DOGS could soon be allowed to travel on Metrolink trams across the borough, after a consultation was launched.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) bosses are now asking residents whether they think dogs should be permitted on the trams.

Currently, only guide dogs and hearing dogs, as well as cats and dogs being taken to the Old Trafford PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) are allowed to use the service free of charge.

No other animals are allowed on the network under a by-law which has been in place since Metrolink’s launch in 1992 in the interests of passenger health and safety.

Metrolink chiefs said this was because the service operates as a high-frequency, high-volume, unstaffed system and there is no representative on board to assess the potential risks posed by animals.

All buses and trains in the region allow dogs on board, with some conditions, and in Blackpool, dogs are allowed on the tram for a 40p surcharge.

The new proposal is for dogs to be allowed on trams if they are on a lead, have a muzzle or are in a suitable carrier, are charged a child fare and do not take up a seat.

It is also likely that, should the plans come into force, dogs will only be able to travel on the tram between 9.30am and 4pm and after 6.30pm on weekdays, and any time at weekends.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “We know that some dog owners would like to travel on our trams with their pets – but we also know that not all passengers share this view.

“It is also true to say that dogs come in different shapes and sizes and have different temperaments and their presence on a busy tram can be disconcerting for some.

“That’s why we’re holding a consultation – to look into this in more detail with the benefit of a breadth of views.”

As well as an online survey, TfGM representatives have been asking passengers on the trams for their opinions.

Representations are being collected from assistance dog groups, disability and guide dog charities, and health groups.

The Chorlton-based Campaign for Dogs on Manchester Trams, which launched in 2013, and Metrolink operator MRDL are also being consulted.

To take part in the consultation: go to tfgm.com/surveys/Pages/Dogs-on-trams/default.htm