Manchester Metrolink extension gets green light
A long-awaited plan to extend the Greater Manchester Metrolink to three of the city's surrounding towns will offer a substantial boost to construction and engineering recruitment in the North West.
Announced this week at a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), the £500m plan will create many railway jobs in construction, implementation and operation as the Metrolink tram service is extended to Oldham and Rochdale town centres. The extension will also see the Metrolink extended to Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe.
Local radio station Key 103 reports that it is expected that Metrolink trams will be running to Oldham and Rochdale town centres by spring 2014 and to Manchester Airport by mid 2016. To serve the extensions an additional 14 trams will be ordered, bringing the total number of vehicles on the system to 62.
"This further expansion of the Metrolink network will be a real boost both to the local areas as well as Greater Manchester as a whole, supporting the future growth of the regional economy, taking car journeys off the road and vastly improving public transport links," said Councillor Ian McDonald, the Chair of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.
Manchester Airports Group has said that it is "delighted at the news" of the Metrolink extension programme and announced that it will be providing a contribution to the funding of the Airport line. "It will make us one of the most accessible destinations in the region," said Geoff Muirhead, chief executive of the Manchester Airports Group.
Author: William Hobson
Keywords: Railway Jobs, Engineering Recruitment