The old BR points that allowed diesels to go from platform 3 at Altrincham and the current Metrolink platform at Navigation Rd and electrics to do the opposite remain and are used when maintainence vehicles need to access the Metrolink section.

These are quite old I understand, so would they not have to be replaced to a suitable passenger standard? Then again, there is 100 year old track around the network if you know where to find them.

Yeah these are a lot more common around now, they seem to be all over the network. Would be interesting to know the demand use outside of the Manchester city centre area, possibly might be much less outside of that zone, in terms of utilising the new vehicles.

metrolink bans mobility scooters
 

according to the manchester evening news,motability scooters are too big for the new trams,therefore they are banning them from the network-including the older trams,i told my mother to leave hers at home today and had to use the push wheelchair,when on the tram a fella was on his scooter and said he intended to continue using it on metrolink..as its his only way of getting about,after 4 hours of pushing a wheelchair today,i can assure you i will be advising my mother to use hers again in future,of course its not advisable using one in rush hour,but surely disabled people have a right to travel?not everyone has someone to push them,an email to metrolink right away,

Just to clarify, the mobility scooters can fit just fine on the new trams, they've actually been banned from day one in conjunction with the "No Cycles" rule, for the same reason ("safety").

Personally I think the ban of both is daft.

To clarify further its for the safety of the other passengers rather than the scooter/bike users.

mobility scooter
 

As proper tram-trains are built to withstand contact with heavy rail trains does this therefore mean that they would not be able to share the off-street (higher speed) sections of Metrolink with conventional trams?

Well this part of the metrolink should not be a problem John. Class 66s, which are heavier by far than any tram train would be, have been used for maintainance so from a structural point of view things are fine.

I do see a big issue however, and that is the fact that there will be less of these than ordinary trams, so will have, by common sense more than two coaches. In the city centre I have trouble placing them, and it will in all likelyhood cause major disruption.

Noisy engines might cause problems in the city centre as well.

There in an inbetween weight class, higher than a trams 35-55ish tons but less than Sprinter,Pacer or other DMU/EMU at 70-120ish tons. Able to withstand a collision with a fast moving heavy train but light enough and with covered bogies for city running.

Its unlikely diesel versions would run in the UK like they do abroad, we would probably see dual voltage or hybrids which ran off a battery while in the city switching to a diesel to recharge in the country.