Light rail and trams

Manchester Metrolink extension to Didsbury opens

14.05.13: The Metrolink extension of the South Manchester Line to Didsbury will open to passengers next Thursday (23 May), months ahead of schedule. The 4.4km extension serves five new stops: Withington, Burton Road, West Didsbury, Didsbury Village a...

Metrolink introduces real-time information displays

10.05.13: Information displays at Manchester Metrolink’s city centre stops are finally working, following the delayed roll-out of the network’s new tram management system. Passengers will be able to see the time of the next tram, its dest...

Platform work complete at Midland Metro

15.04.13: Midland Metro re-opens today following two-week closure while the tram system was extended and improved. The £128m project involved over 50 engineers narrowing all platforms along the route from Snow Hill to Wolverhampton by 100mm to...

Disability guide published for Manchester Metrolink

05.04.13: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has published an access guide for using Metrolink trams, particularly address needs of disabled passengers to plan their journeys. The guide was developed with advice from the Disability Design Refere...

Manchester's new man in charge

01.04.13: Dr Jon Lamonte, the former head of Tube Lines, has recently taken over as chief executive of Transport for Greater Manchester, responsible for the city’s growing Metrolink light rail network and also dealing with train and bus operators al...

‘Pop’ smartcard validation testing begins

25.03.13: Nexus has begun testing new station validators to allow smartcard technology to be used later this year. Validators, automatic gates and smart ticket vending machines are being installed for passengers to use the Pop card. The move is part...

Metrolink extension to Rochdale opening next week

21.02.13: The delayed Manchester Metrolink extension to Rochdale is due to open next Thursday, February 28. Trams will stop at Rochdale railway station on the existing Oldham line at Shaw & Crompton, as well as Newhey and Milnrow and new destinat...

Edinburgh trams could waive fares for first weeks

19.02.13: Edinburgh council leaders are considering running free services in the weeks following the launch of the city’s problem-plagued tram system. The move could help introduce passengers to the route and boost business in the city. Mi...

Platform work to start on Midland Metro

15.02.13: Midland Metro is to temporarily close this Easter while work continues on a £128m project to extend and improve the tram system. The line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will close on Friday March 29 and reopen on Monday April 15...

Nexus receives £23m more for Metro upgrade

11.02.13: The Government has announced a £23m boost to upgrade and renew the Tyne and Wear Metro. This brings the total funding for Nexus’s ‘All change’ modernisation programme to £93m over the next three years. The prog...

New TfGM boss takes charge

07.02.13: Transport for Greater Manchester’s new chief executive has spoken about his excitement for the future and his determination to improve the region’s connectivity, economy and transport links. The Greater Manchester Combined Autho...

Tram-train link to airport ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’

25.01.13: The all-party parliamentary light rail group is pushing for a tram-train link from Leeds to Leeds-Bradford International Airport (LBIA), via Horsforth. At a meeting on Tuesday, the group outlined progress on the project to cross-party MPs...

TfGM and Thales in court over £42m Metrolink dispute

04.01.13: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has taken contractor Thales to the High Court over their claim for an extra £42m on a signalling project for Metrolink. The Manchester Evening News (MEN) reports that the case involves the dispu...

Centro and National Express partnership to drive Metro improvements

18.12.12: Centro has formed a partnership with the Midland Metro’s system operator National Express to underpin the £130m improvements planned. The agreement, ‘Metro Forward’, will see the organisations working together to enh...

New Metrolink bridge moved into place over M60

06.11.12: The new Metrolink bridge to transport passengers to Manchester Airport was installed over the M60 this weekend. The 580-tonne bridge was specially constructed to facilitate its installation during a single motorway closure, and comprises on...