I back Metrolink, says new transport chief

Ian Craig

May 16, 2006

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PLEDGE: Douglas Alexander

NEW Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has pledged his backing to the proposed expansion of the Metrolink.

Mr Alexander, who is expected to launch a new fleet of TransPennine trains in Ardwick today, told the Manchester Evening News the government remained committed to the Metrolink.

Mr Alexander succeeded fellow Scot Alistair Darling in the job and he has taken on board his predecessor's support for the supertram system.

Key

"I stand by the é520m that my predecessor Alistair Darling committed to Manchester and it is clear that trams will play a major part in improving the city's transport system," he said.

He accepted there had been lot of work developing proposals to extend the system to Oldham and Rochdale and he said a decision would be made in due course.

"Manchester's growth is of key importance to the region and the country as a whole," he said. "We want to support it. I am looking forward to finding out more and taking part in discussions to develop a plan to meet Manchester's future transport needs."

Fleet

Today he was set to launch a new fleet of 51 TransPennine trains - costing é250m - which are due to be in service by early next year.

He was also due to open the depot in Ardwick that will help maintain them.

The express franchise links Manchester with Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, Preston and the Lake District. In the last financial year, 15m people used the services.

The new trains should mean more comfort for passengers through improved seating and air conditioning and better facilities for disabled passengers.

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Chris, Manchester (16/05/2006 at 10:19)

Expanding metrolink is OK by me too - as long as a pay-as-you-drive tax or congestion charge is not used to pay for it!

Jake Long, Mancester, City Centre (16/05/2006 at 10:20)

It's all well and good investing in public transport, but what we really want to know is when is there going to be investment in NEW ROADS which are vitally needed throughout the country.

Graeme, Didsbury (16/05/2006 at 16:09)

Believe it when I see it....

Kyla, Manchester (16/05/2006 at 16:35)

We don't need new roads Jake. That's whole flippin POINT of the Metrolink.

Dave, Oldham (16/05/2006 at 16:49)

Words come cheap.

Where's the beef?

metman, Metrolink depot (16/05/2006 at 19:20)

We still need major investment in the present system before they should even think of expanding! it's literally falling apart! it's a wonder something major doesn't happen the way the trams get thrown about on the bury line, one is going to de-rail one day and people hurt or even killed! will the excuses start then or will it take something like that for something to be done about the state of the track!

Young Mind, Salford (17/05/2006 at 07:12)

More roads = more cars. We need to get cars off the roads for the sake of our children's health and the environment!

Where on earth do you propose we put these 'new roads'?! There's nothing but roads, compared to tram tracks, public transport is a needle in a gigantic hay stack.

So Douglas Alexander says he backs Metrolink?.... so give us a YES and stop beating around the bush. Why the hold up?

Based on the government's same reasoning... Costs are spiralling out of control for the huge white elephant that will be the London 2012 Olympics so why don't they cancel that as well, surely that isn't an essential public service as Metrolink will be?

It's time for radical action from the people of Manchester, we need to show the governemnt we are serious, hit them where it hurts until we get our promise fullfiled.

Chris, Irlam (17/05/2006 at 14:02)

Metrolink is of no use to me - it does not come anywhere near where I live and neither does it go anywhere near where I work. Not everyone lives & works in the city centre you know!

johnp, city (17/05/2006 at 17:26)

what is the metrolink going to improve ? i still cant see how trams every 12 minuits travelling at 50 mph max can be any better than the present trains that run every 15 minuits and travel at 60 mph and more. the trams can not carry as many passengers you cant take bikes or dogs on them you cant get prams on as they are so crowded the ride is attrocious and the price is scandalous. the only reason the metrolink has been an alledged success is they built it on the two most profitable lines in the area so it could not fail. no wonder each tram is busy you now have two coaches instead of the four or six that ran on the bury line under BR. and on the altrincham line you can get by train from altrincham to manchester pic 10 minuites faster than the tram so again whats the point. its political and madness and a complete waste of money. its time people really woke up to the truth.

Rachel, Liverpool (17/05/2006 at 17:39)

Chris.... Metrolink might not be of any use to you, however why not support it for all the other local people who it will be of use to?

The selfishness of some people is saddening.

Chris, Irlam (18/05/2006 at 09:25)

Rachel of Liverpool - many 'local' people are wary of this 'expansion' as we are wise enough to see that our esteemed council and the government plan to force congestion charging upon Greater Manchester as a way to pay for it, and why should I pay for something that I cannot and will not use? Metrolink is a Manchester issue that should be decided by Manchester folk, and no-one else!

Rachel, Liverpool (works in Altrincham, born in Salford!) (18/05/2006 at 14:10)

Metrolink is funded and paid for by a lot more than just car owners, and congestion charging will be used to fund more than just Metrolink.

None of the promised ??520 million to fund the 'Big Bang' comes from congestion charging so far.

So... if Metrolink's expansion is to be decided by the people of Manchester I am sure the majority will overwhelmingly vote in it's favour even if in future it is partialy subsidised by peak-time congestion charging inside Manchester City-Centre for car owners.

Steven, Manchester (18/05/2006 at 14:27)

I have been using Metrolink for the past nine months since i got a job in central Manchester. I recently got my old bike out of my parents garage and tried using that to get to work instead. Result: 20 minutes door-to-door. I can spend that long on the platform waiting for a supposedly 12 minute service on the Eccles line! Then there was yesterday when i used the tram again because i had too much paperwork to carry in my backpack. Getting home took 1 hour 10 minutes, including 35 minutes on the platform at Piccadilly. No announcment, no explaination or excuses, nothing. Now I'm saving myself ??44 a month (sorry, 4 weeks; didn't think we'd notice that stealthy 8.6% fare increase, did you?) and i'm putting the money into waterproofs and a bigger backpack. And in three months i can save enought to buy a whole new bike! I just feel sorry for those who have no other choice but to use Metrolink.

Chris, Irlam (18/05/2006 at 16:11)

Rachel of Liverpool - the proposed Manchester congestion charge will stretch far beyond the limits of the city centre. Coun Jones recently mooted it would include all roads within the M60 so if the truth were told to the people of Manchester I doubt there would be a majority supporting a Congestion charge to pay for the Metrolink.

Steven, Manchester (19/05/2006 at 12:24)

Chris: Your last message really bothers me. I used to live in London, and left just before the congestion charge came into effect. I look back there now and see Mr Livingstone is trying to both raise the price and extend it wherever he can; yet another form of creeping taxation. I'm less than 3 miles out of Manchester city centre (why i tried using the bike instead of the tram), so if the powers-that-be in Manchester get their congestion charge, how far out will they try to push it? Even if it doesn't go as far as the M60 (a ludicrous idea, proportionally equivalent to a London charge all the way out to the A406/A205 outer ring road!), a lot of people are going to be adversely affected if it goes though, whether they commute to the ??oecity centre??? or not.

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