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Tuesday, 08 April 2008Metrolink now neck and neck with cars

Satisfaction levels with Metrolink are now neck and neck with cars, according to a new survey of people living near the tram network.

Transport bosses at Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), which owns the Metrolink system, commissioned polling company Ipsos MORI to interview 1,600 residents close to the Bury and Altrincham lines.

Of the people who gave an opinion, 89% were satisfied with Metrolink services and 86% were satisfied with travelling by car. An identical survey carried out before last summer's track upgrades found that satisfaction levels were at 79% for Metrolink and 88% for cars.

Michael Renshaw, GMPTE's Interim Service Delivery Director, said: "I'm pleased that the work we're doing to improve Metrolink has led to an increase in the level of satisfaction with the service.

"We replaced nearly twenty miles of track on the Bury and Altrincham lines last summer as part of a major upgrade of the network. Tram journeys are now smoother, quieter and more reliable.

"We'll also be adding more trams and new ticket machines to the network next year to relieve overcrowding and make it easier to travel by tram. I hope the improvements we're making will encourage more people to use the service."

The number of passengers satisfied with how smooth tram journeys are has also risen from 47% before the track upgrades to 88% after, and from 56% to 87% for noise levels.

Some of the Metrolink track that was replaced during the summer was more than 50 years old as the Bury and Altrincham lines were used by trains before Metrolink took over the routes in 1992.

Sections of the Metrolink network were closed between May and September while engineers laid nearly 40 miles of rail, 60,000 tonnes of stone and 40,000 sleepers.

They also improved platform surfaces, re-waterproofed the Metrolink bridge over the M60 at Besses o' th' Barn, and replaced a road bridge over the Metrolink line in Radcliffe. The work was completed on time on 13 September.

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