THE future is yellow for commuters on Manchester's tram network as the first of a fleet of new carriages arrived for service.
Transport chiefs are finally taking delivery of the new-look Metrolink trams just over two years after they were ordered from the manufacturers in Austria.
The M5000 units cost £2m each and the first one was shipped over from Europe over the weekend before being transported by road from Hull with a police escort to the Queens Road depot in Cheetham.
Metrolink bosses have ordered a total of 40 vehicles which are expected to arrive at a rate of one a month. They which will ease overcrowding on busy lines, which reached crisis levels in 2005, while meeting the demand new stations at Chorlton, Salford, Droylsden, Oldham and Rochdale will create.
The M5000 model is already in use elsewhere in Europe and should be up running by the end of the year.
The Metrolink system first opened in Manchester in the early nineties. At the time, the white and turquoise vehicles were state-of-the-art, but in the years since they have dated.
The new tram's yellow colour theme has also been used for the interior, while full-length glass double doors give it a lighter and brighter feel.
Councillor Keith Whitmore was expected to be at the depot to meet the first tram when it arrives in Manchester on Monday morning.
He said: "This is a fantastic day for Metrolink and its thousands of passengers. Our trams have become an icon of Manchester - and this new generation will ensure that legacy continues - but this new tram is also a symbol of a very bright future for Metrolink.
"People already make around 20 million journeys on our trams each year but we're currently building four new lines that will double the size of the network by 2012.
"Metrolink is only going to keep growing and these new trams will ensure that, when it does, we can continue to provide high quality services fit for the 21st century."
Philip Purdy, GMPTE's Metrolink Director, said: "We've been looking forward to this day and following the tram's new progress very closely. I am really pleased with the result.
"The tram will now undergo extensive operational and safety tests and we'll also have to train people how to drive it. The tests will go on through the summer and the autumn before the tram goes into service.
"I hope to see it up and running towards the end of the year and I am certain people will be delighted with it when it does."
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Future's yellow for trams
July 13, 2009
One of the new-look trams
Showing comments 1 to 18 and replies | View All
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (13/07/2009 at 09:55)
Ace , manchester (13/07/2009 at 11:35)
Black Flag (13/07/2009 at 11:41)
Kurt Stephens (13/07/2009 at 11:55)
The lack of tram manufacturing in the UK, along with all the other manufactoring disappearing is nowt to do with membership of the EU but rather the total lack of investment we have provided over the last half dozen decades.
When Germany, France and half of continental Europe have been developing tram networks, whilst we have been doing nothing, why is it a great surprise that they are capable of building high quality trams at a competitive price whilst we cannot?
Take it you are in favour of continual high investment in the UK infrastructure to help grown our ability in these areas rather than cutting back and losing all our skills in the future?
Anyway, they were not built in Austria either, they were built primarily in Germany, but tested on the Vienna track.
Pushkin (13/07/2009 at 12:02)
Peter (13/07/2009 at 12:06)
Ace , manchester (13/07/2009 at 12:12)
Pete in Salford, Salford (13/07/2009 at 12:33)
Kurt Stephens (13/07/2009 at 13:13)
Anyway, you did not answer the question, do you back the government funding massive infrastrutre schemes across the country such that we manage to develop our own skills base such that the Germans and the French come to us to build their infrastructure?
Black Flag (13/07/2009 at 13:13)
We have to rely, not only on Europe, but the rest of the world, just as the rest of the world relies on us for things. It's called division of labour. If it wasn't for international trade and specialisation, our standard of living would be much lower than it is. Following people who spout isolationist drivel will only ever result in people becoming worse off.
Ace , manchester (13/07/2009 at 13:46)
Black Flag (13/07/2009 at 13:58)
The UK is the world's sixth largest manufacturer, so we clearly are building things. What exactly do you want to achieve by trading? The whole point of trading is that you exchage goods and services, but you object to the idea of importing anything in return.
"our farmers need more help to make farms larger so that we dont have to kiss europes backside for help all time."
You mean something like the Corn Laws? Then we can have another Peterloo Massacre when people protest about being forced to buy over-priced food.
Kurt Stephens (13/07/2009 at 14:03)
As I have asked a couple of times now, what exactly was wrong with the Phase 1 and 2 trams? The wheels were al certainly 1435mm apart as they should have been! Did you just make something up in the hope no one would question your ignorant postings?
Also, I will ask again, do you support a massive government spend on things like tram networks so in the future we have the skils developed in this country to export these types of things ourselves.
citycentre, manchester (13/07/2009 at 14:09)
would you be happy to take a cut in your benfits to help fund subsidies for uncompetitive industry?
a better way forward would be for EU governments to stand firm when faced with corporate pressure to prop up failing industries, rather then going for a good headline at the soct of taxpayers billions
Paul Blackwell (14/07/2009 at 09:30)
Ace , manchester (14/07/2009 at 16:50)
You mean like selling rover to the chinese for a tenner? so that they returned 200 jobs as opossed to thousands of jobs? you must be joking mate.
citycentre, manchester (14/07/2009 at 18:47)
could you enlighten me, as i dont really know what you are talking about? apparantly the “Phoenix Four”, John Towers, Peter Beale, John Edwards and Nick Stephenson bought Rover in 2000 for 10 pounds, is that what you mean? According to the Times the Nanjing Auto Corp paid administrators 53 million for what remained of the after they had failed to make a go fo it. Previously, it seems neither BMW or BAE had been able to run it succesfully?
Joe Pub, Manchester (14/07/2009 at 21:43)