklands: nothing has changed. Plan on the 263.
We will check TfGM’s page again before 19 October and update this report if the times move. Our Altrincham roadworks and travel page carries everything else that is closed in the fortnight, and the original closure report sets out the city centre changes. Trams return from the start of service on Monday 2 November.
Sources
- TfGM: Deansgate-Castlefield and Trafford Bar works for the express shuttle routes and frequencies, the 7am to 7pm hours, Stand B, the stop-by-stop advice for Altrincham, Navigation Road, Timperley, Brooklands, Sale and Dane Road, and the ticket acceptance rules. Read 10 October 2026.
- TfGM: Altrincham to Piccadilly shuttle timetable (PDF) for the departure times, the Piccadilly Rail Station and Minshull Street stops, the 42 and 44 minute timings and the payment note.
- National Rail timetable, Altrincham to Manchester Piccadilly for the train times on 18, 20, 24 and 25 October and 1 November 2026, checked 10 October.
- TfGM: tram improvement works for the 2 November return.
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