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Government to invest £244m in Metrolink

21/05/2008

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly has promised to invest £244 million in the extension of the Metrolink network to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton.

The money will also be used to make upgrades to the existing track including reviving disused rail routes, resulting in more services and faster journey times.

Further extensions to the light rail network are included within Manchester's Transport Innovation Fund bid, which is being reviewed by the Department for Transport.

Ms Kelly said: "These much-anticipated improvements will make a huge difference to local public transport and are expected to carry an extra ten million passengers a year.

"Giving final approval to these plans reflects the government's commitment to providing convenient, reliable and comfortable public transport."

In a separate project, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is building a Metrolink extension to Droylsden, east Manchester.

Last month, environmental experts inspected the routes of the new Metrolink lines to check for protected species, such as bats, and whether trees will need to be replaced as a result of the work.