New tram arrives in Manchester

Manchester’s new M5000 tram has arrived at the Metrolink Queen’s Road depot, making the final leg of its journey under police escort.

The M5000 tram, which cost just over £2 million, was manufactured by global transport company Bombardier. The same model already runs in several European cities.

The new look yellow and silver vehicle is the first of a new generation of tram for the expanding Metrolink network, which is being transformed by a multimillion-pound investment programme.

The new tram left the Bombardier depot in Vienna on the back of an articulated lorry in the early hours of Thursday and travelled almost 1,000 miles as it made its way through Germany, the Netherlands and Rotterdam before landing at the Port of Hull on Sunday.

It will now be given a thorough check by Metrolink and Stagecoach officials before taking its first run out on the system and a driver training programme begins.

A total of 40 new trams have been ordered to provide more room on existing services and to cater for passengers on the new lines being built to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside, Chorlton in South Manchester and MediaCityUK in Salford.

The new tram is yellow at the front, and has yellow and silver sides, in line with the new Metrolink identity. The new colours have also been used inside the tram, and full-length glass double doors will make it feel lighter and brighter than the current vehicles.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink Director, said: “We’ve been looking forward to this day and following the new tram’s progress very closely. I am really pleased with the result.

“The tram will now undergo extensive operational and safety tests and we’ll also have to train people how to drive it. The tests will go on through the summer and the autumn before the tram goes into service.

“I hope to see it up and running towards the end of the year and I am certain people will be delighted with it when it does.”

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