Ainscough Crane Hire’s Manchester depot has played a vital role in supporting major repair works on a key Metrolink tunnel on the Bury line, delivering a complex lifting operation to replace part of the ageing tunnel structure and safeguard long-term service reliability and safety.
The company recently completed a high-precision, 24-hour mobilisation and lifting programme to assist Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), its Operator & Maintainer Keolis-Amey and its delivery partner Story Contracting in renewing infrastructure at Whitefield Tunnel. The tunnel, located beneath essential utilities and a live highway, has been part of the Bury-Manchester route since 1876, making careful planning and execution critical.
The intervention followed a routine inspection that identified a fractured iron roof beam. To secure the tunnel for continued use, the old structure was removed and replaced with new precast concrete beams and supports during a planned six-day engineering closure.
Ainscough was tasked with supplying and operating a 230-tonne mobile crane throughout the programme. The lifting operation involved organising crane mats and equipment, rigging the crane, and installing cill units and concrete beams in a phased sequence. The works continued non-stop, day and night, to ensure completion within the narrow closure window.
This demanding project highlights Ainscough’s ability to deliver high-tonnage lifting under tight time constraints and within a live transport environment, maintaining safety and precision at all stages. The works were completed on schedule, allowing tram services between Bury and Manchester to resume as planned.
The tunnel renewal forms part of TfGM’s wider infrastructure investment strategy to future-proof the Metrolink network and maintain dependable services for passengers.
Commenting on the successful operation, Eve Hugill, hire controller at Ainscough Crane Hire, said: “This project underpins TfGM’s mission to deliver a safe, reliable and resilient tram network for years to come, and it was a privilege to be involved in a job that is so important for our region. Around-the-clock operations in a confined tunnel space with heavy precast units demand precision, coordination and specialist equipment. We are proud to have delivered safely and on time, supporting such an important infrastructure asset for Greater Manchester.”
