Metrolink role for Knowles

AN OLDHAM councillor has taken charge of expanding the Metrolink tram network.

Former council leader Richard Knowles has been appointed chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority’s powerful Development and Operations Committee following the Lib Dem/Tory coup that removed Labour from the control of the PTA after the May elections.

Another former Oldham leader, Labour’s Councillor David Jones, is also a member of the committee which has delegated powers to deal with appointing and supervising contractors to build new Metrolink lines — including the conversion of the Oldham loop for use by trams. It will also deal with the building of a second tram line through Manchester city centre.

At his first meeting in charge of the nine-man committee, Councillor Knowles questioned plans to route Oldham trams on to the new city line which would not link with Manchester’s Piccadilly Station.

“Oldham and Rochdale are the only two boroughs with no direct rail link to London-bound trains. I don’t want that to be set in stone,” he told officials who agreed to re-examine the plans.

The committee will also control Metrolink fares and operation, oversee the introduction of Smartcards for cashless travel, and monitor other big contracts to make sure taxpayers are getting value for money.

By the time Oldham gets its trams, the system will have new ticket machines after years of complaints by passengers about the present ones breaking down.

Metrolink project director Philip Purdy said they would take every type of banknote and would overcome all the problems of the current machines.