New trams on track — but not for passengers (From Bury Times)

New trams on track — but not for passengers

7:00am Friday 6th November 2009

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METROLINK’s new tram will be making an appearance on the Bury line over the next few weeks — but passengers will not be able to board it just yet.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is carrying out a driver familiarisation programme for the M5000 tram before it can start to carry passengers.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink director, said: “The sight of our new tram running on the Bury line will mean we’re one step closer to it going into operation and passengers being able to use it.

“People may see it pulling into stops and the doors opening, but unfortunately we can’t let them on board just yet.

“We’ve still got to make sure that drivers are familiarised with the controls of the new tram before we can do that, and this is all part of that process.”

The new-look yellow and silver vehicle is the first of a new generation of trams for the expanding Metrolink network.

A total of 40 have been ordered to provide more room on existing services and to cater for passengers on the new lines being built to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside, Chorlton in South Manchester and MediaCityUK in Salford.

The tram is yellow at the front, with yellow and silver sides, in line with the new Metrolink identity.

l TRAMS returned to the renewed tracks of Manchester city centre on schedule this week, ending months of disruption for Metrolink passengers.

Services were able to travel to and from Piccadilly Station after the successful completion of a project to replace all city centre tracks.

As a thank-you to passengers, the authority has announced that travel on the Metrolink network will be free on Saturday, November 14, and Thursday, November 19.

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