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Wednesday, 21 November 2007New trams on order for Salford Quays expansion

Four new Metrolink trams will help to take passengers through Salford Quays and into mediacity:uk from 2010 - ahead of the BBC's move to its new northern headquarters.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has ordered the trams from Canadian transport company Bombardier.

More than £19 million is being invested on the new trams and improvements to the Eccles Metrolink line by Salford City Council, Peel Media and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). A quarter of a mile (0.4 km) extension to the line will take passengers into the heart of mediacity:uk.

David Leather, GMPTE's Chief Executive, said: "The four new trams will allow us to provide a new service between Cornbrook and mediacity:uk in Salford Quays. They're in addition to eight extra trams that we ordered earlier this year to increase capacity and relieve overcrowding on the existing Metrolink network.

"The Salford Quays extension to mediacity:uk is part of a major expansion of the Metrolink network. We expect to order more trams in the near future for the new lines to Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden, and Chorlton."

Councillor John Merry, Leader of Salford City Council, said: "The creation of mediacity:uk will bring incredible economic growth and employment opportunities and the right transport links will be a vital ingredient in that success. There is still a lot of work to do in preparation for the arrival of mediacity:uk and this announcement demonstrates our commitment to continual investment in the area."

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: "The additional trams and improvements we are helping to fund will help support the continued economic growth of the Manchester city-region in a sustainable manner, and complements other major investments by the public and private sectors in Greater Manchester."

mediacity:uk will be the UK's first purpose-built centre for media and creative industries. The Salford Quays development is expected to create 15,500 jobs and bring £1 billion to the regional economy in its first five years.

Work on the Metrolink extension to mediacity:uk is due to start in 2009 and to be completed in 2010. The four new trams will significantly increase the frequency of services on the section of the Eccles Metrolink line between Cornbrook and Harbour City.

The new model of tram is already operating in several European cities, including Cologne, Bonn, Rotterdam and Stockholm. Bombardier will design and manufacture Greater Manchester's new trams at its sites in Bautzen in Germany and Vienna in Austria.

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