Around 20,000 passes were distributed to resdents living near the route, allowing them to sample the service free-of-charge between February 8 and 10. A 12-minute interval service operaters on the eight-station line during the day, with a journey time of around 20 minutes.
The 3.8km, four-station second phase from Droylsden to Ashton-Under-Lyne is currently under construction and due to open at the end of this year or early next year.
With the completion of the line to Ashton-Under-Lyne, frequencies will be doubled to a six-minute interval peak service with a 12-minute off-peak frequency and 15 minutes on Sundays and public holidays.
The M-Pact-Thales consortium is the main contractor for both phases of the project.
Test operation also began on February 11 on the section between Shaw & Crompton and Rochdale railway station.
