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Friday, 30 January 2009New trams take shape

Greater Manchester's new state-of-the-art Metrolink trams are beginning to take shape at their production site in Vienna.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has ordered 40 trams from leading manufacturer Bombardier to run on the existing system and the new Metrolink lines.

The first tram shell has been completed and engineers have now reached the stage where they can start installing the electrics and interior fittings.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE's Metrolink Director, said: "It's great to see our new trams beginning to take shape and I'm looking forward to the first one being delivered to Manchester later in the year.

"The new Metrolink lines we're building will nearly double the size of the network so we need extra trams to operate on them. We'll also run some of the new trams on the existing lines to provide more seats for passengers."

The new trams will be tested in Vienna in the spring before the first one is ready to be delivered to Manchester in the summer. It will then go through rigorous testing on the Metrolink system for around three months to make sure it meets safety regulations.

The tram is due to go into service in the autumn once drivers have been trained to operate the new model. Transport bosses then expect to be able to add new trams to the network at the rate of approximately one each month.

GMPTE is overseeing at ?600 million expansion of the Metrolink network which will see new lines being built to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside, Chorlton in South Manchester and MediaCityUK in Salford Quays.

The new routes will cover nearly 20 miles and include 27 stops. Construction work will start later this year and the new lines are due to open in stages between 2010 and 2012.

The new look trams will be yellow at the front, and have yellow and silver sides. The new colours will also be used inside the trams, and full-length glass double doors will make them feel lighter and brighter.

200 passengers will be able to travel on each of the trams, and the wide double doors will make it easy for people with wheelchairs or prams to get on and off them.

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