Second City Crossing
LOTS of tram news.
Powers to install a second Metrolink route through the heart of Manchester city centre have been approved by the Government.
The route – through St Peter’s Square, along Princess Street, Cross Street and Corporation Street and re-joining the existing Metrolink line just outside Victoria station – was the subject of a major consultation in 2011 and a public inquiry earlier this year.
The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, has now approved Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) application for the Transport and Works Act Order required to build and operate the new line.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, has also approved several associated Listed Building consents.
The decision means TfGM can now finalise arrangements for delivering the scheme, which will see a new, larger tram stop in St Peter’s Square and a new stop in Exchange Square, one of the city’s main retail and leisure areas.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “This is fantastic news and means we can now press ahead with developing the detail of the delivery programme, appointing a contractor and getting work started as soon as possible.
“By providing the necessary capacity, flexibility and reliability for the future tram network to operate, the second city crossing will play a vital role in helping to build a strong and prosperous economy for Greater Manchester.
“It’s an essential part of the expansion programme which also complements the city’s redevelopment of St Peter’s Square – so this really is excellent news.”
Landscape image of Second Crossing Route
Ashton Metrolink Line Opens Early, Oldham Link Tested
The first Metrolink passenger service from Ashton-under-Lyne will depart at 5.59am on Wednesday – several months ahead of schedule.
The launch to Ashton will add four new stops to the East Manchester line: Audenshaw, Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Ashton-under-Lyne.
Park and ride facilities at Ashton Moss (200 spaces) and Ashton West (194 spaces, shared with users of the Ashton Moss Leisure Park) will also open and will be free to use for Metrolink passengers.
Tram journeys from Ashton to Piccadilly will take a little over 30 minutes.
Meanwhile.
The first overnight tram tests are set to take place on the new Oldham town centre Metrolink extension, between Westwood Business Park and Oldham Mumps.
This week trams will run on the line overnight under a police escort. Some road junctions will be restricted for very short periods of time and noise will be kept to a minimum.
Daytime tram tests will follow, but during the testing period the tram service is not open to the public.
Passenger services will open on the Oldham town centre extension next year with four new stops at Westwood, Oldham King Street, Oldham Central and Oldham Mumps which will also have a major new Metrolink park and ride.
Metrolink Wins Awards
The achievements of Metrolink and its partners have been recognised and rewarded at the international Light Rail Awards – this year’s hot awards ticket of course. .
The Metrolink expansion was named UK Project of the Year, with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), MRDL and MPT rewarded for three joint entries – the East Manchester line to Droylsden, the East Didsbury line and the Oldham-Rochdale line.
MPT, the project’s principal contractor, was also awarded Supplier of the Year.
RATP won the Operator of the Year award for their global light rail operations, including Metrolink – which they operate as MRDL. This may surprise some readers.
Bombardier, which supplies Metrolink’s M5000 trams, won the award for Manufacturer of the Year and was highly commended as Supplier of the Year.
TfGM and MPT were highly commended for Best Environmental Initiative for their overall environmental commitment on the Metrolink expansion project, including the crossing of the Mersey Valley as part of the new line to Manchester Airport.
The Metrolink Tram Pro network simulator (delivered by TfGM, MRDL and Ian Rowe Associates) was also highly commended in the Innovation of the Year category for significantly reducing the time needed for driver training on the network’s new lines.
Talented individuals were also recognised.
Louise Poole, TfGM’s Passenger Service Development Manager, was highly commended in the Rising Star category for her excellent work with frontline teams, which has seen a drop in complaints and a rise in positive comments from passengers.
Rachel Schonewald, Metrolink’s Change Controller, was also shortlisted in the Rising Star category with the award going to Gary Scanlon, MRDL’s Operations Expansion Manager, who works on the Metrolink network simulator and driver training programme.
Liz West, Communications Manager on the Metrolink expansion, was also shortlisted in the category of Employee of the Year, with the judges praising her commitment and dedication to Metrolink and to our customers and stakeholders.
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