Green light for Metrolink expansion
8:00am Saturday 17th May 2008
THE Government has given the go ahead for a £575 million expansion of the Metrolink tram network.
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly visited Manchester to give the scheme the green light.
The new Metrolink lines will run to Chorlton in South Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale and Droylsden in Tameside.
The project is being funded by local authorities in Greater Manchester and the Department for Transport.
Lord Peter Smith, leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), said: "Public transport will have a huge part to play in the region's continuing economic success, and I'm delighted we've now been given the go-ahead to build three new Metrolink lines.
"The Metrolink expansion has received widespread support from politicians, businesses and local communities across Greater Manchester. Without their backing, we wouldn't be in this position today.
"We'll be able to extend the network even further if the bid to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund is successful. I hope these new Metrolink lines will be just the start of a major investment in our public transport network."
The new Metrolink lines will cover nearly 20 miles, almost doubling the size of the network. They are expected to take five million car journeys off local roads every year, and to increase the number of trips passengers make each day from 55,000 to more than 90,000.