GMPTE appoints Metrolink extension contractors

GREATER Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has appointed MPact-Thales as contractor to build the £500m Metrolink extensions which gained approval from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities earlier this week.

Mpact-Thales’ contract involves the design, construction and maintainence of the new tramlines that will extend the Metrolink to Manchester Airport and to Oldham and Rochdale’s town centres. It will also deliver an extra 14 trams to GMPTE on top of the 48 new trams already ordered from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

GMPTE’s chief executive, David Leather, said: “Following the approval of funding support from AGMA and GMITA, we have concluded negotiations for the delivery of the long awaited expansion of the Metrolink network.

“Contracts have now been signed for new lines to Manchester Airport and the town centres of Oldham and Rochdale, adding to the construction that is already underway from Manchester through Droylsden to Ashton, from Manchester through Chorlton to East Didsbury and the conversion of the former heavy rail line to Rochdale via Oldham.

Mpact-Thales is a consortium consisting of Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales UK. It has already begun work on the three new lines. Construction of the Oldham and Rochdale extensions are due to complete by spring 2014 and the Manchester Airport line is set to open by the middle of 2016.

“This award will allow us to complete the original vision for Manchester, providing the vital link from the urban areas of the city to the Airport, and essential town centre links for both Oldham and Rochdale,” said the consortium’s project director, Bryan Diggins.