Manchester’s highly successful Metrolink is on the brink of massive expansion. The government could be giving as much as £250 million to allow work to begin on the ground-breaking system to Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester Airport and Ashton-under-Lyne.
Following the Chancellor’s budget announcement, Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon John Prescott MP, travelled to Manchester on March 22 to announce this major investment in Greater Manchester’s public transport network.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive, the bodies responsible for planning the Metrolink network, have been engaged in detailed discussions with government since Tony Blair gave his support in principle to the further expansion of the network last December.
The Transport Executive submitted a bid to government last year asking it to consider funding and building the Oldham/Rochdale, Ashton and Manchester Airport extensions under a single contract. This contract would also include the Trafford Park extension, although the latter is to be funded solely by the private sector.
The single contract approach could reduce capital costs by more than £32 million and will optimise private sector funding for Metrolink. Although a shortfall of around £200 million is left after the government’s contribution, local officials are confident of raising the necessary private finance.
The original Metrolink line, running 31 km from Bury to Altrincham, via Manchester City Centre, was opened by The Queen in 1992. An extension to Salford Quays was opened at the end of 1999 and will continue on to Eccles when the second part of the extension opens later this year.
The success of Metrolink has been phenomenal from the outset, with the lines to Bury and Altrincham taking around 2.6 million cars a year off Greater Manchester roads. The line through Salford Quays to Eccles is expected to carry an annual six million passengers.
The three new lines involved in the ‘big bang’ contract will carry in the region of 45 million passengers a year and bring more than half the households in the county within two miles of a Metrolink stop. Together they will contribute to the regeneration of deprived areas and take 5.9 million car journeys a year off the road.
Work could start in a year’s time with all three completed within six years.
Oldham/Rochdale Line
This is the top priority scheme, powers for which were granted in 1994. The 24 km line will utilise the existing railway ‘loop’ line to Rochdale via Oldham, with a diversion taking it partly on-street through the centre of Oldham and an extension, again on-street, from Rochdale station into the centre of the town.
Ashton-under-Lyne
A 10km extension running from the existing Metrolink terminus at Piccadilly Station to Ashton-under-Lyne. The route will serve the stadium at Sports City and new developments in Ashton Moss.
South Manchester and Airport
Powers for this 22 km extension were granted in 1997. It will serve Wythenshawe hospital and help the airport to attain its commitment that by 2005 a quarter of all journeys to and from the airport will be made by public transport and other non-car modes.
Trafford Park
Powers are held for this 5km extension to serve Trafford Park and the recently opened Trafford Centre, but the line would need to be privately funded.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority also holds powers to build a spur, from the Eccles via Salford Quays extension, to the Lowry Centre and for an extension to Didsbury. Public Consultation for extending the Didsbury line to Stockport took place late in 1999 and GMPTE are currently looking further at issues raised during this consultation.
GMPTA chairman Cllr Joe Clarke, said: “This is the biggest single investment in local transport in living memory outside London.”