TRANSPORT | Metrolink

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by Sir Miles Platting

I hate to get pedantic metrolink but I'm going to have to make an exemption in this case. I usually ignore most grammatical bad habits and put it down to just a bit of cyber-slang, but I've never seen 'of' substituted for the completely different 'off' before.
I'm sorry ML but somebody had to point this out to you. Maybe you're such a super-fast typist and lazy at the same time?

Sir Miles, why don't you piss of

[Jongeman]

Originally Posted by Sir Miles Platting

I hate to get pedantic metrolink but I'm going to have to make an exemption in this case.

I probably would have said I'm going to have to make an exception in this case.

In this context, it's slightly more correct.

[Sir Miles Platting]

Originally Posted by Jongeman

I probably would have said I'm going to have to make an exception in this case.

In this context, it's slightly more correct.

Ouch!.....I've got a sneaky feeling metrolink is just biding his time waiting for the opportunity to pounce. I should of* kept me trap shut.

* another one that bugs me....

[Sir Miles Platting]

Originally Posted by Jongeman

I probably would have said I'm going to have to make an exception in this case.

In this context, it's slightly more correct.

You're spot on Jongeman but can you claim to have gone to a school that was 'approved by Her Majesty the Queen'

[Metrolink]

Letter in the MEN today from Chris Mulligan (big PTE cheese), he is responding to a letter from someone else that I didn't see.

Basically, confirming commitment to Oldham / Rochdale line, saying technically possible, should have more definate details by year end, and interestingly, they are going to open the line in phases.

Firstly the trams will run along the old line passed Oldham, whilst the street running through Oldham is constructed, when the street running is finished, the trams will start going through the town centre - will allow an earlier opening off the line.

Would imagine it could also open prior to the Rochdale street running being finished.

[SleepyOne]

27 July 05:

Exe/05/101 Metrolink

A report of the Chief Executive was considered providing members with a progress report on Metrolink Phase 3 and the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Strategy (GMITS). Following the work which has been done with the Department for Transport over the past few months, the new Minster for Light Rail visited Manchester on 30th June and announced that the DTF's contribution to the Phase 1/2 upgrade bid (£58m of the total £102m) had been conditionally approved.

The package will deliver improvements to capacity and system reliability through the provision of eight additional trams and infrastructure works including DDA personal safety works, track upgrades and new ticket vending machines. It is anticipated that the track renewal of the Bury line will start in Summer/Autumn 2007 with the new vehicles being delivered in Autumn and Spring 2008. A constructive dialogue is still continuing with the DfT on the Phase 3 programme including the procurement strategy for Phase 3 which, subject to GMPTA approval on 29th July, will include a focus on the revised proposal on the Southern Corridor.

The Transport Innovation Fund will be a critical component of the resources needed to deliver the Greater Manchester Integrated Transportation Strategy and LTP 2 and, although in his initial announcement on the fund in early July, there was a strong emphasis on road pricing, the Secretary of State has made it clear in response to questions in the House of Commons that the Metrolink Scheme is not dependant on the introduction of congestion charging or road pricing. As referred to elsewhere in the report on LTP 2, officers have been working with GMPTA and AGMA on the development of corridor partnerships as a key mechanism for taking forward delivery of the Integrated Transport Strategy.

By engaging all key stakeholders with a focus on direct support to the broader economic and social inclusion agenda, the approach not only strengthens local governance and accountability arrangements but will also facilitate access to the fund which is designed to deliver the bold creative transport solutions required by the Government. The first partnerships will be established on the Phase 3 Metrolink Corridors and the Leigh Busway Corridor. Phasing of future corridor partnerships will be determined at a later stage. The full LTP 2 due to be submitted in March next year will be informed by a fully agreed approach to the development of the partnerships and before then a great deal of work needs to be carried out in relation to the four priority corridors. A timetable has been agreed which will see the first meetings of partnerships to consider terms of reference and initial strategy proposals in September, with meetings to sign off the strategy and performance indicators and targets in December.

Decision
1. To welcome the Government's conditional approval of a £102m funding package that will deliver a major upgrade on the Phase1/2 system over the next three years comprising new trams, ticket machines, station improvements and track renewals.

2. To note that constructive progress on the Phase 3 programme continues to be made in partnership with the Department for Transport and that the Secretary of State has now issued initial guidance on the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF).

3. To agree the approach to the development of corridor partnerships to take forward the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Strategy (GMITS) and the timetable for implementation as set out in this report and delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chair, GMPTA/E and AGMA Transport Chiefs to begin immediately the process of establishing the initial partnerships in the priority corridors to inform the development of Greater Manchester's Local Transport Plan 2 (GMLTP2).

(Councillor Judge declared a personal and prejudicial interest as an employee of GMPTE)

[EarlyBird]

The light rail system (Metrolink) is successful and popular, but limited in its extent and integration between transport modes is weak. The expansion of Metrolink on all the currently identified additional routes is therefore essential to regeneration and increased output of the conurbation and will be the most effective way of achieving the levels of modal shift which are required on the relevant corridors. The direct economic benefits and potential contribution of the growth of Metrolink to the city region are clear. Metrolink Phase 3 will establish transport links between new jobs and excluded communities with 200,000 people in the most deprived neighbourhoods benefiting from the enhanced accessibility provided by Metrolink. It will enable major business and investment opportunities to be realised, particularly outside of the Regional Centre, providing 28,000 jobs and an equivalent contribution of £1.8 billion to GVA over the period to 2020. Metrolink will also make a major contribution to the delivery of sustainable transport infrastructure and the vital inter-modal links needed in an international city region.

I think a contribution of £1.8 billion to the economy is reason enough for them to fund phase 3 in full.

[Farsight]

I read an article in the Daily Express this morning about local railways being under threat from Darling. Sorry, I can't find it on Google.

[Metrolink]

Farsight - there have been rumours recently that the DfT are going to give the powers to run local rail services (along with the money) to the local PTE's.

Their is some opinion that the PTE's will close the train lines and use the money elsewhere.

[Metrolink]

2005 passenger figures are out, see

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...ts_040093.hcsp

pdf at the bottom, page 16 - look at that increase over 10 years!!!!

Remember this is a system running at over 100% capacity for a good proportion of the day.

[Metrolink]

Stolen from....

http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/past_present_future.pdf



HISTORY
Introduction
Within a matter of only weeks of its opening, Metrolink became a huge success for Greater Manchester. It brought, not only to the Greater Manchester area, but to the United Kingdom as a whole, a new concept in public transport in the form of the country’s first modern street operating light rail system. In its wake followed the construction and opening of the Sheffield Supertram system, West Midlands Metro and Croydon Tramlink, along with research in many other towns and cities looking at the viability of light rail.
􀂾 Infrastructure and assets of the system are owned by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.
􀂾 The system was operated and maintained initially by Greater Manchester Metro Limited, a private company whose shareholders comprised GEC Alsthom Transportation Projects Ltd., John Mowlem and Company plc, Amec plc and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.
􀂾 In 1989 this consortium was collectively awarded a contract to design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) Phase 1 (Altrincham to Bury) of the new light rail system. This contract included a two year period to design and build the system.
􀂾 A phased and high profile opening in took place 1992 culminating in a Royal opening by Her Majesty the Queen on 17 July 1992.
􀂾 1997 saw a new contract awarded to the present concessionaire Altram (Manchester) Limited which included the financing, design and build of the new line to Salford Quays and Eccles along with the operation and maintenance of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the system. Altram (Manchester) Limited the new consortium comprises Ansaldo Transporti, Serco Investments Limited, Laing Civil Engineering and 3i. Serco Metrolink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Limited, took over the operations and maintenance of the system on Monday 26 May 1997. The concession to operate Metrolink includes a comprehensive contract which dictates high levels of reliability and frequency.
􀂾 In March 2003, Serco Investments bought out its partners and Altram (Manchester) Limited is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Investments Limited.
􀂾 The timetable used to introduce Metrolink to Greater Manchester included a 12 minute off peak service Monday to Saturday, but within a matter of weeks of opening passenger demand saw this increase to 6 minutes for a large part of the day.
Metrolink is unusual, because it incorporates features of both heavy rail and of trams. Whilst it has the discipline and speed of a traditional railway on the segregated lines from Altrincham and Bury, its design allows for flexibility of a tram through the city. The line from Cornbrook to Eccles via Salford Quays extends these benefits further by fully integrating with street running traffic along a large part of the route. This versatility has resulted in a high speed, frequent and convenient mode of transport which quickly won a phenomenal loyalty from customers. Metrolink is a hybrid (neither tram nor heavy rail) but it was quickly christened by the public and has since become affectionately known as a tram.
Page 2 of 5
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CURRENT ROUTES
Phase 1 of Metrolink was the beginning of what is seen as an expanding network. The line comprises of:
􀂾 9 stops located on each of the Altrincham and Bury lines
􀂾 7 stops in the city centre
􀂾 15.9 km from Bury to Victoria
􀂾 10.4 km from Altrincham to GMex
􀂾 3.8km of city centre track.
Whilst the segregated line utilises existing ex British Rail stations, the city centre route has bespoke stops serving the major facilities including shopping, the commercial centre, theatres, China Town and the main line railway stations located at Piccadilly, Victoria and Deansgate (GMex).
Phase 2 serves the new commercial development at Salford Quays with its prestigious office blocks and growing leisure industry. It carries on to the town of Eccles in the North West serving the residential area along Eccles New Road.
􀂾 The route is 6.5km in length.
Page 3 of 5
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SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES
Significant Dates in Metrolink’s History
􀂾 November 1984 GMPTE submitted Light Rapid Transit Bill in Parliament.
􀂾 March 1987 the first light rail vehicle carrying passengers in Greater Manchester operated for 3 weeks at Debdale Park. July 1987 Government Grant made available subject to private sector involvement.
􀂾 January 1988 GMPTE authorised to invite tenders for phase 1 (Bury to Altrincham via the City Centre). February 1988 Royal Assent received. June 1988 Project launched under the name of Metrolink. September 1988 Shortlist of 8 consortia for contract announced. November 1988 Parliament Bill deposited for extensions to Oldham and Rochdale, Didsbury, Trafford Park and variations of Salford Quays.
􀂾 March 1989 Service diversions began in Manchester City Centre and 3 consortia were selected for the second stage of tendering. September 27, 1989 Announcement of successful consortium – GMA Group (GEC Mowlem, AMEC and GM Buses). October 24, 1989 Michael Portillo Minister of State for Transport gives final approval for Metrolink. December 1989 Work commences on main GMA contract.
􀂾 March 1990 construction of street track section begins and the vehicle moke up is delivered. April 1990 Royal Assent received for Parliamentary Bill for Salford Quays. May 1990 Public open days for vehicle prototype mock-up. June 5, 1990 Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) contract signed with Greater Manchester Metro Limited. June 6, 1990 Roger Freeman MP Minister for Transport lays the first new street tram rails in Great Britain at Long Millgate.
􀂾 August 1991 the end of British Rail operation to Bury with the last Bury electric train ran Crumpsall to Bury.
􀂾 April 6, 1992 Metrolink opens for passenger service from Bury to Victoria. April 27, 1992 First street operation in the United Kingdom when passenger operation commences through Manchester City Centre to G Mex from Victoria and enters the Guiness Book of Records as England’s only Street operated Light Rapid Transport System. June 15, 1992 Metrolink opens for passenger service from G Mex to Altrincham. July 17, 1992 The Queen officially opens Metrolink. July 20, 1992 Metrolink Phase 1 is complete as operation to Piccadilly Rail Station commences.
􀂾 October 21, 1996 Transport and works order made for Eccles extension from Broadway to Eccles. November 8, 1996 Altram (consortium of Serco Limited, Ansaldo Trasporti, Laing Civil Engineering and 3I) is announced as the preferred bidder for Phase 2 of the contract.
􀂾 April 25, 1997 work begins on Salford Quays and Eccles extension. May 26, 1997 Serco Metrolink take over operation of the Bury to Altrincham line.
􀂾 January 20, 1998 Construction work begins outside the entrance of Piccadilly Metrolink Station to enable trams to cross over the tracks before entering the station. April 21, 1998 Beams lifted into place over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Page 4 of 5
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April 27, 1998 Piccadilly Crossover on London Road becomes operational. August 3, 1998 Minister of Transport Dr John Reid launches Integrated Transport Policy. August 6, 1998 First street rail on Salford Quays and Eccles line laid by Glenda Jackson MP. August 10, 1998 New Market Street island platform becomes operational replacing High Street and former Market Street stops. August 1998 Transport and works order for the Ashton-Under-Lyne route made.
􀂾 December 6, 1999 commencement of operations to Broadway.
􀂾 July 21, 2000 start of operations to Eccles
􀂾 January 9, 2001 the Princess Royal officially opens the Eccles line. April 2001 GMPTE issue bid documents for Phase 3.
􀂾 March 31, 2003 Shudehill opens for service. April 28, 2003 Transport Minister John Spellar MP officially opens Shudehill.
Page 5 of 5
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SUMMARY OF FACTS
􀂾 The total network is approximately 37km route
- Bury to Victoria 15.9km
- Victoria to G Mex 3.1km and 0.7km (Piccadilly Spur)
- G Mex to Altrincham 10.4km
- Cornbrook to Broadway 3.0km
- Broadway to Eccles 3.5km
􀂾 There are 37 stops
- 17 former British Rail Stations
- 17 new, open plan stops
- 3 shared mainline stations (Victoria, Piccadilly and Altrincham)
􀂾 32 Light Rail Vehicles
- 26 T68 (purchased in 1991)
- 6 T68a (purchased in 1999)
􀂾 Daily patronage of around 52,000 passenger journeys. Annual patronage of 18.8m passenger journeys
􀂾 Research has suggested that at least 2 million car journeys have been taken off the road each year along the Metrolink corridor

[Farsight]

Thanks Metrolink.

[Metrolink]

Annual patronage is now up to 19.7m / year, the data above is slightly out off date.

[Northbeach]

As a matter of interest, do know what the figures are for Notts, Tramkurty?

[Metrolink]

Notts carried 8.5m in the 1st year, above expectations I think.

[Metrolink]

Just to run more salt into the wounds, there are also articles in the magazine about Lyon and Dublin, Lyon will have constructed 5 lines in 10years (from concept to fare paying passengers) soon, and Dublin is adding a further 6 lines to the new 3 line network over the next 10 years - they'll have gone from 0 to 9 lines in about 15years!!!

[Jongeman]

Metrolink, do you or anyone else know anything about new phase 3 trams, and also plans to upgrade the existing ones on the Bury - Altrincham line? I thought that the original plan was to add a middle section to increase capacity.

I've just been looking for info on the LRTA website, and I reckon that Nottingham's and Dublin's trams are more modern and sleeker than ours, which I've always thought look a bit truncated and dated even. ( I know.....never bloody satisfied!)

[jrb]

[Metrolink]

jrb - they are trialing something similar to those in Bradford - from what I hear they are shite, they feel like they are toppling over all the time apparently and the ride quality is terrible.

Jonge - we will be placing an order for 8 new trams for the Alty / Bury line early next year.

They will be similar to those used in Koln - search google for picies, there are loads - fantastic trams, the best high floor trams in production in Europe.

The other 55 that will be purchased for the other 3 lines will all be the same model.

I wonder what the numbering convention will be? I suspect that the next 8 will be 1027 - 1034, with the next 55 3001 - 3055, since the 8 coming first are essentially phase 1 trams and the next 55 all phase 3 trams.

[Sir Miles Platting]

I don't believe you get enough credit for what you do metrolink. This is invaluable information and a good light rail network is very germane to the development of GM. It's probably one of the main reasons M/cr is leading the pack. Your efforts are well appreciated, thanks.