Metrolink wins a 'Little Bang'

Don Frame and Ian Craig

July 06, 2006

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METROLINK: 'Little Bang'

METROLINK: 'Little Bang' 1/2 Play Slideshow

PLANS to expand the Metrolink tram system across Greater Manchester were finally expected to be given the go-ahead today.

It is believed Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander will give the green light for work on new routes connecting Manchester city centre with Rochdale rail station, Droylsden in Tameside and St Werburgh's Road in south Manchester.

The announcement should allow construction to start by 2008 and be completed by 2010.

SEE our map of the Metrolink extensions.

SEE the timeline of the route to success.

However, the cash the government is expected to promise will not be enough to pay for the original "Big Bang" plan, which was due to take tram services into Rochdale town centre, to Ashton under Lyne in Tameside and through south Manchester, through Wythenshawe and on to Manchester Airport.

'Little Bang'

The scaled-down plan approved today - the "Little Bang" - is estimated to have a price tag of é820m. The shortfall between that figure and the é520m pledged by the government will be met by a loan of about é300m.

Westminster insiders believe the only strings attached to the approval is that costs are kept under control. It is understood that next year, transport bosses in the region will bid for about é400m more from the Transport Innovation Fund to complete the original Big Bang plan - now estimated at a cost of more than é1.2bn.

If they are successful, that money is likely to be linked to conditions - possibly the introduction of road charging in the region.

A decision on this extra cash is not expected until December next year.

Plans on hold

Plans to extend Metrolink were put on hold two years ago when the former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling pulled the plug on a promised é520m for the lines after costs spiralled.

The Manchester Evening News launched the "Get Back On Track" campaign to force the government to rethink the move.

Mr Alexander, who was due to announce the go-ahead in Parliament today before travelling to Manchester, praised the MEN for playing a major part in delivering the extensions to the tram system in Greater Manchester - a contrast to those in Liverpool and Leeds, which were turned down by the government.

"The Manchester Evening News has led a very strong campaign in support of Metrolink and I applaud you for it," said Mr Alexander.

"The Metrolink matters to Manchester. To build on it is something Manchester and the travelling public want and we have been working closely with the Passenger Transport Executive and the local authorities to deliver a tram system that is value for passengers.

"I will be setting out in Parliament later today the latest developments."

Preparation

Today's announcement is thought to be worth about é260m.

This comes on top of more than é200m already given, which has been used to buy land in preparation for the expansion; and a further é60m which has been used to buy a fleet of eight new trams and help fund renewal of rail track between the existing Bury to Altrincham line, some of which is 50 years old.

It all means the track will at last reach the sparkling é36m tram and bus interchange in Newton Heath which is almost complete.Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd, who has been negotiating with ministers and transport chiefs, welcomed the announcement.

The former Labour minister said: "This is the end of a two-year struggle in which politicians and people in the community - including the MEN - have worked hard together."

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Angry McNasty, City Centre (06/07/2006 at 10:30)

Excellent news, and it just about comes as far as Chorlton, should be a nice earner and see property prices go up by at least 20% in the areas that have now got the extension!!!

Magic!!!

P.S. Thank you MEN!

Train Driver, Victoria (06/07/2006 at 10:40)

Here is the choice if you live in Rochdale.... Get to the station and catch the train, three stops, nineteen minutes or Metrolink, around forty minutes and costing more for your fare! Hmmm now let me see.
What a disgraceful waste of time and money the conversion of the Oldham Loop is. People commuting from Shaw and Oldham can forget their semi express service in the future, journey times will be extended and fares increased. People at Shaw already pack into the Semi fast train rather than go 'all stops' in comfort. Lets hope the new trams will be a load bigger than the current toy trains that operate on Metrolink. The punters at Oldham can expect to stand on the platform and watch tiny trams with people squashed in like sardines come and go without them getting anywhere near getting on. Progress? I don't think so. The sad thing is that for the price of double track being reinstated between Shaw and Rochdale five or six trains an hour could have run in each direction round 'The Loop' cheaper and quicker.
What a cock up.

Kurt Stephens, Sale, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 10:43)

Very very good news as far as I am concerned.

So long as the 'ends' of the lines are built at some point, as is being suggested, then we are FINALLY moving in the right direction. A great big well done should be given to all those involved from the GMPTE, the MEN and all those involved in getting this back on track.

If on the 20th July 2004 someone would have said that we'd be where we are today no one would have believed you, we need to get those agreed lines built, then crack on and ensure that the remainder of Phase 3 is constructed along with any other options such as the Trafford Centre.

We are finally starting to look like a city with a decent first class public transport system - a great big thanks from me to all who have worked so hard, keep up the good work and ensure that the remainder gets built.

Derek, manchester (06/07/2006 at 10:47)

THIS IS HARDLY WORTH IT AT ALL
NO AIRPORT NO HOPSTITAL NO ROUNDTHORN IND EST, NO SHARSTON IN DEST
I THINK THE MONEY
WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SPENT WITH A DIRECT AIRPORT AND WYTHENSHAWE HOSP
YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD OTHER STOPS LATER ON.
THIS WAY, THE OTHER PROOPSED DESTINATIONS MAY NEVER BE BUILT AT ALL!

Wes, Newton Heath (06/07/2006 at 11:04)

I agree about the fares.

I imagine the fare from Dean Lane to Victoria will at least double with the tram.

All in all though its good news for Manchester.

Dawn, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 11:12)

Well about time! Ia?TMm surprise they didna?TMt consider extending it to Middleton especially give that the trains that go to Manchester from Middleton Mills Hill station is always packed out and you often have to wait for the next train because you cannot get on. I think a lot of people in the Middleton area would agree that the area would benefit from the Metrolink

Train Driver, Victoria (06/07/2006 at 11:25)

Your survey asks does little bang go far enough? But you dont give the option to reply 'yes but in the wrong direction'
A route to Ashton past the stadium? smashing. Relaying tracks through south Manchester through prime commuter land of Chorlton, Withington, Didsbury and East Dids? much needed. Wasting money converting an area already well served by rail with two routes into Manchester providing a worse sevice at a higher price? Scandalous profligacy

Bob Jones, Rochdale (06/07/2006 at 11:35)

The comments that "trains are quicker than trams from Rochdale to the city" and "the trains carry more people" doesn't really stack up. The trams are much more frequent (about every 6 minutes) so will carry more people in total every hour and accelerate and brake a lot quicker than trains!

Chris, Altrincham (06/07/2006 at 11:39)

The first line that should be done is the airport link. How many people work at the airport and hospital?? Thousands. This would take a great deal of cars off the road.

andy, prestwich (06/07/2006 at 12:01)

It seams stupid to me to give priority to converting train lines in metrolink! It is a good idea but surely its more important to extend the metroling out to the south manchester and riport first, especially after this weeks anouncement that passenger numbers at manchester airport are too more than double!!

Train Driver, Victoria (06/07/2006 at 12:09)

Bob Jones, it is a matter of fact that trains from Rochdale to Manchester via Castleton take a maximum of nineteen minutes. Some take less as they are express to Manchester. Metrolink going via Oldham and Shaw with more stops will NOT be able to compete with this. At the present time around half the trains from Shaw are scheduled to stop only at Oldham on their journey to Manchester. The trams will be all stops and no matter how good their acceleration is it is impossible to achieve even similar timings. Trams have smaller loadings, take more time and cost more to use. If you're happy with that then fine but please try and stick to the facts instead of buying the line that the local media has fed you

Caroline, Droylsden (06/07/2006 at 12:10)

My experience of Metrolink when I have used it to travel places is that it is expensive, unreliable and downright intinidating sometimes!

I think I'll stick to bus until proven otherwise!

AC, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 12:16)

In Rochdale there will still be a railway direct to Manchester. the upgrade of the Oldham loop will offer much more frequent services so the slightly slower, more frequent stopping service will still be faster than the time wasted waiting for a service wich currently runs every half hour! Progress is welcome but for the sake of 400 odd million why can't they get this cash now? If it was a southern scheme that money would be found instantly. the fact that the lines will stop a few miles short of their final major destination could lead to lower than expected passenger use. Lastly. the station in rochdale is too far away from the shopping centre. the whole concept of a road going tram is to take it into the town centre. Why has this not been done, does it really make using the tram a more convenient option?

Joan, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 12:16)

How can we find out how they came to the conclusion that Oldham and Rochdale would be a better option than the airport???? we need proper answers from the goverment, altough it is good that we have a little bang, to change a train line to a metro line (Oldham) doesnt make sense to me when south manchester and the airport are crying out for this kind of service, we should all protest about any extensions to the airport plans until we get gauranties that there will be a good public service in and around the south manchester area, Oldham can use the train serviceb that they already have for the next 5-10 years, in the next 5-10 years manchester airport will be extended and even more traffic

cottonopolis, manchester (06/07/2006 at 12:16)

Yep good news(ish)Why not to the airport first and an even bigger question..WHY...does it take so long to do anything in this country? Many parts of the world would have this up and running by next year never mind 2010.The bridges were all done in South Manc a few years back.Who got the contract and how was it awarded to a project that looks like it may never happen.May set out with a shovel myself this evening,i`d have it finished by 2010.

David, Nth Mcr (06/07/2006 at 12:17)

The lessons: (1)"Big Bang" was a mistake, always request money from London in small palatable chunks A#100m here A#100m there. (2) Metorlink needs proper tickets you can buy in a newsagents/supermarkets and just date stamp at the station as it takes forever feeding coins in, and ticket machines which accept credit cards (3) We need an assembly for Gtr Manchester.

P. Lowry, Didsbury (06/07/2006 at 12:23)

Where has this decision come from we want an explanation as to why they have chose the 2 lines mentioned instead of the airport who and why was this decision made, tearing up good train service and replacing with Metro in Oldham and then not providing the ever increasing airport is rediculous please explain these decisions

Graeme, Didsbury (06/07/2006 at 12:42)

The link to East Manchester is purely to help the regenration of the area ignoring the fact that barely anyone lives there! The City ground is walkable from town and used around 20 times a year. This does nothing for those in South Manchester who commute in daily. The South Manchester route should have priority especially with the planned airport expansion.

Kurt Stephens, Sale, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 13:06)

For those concerned about the apparent 'axing' of some of the network have a read of the quotes attributed to the local people involed in this, they seem quite confident that they'll be able to bid for further money next year which will deliver the entire network as was originally planned.

Given they have got us this far I think we should give them the benifit of the doubt that they'll manage to deliver the rest successfully.

Griff, Woking (06/07/2006 at 13:06)

Good news that most of this can now go ahead. Once the expansion is out of the way, I hope Metrolink then concentrate on making travelling on the trams something approaching a pleasurable experience. The derelict, dilapidated state of most of the stations on the Altrincham line is absolutely shocking compared with how they were as BR local stations.

Buttyboy, Manchester (06/07/2006 at 13:22)

Metrolink is nowhere near as good as it's cracked up to be. I bought my house on the line deliberately.
But the bus is far more reliable.
As soon as a tram breaks down, it's chaos.
If a bus were to break down, the next bus could just drive around it.
But when a tram breaks down the whole line is paralysed until it can be moved.
We'd be far better off taking up the tracks, turning them into roads but reserving them for buses.
It'd be more reliable and a lot more reliable.
And middle-class people, who witter on about needing public transport, won't actually give up their cars anyway.
Metrolink is just a waste of taxpayers' money.

chris, stockport (06/07/2006 at 13:52)

its definately good news. any progress is progress. at least something will happen instead of constant delays. lets make sure the rest of it gets built though. and it could have been worse- we could have been completely screwed over like leeds and liverpool.

Dave C, Didsbury (06/07/2006 at 14:03)

New Labour again looking at the political map before it makes a decision (e.g. IKEA to Tameside and not Stockport). Sharing out the tram to win votes? The economic need of the region is to have a link to the Airport with the expansion that is planned. Also Withington Hospital was downgraded on the premise that transport to Wythenshawe would be improved. The whole decision is a catalogue of lost opportunities.

Hull and Proud, East Yorkshire (06/07/2006 at 14:03)

I am surprised to read the comments from Train Driver of Victoria. I am sure that commuters on the Oldham Loop will notice improvements. Certainly the idea of a turn up and go service that does not require you to consult a timetable before travelling is a key attraction that will encourage people that currently do not even use public transport to give it a try and I know they will be converted and we all want to see fewer cars on the roads do we not? If you are travelling to Rochdale from Manchester, of course you will still use the train. What Metrolink will do is improve accessibility and mobility for the communities whose transport options are currently more limited along the route itself. It will make access to Oldham and Rochdale easier by rail in particular for elderly and disabled since all the infrastructure will be upgraded to meet DDA standards. I notice that a large number of the comments appear to be negative in tone. My work brings me to Manchester on a regular basis and I use Metrolink whenever I am in the city. I have always been impressed with the journey times to Altrincham and Bury, having also experienced the bus service. Living in Hull, we have been wanting a Metrolink system ever since yours started public service. You at least have something we don't have so don't knock it! More positive comments please. This is exactly the type of investment that a Top Ten city like Manchester needs.

regular train user, rochdale (06/07/2006 at 14:13)

Maybe now finally Rochdale council will admit how useless the tram will be! It now starts at the railway station and follows the existing railway line to oldham and then manchester - in other words its EXACTLY the same as getting the train there, except your journey will cost you about 1pound more, and you can't eat/use the loo/or take a bike with you on your tram journey (you can on the train). Rochdale council made a big hoo haa for years about how wonderful the tram will be as most locals will not walk up to the railway station (for the existing super fast 20 minute train ride to manchester), yet now the very same council will make out those very same locals will walk up to the train station to take a 45 minute tram ride instead!
The whole tram money could've gone on something much better for this town.

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