As transport bosses showed off a five-foot cardboard model of the new yellow tram - and got ready to take it on a tour of London - frustrated commuters said they would much rather have the real thing right here.
The first eight trams will replace older models on the overcrowded Bury and Altrincham lines.
They were ordered in April 2007 in a blaze of publicity but won't be on the lines until the latter half of next year.
The second batch of four trams for the Media City extension to Salford were ordered in November last year.
The final 28 for the new lines in Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton, Central Park and Oldham were put on the order books in June. Metrolink bosses say the time-scale was not unusual, pointing out that the trams had to be designed, custom built and rigorously tested as no two tram systems are the same.
But their explanation was little comfort to passengers on the Bury line outside Manchester Central Library.
Ridiculous
Lydia Greenhall, a personal assistant from Prestwich, said: "During rush hour the trams only come with two carriages. It is ridiculous because it is the busiest time of the day. I very rarely get a seat."
Peter Hall, from Bowker Vale, who works for an advertising agency, said: "The tram was full this morning so I had to get a later one and was late for work. I didn't expect the new trams to come soon but I do think they are needed."
Metrolink director Philip Purdy said: "It is not taking any longer here than it does to get new trains or trams anywhere around the world.
"You just can't buy a tram off the cuff like you can with a car. The tracks and the electrical systems are different."
But he said once the first tram arrives in the latter half of next year they will keep coming at the rate of one a month in time for the opening of the new lines in Chorlton and Central Park in spring 2011, Oldham Mumps in autumn 2011, and to Rochdale and Droylsden in spring 2012.
Coun Richard Knowles said: "The Metrolink network is now more than 16 years old but the new-look trams will take it firmly into the 21st century. The new colours look great and are highly visible, helping to improve road safety."
The model tram unveiled yesterday will be taken to London next week for a House of Commons event organised by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority to promote Greater Manchester's future public transport network.
Earlier this month, GMPTE confirmed it was to replace Metrolink's unpopular ticket machines in a £5.4m deal.
Some 200 state-of-the-art, touch-screen machines will be installed on the network over the next three years.
The current stock of 121 machines will be taken out and replaced, and another 108 will be installed on the new lines to Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton, and MediaCityUK in Salford Quays.
GMPTE said there would be up to five machines at each stop, including at least one 'queue-busting', cash-only machine.
Work replacing the machines will start next year and is due to finish by 2010.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/10/2008 at 09:26)
A Manc and blue (09/10/2008 at 11:58)
Ed_Manchester, Manchester (09/10/2008 at 12:32)
Thats the whole problem isn't it! We have a very successful Metrolink system that is now 16 years old and other than the extension has had no investment for new trams. We all knew after the initial years that the system was extremely popular and we have experienced packed trams at peak times ever since.
I urge everyone using public transport to vote yes on the tif bill, it's the ONLY way that investment will come into the public transport system. After 40 years of using the buses, trains and trams I can't wait.
Rammylad (09/10/2008 at 12:34)
Some earwax is in order for these guys as they clearly do not listen to the public.
How about as part of the £5.4m order they order now the components needed for an oyster card system so they don't have to spend any money in the future on replacing these machines or is that asking tooooooo much.
Rammylad (09/10/2008 at 12:37)
By all means spend your life voting labour regardless of whats on offer because your mum / gran / great gran did.
Personnally I will look at what is on offer at each election and decide then. At the moment labour want to tax me to get to work so it's a no from me.
increasingly frustrated (09/10/2008 at 12:40)
I wasn't aware the current machines took anything but cash? It doesn't make them much quicker, as people are always trying to force £20 notes in!
Also, the Eccles line isn't much better, but I'm sick of moaning about that now.
Munkey Boy (09/10/2008 at 12:43)
I'd be interested to know who that is, Rammylad? If you think Labour are bad for investing outside London, you have too short a memory for the other lot.
Earth (09/10/2008 at 13:12)
Mark,Radcliffe.,
No, Mark,
The expansion of the tram system and the new trams along with a £600 million package has already been agreed.
It's just convenient for the TiF people to include this in their documents.
Even if the congestion charge is voted against, the tram expansion (phase 2) will still happen
umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (09/10/2008 at 13:18)
But of course these meetings are only held in the day time when all us hard working people are at work. Come On Manchester Council, GMPTE and others, hold a meeting in the Early Evening 5.30pm - 6.30pm start and you will get people attend.
Also advertise the meeting on the trams and buses and you might get the real users coming to the meeting.
birch em all, just outside 3rd pricing zone (09/10/2008 at 13:28)
Actually, its the PRO-tif people who are using the Metrolink expansion in their propaganda. A simple trip on the Metrolink reveals a deozen or more "Pro-tif" posters/stickers on each tram....all stating that the expansion is dependant on the tif proposal.
as for the new colours, who are the GMPTE trying to kid? the first 5ft may be easier to see but the rest? A dull grey is hardly high visibility is it? The trams should be highly visible like the Supertram in Sheffeld. Then again, the GMPTE would never agree to that as they do not want a corperate image oter tha their own on display!
T.McQueen, ontario (09/10/2008 at 14:43)
(Well I THINK she was joking, anyroad)
Sir Reginald Ringpull, A-u-L, Lancashire (09/10/2008 at 15:03)
"THEY have been billed as one of the fastest modes of travel."
Where??? They have a top speed of 50MPH, take an age to get to the legal limit and an age to stop.
Have you been reading the Pro Charge "Fact" sheet?
Polky (09/10/2008 at 15:10)
As we have these coming anyway, there's no involvement in TiF.
There are, however, more trams coming as a part of the TiF package and something just doesn't stack up...
If we say NO (according to the literature) we'll get no more investment in GMPTE for 30 years (or that's the threat). Correct?
So, if we say YES to TiF, we can assume that the same will happen, as all profits will have to go towards paying the mortgage... are you all keeping up?
Here's the killer blow.
If these trams only last 16 years (and there's no reason to think that they will be any better made than the first batch) what do we do for the remaining 14 years before we can afford to buy any more?
Just a thought.
dessie, manchester (09/10/2008 at 15:13)
Sir Reginald Ringpull, A-u-L, Lancashire (09/10/2008 at 15:48)
"If these trams only last 16 years (and there's no reason to think that they will be any better made than the first batch) what do we do for the remaining 14 years before we can afford to buy any more? "
The AGMA/GMPTA borrow £96 million for replacements in 2018/19-2023/24. It's in the TIF letter from Lucy Chadwick of the Ministry of Transport to Lord Peter Smith and Sir Howard Bernstein.
"We" are borrowing £420 million for this Phase 3a scheme (I think it is only at 4.9% so will only cost about a £billion by the time it is paid back)
citycentre, manchester (09/10/2008 at 16:50)
will the guided busway from leigh /bolton be anywhere near there?
polky, maybe the fares collected from the tram passengers over 14 years will help fund the replacements?
Rammylad (09/10/2008 at 19:43)
Labour want us to pay for the extension ourselves.
Who has the short memory?
Dave Dave (09/10/2008 at 19:45)
A Bus Driver (09/10/2008 at 20:22)
The trams in Sheffield are dark blue with red fronts.And an ornage swoosh behind the red. Dark blue is even more invisible than silver. Look how dark the Magic Buses are !
A Bus Driver (09/10/2008 at 20:26)
Some earwax is in order for these guys as they clearly do not listen to the public.
How about as part of the £5.4m order they order now the components needed for an oyster card system so they don't have to spend any money in the future on replacing these machines or is that asking tooooooo much. "
A point I made moths ago was that the general public are not fit to make a decision about the Congestion charge and here I have been proved correct again as Rammylad has spouted this crap out and hasn't even bothered to read the information given about the machines. They Will be able to take future Smartcards and they will also take debit/credit cards as well as cash. There wiol be one machime that will take cash only. Try reading the info first and also try reading all the info about the congestion charge then feel free to make sensible comments.
A Bus Driver (09/10/2008 at 20:34)
Polky (10/10/2008 at 08:04)
As metrolink is run by the cheapest bidder, it really wouldn't suprise me if there aren't hefty subsidies heading their way.
"The new ones are very reliable as there are nearly 100 operating in Cologne and are identical."
I really hope you are right about that, because the only thing wrong with the initial batch, which was also touted as reliable and tested technology, actually had to be pretty much rewired and rebuilt over the years because GMPTE decided that cheap was best and had the body's made in Italy, the running gear made in England and assembled them as the bodies arrived at GEC.
Hopefully they'll have learnt the lesson by now.
citycentre, manchester (10/10/2008 at 09:02)
sadly thats a mistake britsh business and government have been repeating for decades now, and no doubt will continue to do so
A Bus Driver (10/10/2008 at 09:15)
Alan Kelly (11/10/2008 at 17:19)
It is because you are wrong with your assertions about the economics of the congestion charge. It might be good for the privately owned bus companies. It might mean you get a new uniform and a shiny bus to sit in the rquired congestion to pay back the loan but it will be economically disastrous for Greater Manchester.
Now where did I hear that before????