Future travel plans outlined
Date published: 16 October 2008
SOME of the North-West’s most influential transport bosses travelled to London this week to meet MPs at the House of Commons.
Councillor Matt Colledge (chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA)), Sir Moir Lockhead (chief executive of FirstGroup) and Anton Valk (chief executive of NedRailways) put forward their ambitious plans for the future.
They were speaking at an event organised by the GMPTA on the theme of revolutionising public transport.
MPs, Lords and transport experts attended, and they got the chance to see a 1.6-metre-long model of the new-look yellow and silver Metrolink trams.
Forty trams will be added to the Metrolink network next year to run on the existing system — and eventually on the extensions to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton and Salford Quays.
Councillor Colledge said: “Without national support, we can’t achieve our ambitions for public transport in Greater Manchester.
“For example, next year construction will start on the three new Metrolink lines, but that simply wouldn’t be happening if the Government hadn’t been prepared to put nearly £250 million towards the cost of the scheme.”
Sir Moir Lockhead said: “There is a revolution in public transport as people look for cost-effective and environmentally-friendly ways to travel.”
