Manchester trams
Norman Baker, Minister for Local and Regional Transport, visits Manchester to experience the city's Metrolink trams.
Norman Baker, Minister for Local and Regional Transport, visits Manchester to experience the city鈥檚 Metrolink trams. Date filmed: 15 July 2010
Transcript
Narrator: Manchester鈥檚 Metrolink trams are an iconic part of the city鈥檚 transport network. For more than a decade, they鈥檝e provided a quick and convenient service for the travelling public. And the network is set to expand following the government鈥檚 decision to reapprove over 拢120 million of funding for the Ashton and East Didsbury extensions. Norman Baker, Minister for Local and Regional Transport, experienced the network for himself when he came to formally open the newly-expanded Queen鈥檚 Road depot. The depot will play a crucial role in stabling and maintaining the Metrolink fleet, which is expanding from 32 to 80 trams.
Norman Baker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport: I鈥檓 very pleased that one of the first decisions of the new government has been to confirm the money for the extension to the Manchester Metrolink, and of course 拢10 million of Department for Transport money went towards this particular depot. So this is a sign of confidence in light rail, and it鈥檚 a sign of commitment from the government to the north-west. There鈥檚 no doubt that an extension to Metrolink here in Manchester would help the local economy, it will help cut carbon emissions and be well received all round.
Narrator: Councillor Ian Macdonald is delighted that approval for the extensions has gone ahead.
Cllr Ian Macdonald, Chair, Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority: The extensions will spread out the network in a way; they鈥檙e going to different places, new places, and tying it all together in a much more coherent way. And if people can be persuaded to get out of their cars and get on the tram, then that鈥檚 very much better for everybody.