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13 May 2008: GMPTE appoint Metrolink Director
25 April 2008: Metrolink expansion — ‘preferred bidder’ selected
22 April 2008: GMPTE appoint new Metrolink engineering manager
2 April 2008: Environmental surveys for Phase 3a
6 March 2008: GMPTE appoint new Information Systems Director
1 March 2008: Mediacity:uk — GMPTE consultation
News 2007 page
13 May 2008: GMPTE appoint Metrolink Director
Philip Purdy, an Australian expert with 30 years experience of public transport, has made the 10,500-mile trip from Melbourne to Manchester to take up his new role with GMPTE as Metrolink Director.
He has overseen a variety of major projects in Melbourne; including new tram extensions, interchanges and a new tram depot. His previous role was Asset Development Manager at Yarra Trams; which operates Melbourne’s 250km tram network — one of the largest tram systems in the world.
Philip said: “It’s a very exciting time to be joining the Metrolink team. Manchester is a world–class city and I’m looking forward to being able to provide a tram system that matches that.” He continued: “The new Metrolink extensions will nearly double the size of the network and take an extra five million car journeys off local roads every year. They will bring huge benefits to new parts of Greater Manchester and I’m delighted I’ll be helping to make them become a reality.”
David Leather, GMPTE’s Chief Executive, added: “Philip has a proven track record when it comes to overseeing tram projects and making sure they’re completed both on time and within budget. His vast experience is going to be a major boost to the Metrolink expansion and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
25 April 2008: Metrolink expansion — ‘preferred bidder’ selected
GMPTE has selected the M–Pact Thales consortium as preferred bidder for the ‘design, construct and maintain’ contract for Phase 3a. The consortium is made up of Thales, Laing O’Rourke and GrantRail.
This major expansion will convert the Rochdale via Oldham railway line to Metrolink; build the line to Droylsden in Tameside; build the first part of the southern routes to St. Werburgh’s Road, Chorlton in South Manchester.
David Leather, GMPTE’s Interim Chief Executive, said: “Metrolink has been a massive success since the first lines to Bury and Altrincham opened in 1992. I’m delighted we’ve now selected a preferred bidder for this major expansion of the tram network.” He continued: “This consortium brings a wealth of experience, having worked on tram systems across the UK — including Metrolink. The team also have offices in Manchester and so have a good understanding of the areas they will be building the new lines in. I look forward to working with them to bring all the benefits of Metrolink to thousands more people across Greater Manchester.”
GMPTE will now go back to the Department for Transport to obtain final sign off for the project, which will enable a contract to be placed with the M–Pact Thales consortium.
The contract will also include a quarter of a mile extension to mediacity:uk in Salford Quays if the Transport and Works Act order is approved by the government.
More lines into Oldham and Rochdale town centres, as well as to Ashton–under–Lyne, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and the Trafford Centre, could also be built if Greater Manchester’s bid to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund is successful.
The Companies
Laing O’Rourke is a major and growing force in building and infrastructure design, construction and related services within its chosen markets. The group is responsible for delivering some of the most challenging construction and infrastructure projects in the world, including working in a fully integrated consortium to deliver the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, transforming St Pancras into one of the UK’s most important transport interchanges.
GrantRail Group is the UK rail contracting arm of major Dutch contractor, Volker Wessels and steel giant Corus. GrantRail provides a wide range of contracting services to the railway industry from major capital projects to track renewals and specialised operations. It has extensive UK tram systems experience over the last 25 years, having constructed track systems for Nottingham, London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro, Dublin and Manchester Metrolink. The schemes in Manchester and the West Midlands were constructed by the M–Pact partners.
Thales is an international company dedicated to providing high technology and systems integration solutions that meet the needs of customers and leads the way in the provision of mission critical information systems world–wide. The company handles major transport projects and is a global leader in Light Rail and Metro supervisory and control systems and technologies. Global clients include RATP, Singapore Mass Transit, Bilbao, Hong Kong and Santiago Metros, Lille Tramway and Croydon Tramlink, together with London Underground.
22 April 2008: GMPTE appoint new Metrolink engineering manager
Jim Harries, who oversaw the construction of Metrolink Phase 1, has returned to Manchester to help manage its Phase 3 expansion. He has been appointed as the new Metrolink engineering manager for GMPTE.
Mr Harries — a Cambridge University graduate — began his career as an engineering management trainee at British Rail. He was appointed as the engineering manager of Greater Manchester Metro Ltd (GMML) in 1990 before becoming its managing director in 1996.
Since leaving GMML in 1998, he has worked as the commissioning manager for the Lewisham extension of the Docklands Light Railway in London, the operations manager for the construction of the Nottingham Express Transit tram system, and the project engineer for Edinburgh’s new tram network.
GMML built the first section of the Metrolink network, between Bury, Manchester and Altrincham, which opened in 1992. It also operated the tram service until 1997.
Mr Harries will be taking on responsibility for engineering on both the existing Phase 1 & 2 lines and new Phase 3 lines. The latter will nearly double the size of the Metrolink network and are expected to take five million car journeys off local roads every year.
2 April 2008: Environmental surveys for Phase 3a
GMPTE are arranging for environmental surveys to be carried out along the Phase 3a routes. Starting next week these will check for protected species and record which trees and shrubs need to be replaced.
Further surveys will also take place later in the spring through to the autumn; updating noise and air quality information, also investigating the ground and drainage conditions. Specialists will investigate traffic levels and develop plans to manage the flow of traffic.
Most of the surveys will take place between 8am and 6pm, although some will involve dawn and dusk observations of bats and other protected species. The people carrying out the surveys will carry ID and authorisation letters.
GMPTE has shortlisted several companies to build the new Metrolink lines and expects to be able to appoint one of them later this spring.
6 March 2008: GMPTE appoint new Information Systems Director
GMPTE have appointed David Hytch as the new Information Systems Director. An expert in transport technology, he has helped to develop real–time information and prepaid travel card schemes in Europe and the US. His team will work on initiatives that use technology to improve public transport in the county.
Mr Hytch said: “I’m delighted to be joining GMPTE at an exciting time for the organisation. I’m looking forward to using technology to make it easier for people to travel on public transport in Greater Manchester.” He continued: “We want passengers to be able to get hold of up–to–the–minute information about their services wherever they are, whether it’s at work, in town or waiting for a bus. We’re also planning to improve the ticketing system to make it simpler to travel on any local bus, train or tram service. The Oyster card has transformed the transport system in London. We want to take advantage of new technology to create our own prepaid smartcard in Greater Manchester.”
David Leather, GMPTE’s Chief Executive, added: “David has a fantastic amount of experience in using technology to improve public transport and I’m delighted he’s bringing his skills and knowledge to Greater Manchester. Many people are still put off using public transport because they find it daunting. David’s team will simplify the ticketing system and making it easier for people to find out about their local services.”
David Hytch has joined GMPTE from Logica — a multinational information technology and business services company. As the Head of the Intelligent Transport Systems Practice, he oversaw the development of real–time passenger information, smartcard and traffic management systems.
1 March 2008: Mediacity:uk — GMPTE consultation
Planning permission for the Mediacity:UK spur was granted on 3 October 2007. This 360 metre extension will start at the Eccles line near the existing Harbour City stop and end at a new tram stop in mediacity:uk. The new stop will be a short walk from The Lowry.
GMPTE is running a public consultation until mid April 2008. There are more deatils at the ‘Have your say — Mediacity:uk’ web page.
GMPTE will pull together all the comments received on the proposals and use them to develop their application for a Transport and Works Act Order. If the application is successful, the Order will give GMPTE legal powers to run trams into mediacity:uk.
Salford City Council, Peel Media and the North West Development Agency have already agreed to provide funding for the mediacity:uk extension and GMPTE expect to open it in Summer 2010.
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This page was written by Tony Williams, Manchester Area Officer, Light Rail Transit Association. Contact manwebm@lrta.org if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions about these pages.