Metrolink tram line deal 'close'

Alan Salter

March 31, 2006

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A DEAL to revive three axed Metrolink tram line extensions is close, local officials and MPs believe.

They had hoped Transport Secretary Alistair Darling would make an announcement yesterday, and allow them to start spending some of the é520m originally on offer for the lines to Oldham and Rochdale, Tameside and the airport which were axed two years ago as costs spiralled to almost é1bn.

Tony Blair later put the é520m back on the table and the negotiators believed they had convinced civil servants that scaled-down plans were value for money.

But Mr Darling has decided he still needs more time to study the detail - and will not now announce the go-ahead until after the local elections in May.

The Department for Transport said in a statement: "We are in constructive discussions with Manchester about the Metrolink extensions. We are working closely together to resolve the outstanding issues in relation to the elements of the package that would be part-funded by the government. "

The M.E.N launched its "Get Back on Track" campaign with a 40,000-name petition after the shock decision two years ago.

Plans for the Leeds supertram and Liverpool's Merseytram were also axed.

'Frustrating'

Coun Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "Alistair Darling still feels there is more work to be done to sort it out. We are very close to pulling off the deal and this is very frustrating because we have waited such a long time."

Local officials hope a release of the é520m will allow them to start work on all three lines while they apply for extra money from the government's new é2bn Transport Innovation Fund, which seeks to cut congestion. Officials have denied they will be forced to offer congestion charging in return for the extra funds.

Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd, who has taken part in discussions, said: "We are getting very close to a result. I can't say when that will come but I do think the gap between us is more about ironing out the details than the principle."

City council leader Coun Richard Leese, Coun Jones and Lord Peter Smith, leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, said in a statement: "We remain very confident of securing final approvals to our plans for Metrolink extensions."

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Paul, wythenshawe (31/03/2006 at 09:36)

After the local elections ....>;o) i have a touch of de ja vu (apologies for the spelling???) i think we just wait until just before a local election and then they say its close straight after the election then its off again

Nimby, Salford (31/03/2006 at 09:51)

This indicates the true worth of the Metro link. unless you live in either Altrincham/City ctr/Bury is a total waste of investment. The link line to Eccles is a total joke. Slow, trams often pulled to keep the Altrincham line running and far too expensive. Scrap the whole system and lets free the roads up to motorists.

Mike, fallowfield (31/03/2006 at 10:17)

How stupid do Labour think we are? In July 2004, the month after the last local elections, they cancelled Metrolink! They probably thought they'd got away with it by delaying the announcement till after the elections in June 2004, but they paid the price in Rochdale and Withington, where they lost 2 MPs to the Lib Dems.
Now they think we are going to swallow this - "not now announce the go-ahead until after the local elections in May". Pull the other one!

Danny, Droylsden (31/03/2006 at 10:35)

Postponed til after the local elections? Sounds like bad news in the pipeline if you ask me.

Chris, Manchester (31/03/2006 at 11:40)

I am all for the expansion - as long as it isn't paid for by road tolls or congestion charging.

And I personally don't believe the council's assertion that they haven't been told that they can only have the money as long as they introduce unwanted road tolls - but time will tell and if we ARE being lied to this present bunch of councillors will be out on their ears shortly thereafter!

helen, manchester (31/03/2006 at 11:47)

The current metrolink system is overcrowded and overpriced, trams certainly do not run to the timetable, what makes people think that extending it would give a better service? They have had over 10 years of practice and still not mastered a 'service'

ant, manchester (31/03/2006 at 12:01)

Always a delay somewhere!, what does he need to look at? it sounds as if things have been revised so let them have the money and lets get the lines built!....what's wrong mr darling worried all three lines will be built and running before wembley's built eh?

Jim, Didsbury (31/03/2006 at 12:04)

What a suprise, waiting until after the local elections. If it was good news you would tell the electorate before an election, only bad news waits until after.

H, Manchester (31/03/2006 at 16:26)

Woohoo! Manchester transport is getting better. Free buses - fantastic idea. Let's just hope it doesn't take as long as Wembley to build!

Angry McNasty, Chortlon (31/03/2006 at 16:31)

Some papers think that the Iraq war got the Labour candidate vote out in my constituency! Local people know it was a less glamorous headline and that is that the tram line got axed.

NO TRAM = NO VOTE

This Labour government has deepened on seat in this area for too long, but they cant anymore, either look after us or we are going to have to the Lib Dem or even Conservative - you've been warned.

markyboy, manchester (02/04/2006 at 16:23)

anyone who really thinks thet the metro extension will go ahead is living in fantasy land.
the reason the transport ministre (sic) keeps dangling the carrot so that joe public will vote for his party.
he has never had any intention of giving mancunians the right to better public transport, and NEVER will.

the big boss, all over (02/04/2006 at 22:43)

I do not think that metrolink is the way forward for a transport solution to the Airport, Oldham or Rochdale, Having been a former employee of metrolink I can honestly say that it is badly run by management who do not even know the outside of their offices, Metrolink is a shambles, Trams are rife with Gangs, Drunks, Fare dodgers after 7pm, Drivers are faced with abuse on a daily basis and the attitude is if you don't like it theirs the door, This is not sour grapes, save your ticket money and buy a bike or car, you will be a lot more safe than the journey from hell on METROSTINK.

Kevin, Manchester (19/04/2006 at 13:17)

I have lived in Manchester for just over 2 years now, and I come from London. I am surprised by the decision to delay the announcement until after the elections, which I agree sounds a bit fishy. What I am surprised about is the low number of supporters who backed the petition! It also points to a possible overcharge on the construction side as well. How can the cost of the system spiral so much? I suspect by greedy contractors. How many tenders were put out for this, and what clauses are in place to compensate for delays? Probably none. I myself look forward to the potential for the tram to be coming through to the Airport, which I believe would be a great revenue maker, and could then help to fund the completion of the other lines (no disrespect to the people living near the other prospective lines). Perhaps Manchester should look at creating a transport model similar to London's, with more cost effective pricing, and using the subsidy model like London does? Then we will truly have a brilliant infrastructure inplace, which Manchester and it's suburbs truly deserve.

Don't be too hasty to dismiss just yet, but if they do delay it again, we should all as Mancunians (and 'imported' Mancs!) voice our support.

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