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WAY to go - Metrolink.
WAY to go - Metrolink.

Metrolink’s vital for our future prosperity

Nick Towle
23/ 6/2005

THE Metrolink is an absolute must for south Manchester's prosperity, transport bosses insisted this week.

A review by top brass at the GMPTA and city council concluded that the light-rail system was by far the best public transport option for the area.

The root-and-branch review, which tested Metrolink against other public transport options along routes such as Princess Parkway found that the tram system would easily meet passenger volumes. And, crucially, it meets the value-for-money requirements that transport secretary Alistair Darling will consider in his forthcoming affordability test.

John Leech, newly-elected south Manchester MP and Chorlton councillor, said: "This only confirms what we've been saying all along - that Metrolink is the only real option for south Manchester.

"Besides all the regeneration benefits that Metrolink will bring, it's the only form of public transport that will take the requisite number of cars off the road.

"This will hopefully prove to be the last report required to show the Government that it's the only option and, fingers crossed, we will come up trumps." Didsbury councillor David Sandiford said: "The fact that the city council are pointing this out will hopefully persuade Alistair Darling to release the necessary funds.

"We are all working hard to get Metrolink to south Manchester and in particular to Didsbury because, as the report makes clear, it makes sense in terms of value-for-money and getting people out of their cars.

"I think we have got a really good case now and it looks as if south Manchester will come out of it well eventually, but we really need the money quickly. We don't want to have to wait 10 years."

The report's conclusions were great news for residents in south Manchester - but there was anger among others after the GMPTA decided to axe the line out to Wythenshawe Hospital to save £40 million. The decision was made by a GMPTA emergency committee, which ditched the Western Loop in favour of an Eastern Loop where passengers from south Manchester would use a 'travelator' and feeder buses as part of an integrated transport network to and from the hospital.

City council leader Richard Leese said: "It is vital we go forward with plans that are realistic and affordable.

"We are delighted that Metrolink has been confirmed as the optimum public transport system for the Southern Corridor. The Eastern Loop solution is the best option to make progress in the Wythenshawe area at this stage."

Councillor Roger Jones said: "We remain committed to delivering the whole of the Metrolink Phase 3 expansion package and will be bringing forward further details as negotiations with the Government advance."

The report's findings will now be considered at a top-level meeting of the city council's executive and the passenger transport authority.


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Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   As an ex resident of Withington where as a matter of fact I was born and bred it pleases me the local councillors and the public are pushing for the tram system to be put in place linking Soth M/c with the rest of the City within this mode of transport.There still remains today a rail cutting from Old Trafford- Chorlton- Withington & West Didsbury through to Kingsway in East Didsbury,this cutting was the branch line Thomas Beeching closed in the early sixties which ran trains out of Central station which now is the GMex, it was a decision that made no sense.Going East from Chorlton also runs a cutting which takes you to Gorton and possibly on to Guide bridge so why cant this space be revitalised and used as part as the Metro tram system? The resulting advantages would then be 1.less road traffic in South Manchester 2. a much cleaner environment.Of course the price of a potential scheme would run into billions of pounds but if Mr Beeching had shown more foresight and certainly more respect for the public none of this would have been needed except for of course renovation and upgrading of a branch line rail system throughout the ensuing years.
ted knott, droylsden
25/06/2005 at 18:48
   i think metrolink will look good around south manchester
matt owen, south manchester
23/06/2005 at 18:23
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