Metrolink - Greater Manchester

In July 2006, the Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander MP confirmed that the Phase 3a expansion of Manchester's Metrolink tram system would go ahead. A total of £640m million is being invested in the expansion and improvement of the network, set to double the Metrolink in size. The first stage of development will provide service in Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside and Chorlton in South Manchester. The second phase will take Metrolink into town centres and Manchester airport.? Despite financial setbacks that occurred in 2004 over the initial plans of the Metrolink, the Secretary of State for Transport has now released the final part of the £520m budget. GMPTE have offered to put in the rest, around £300m to secure the estimated total cost of £900m. By 2009, eight new trams are expected to begin operating, covering nearly 60 miles, with the prospect of 45 million passenger trips and taking 10 million car journeys off the road. A bid for the second stage of the Metrolink expansion, Phase 3b is being submitted to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) in July 2007, with a decision to be announced in December 2007.