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| News...June 2004...News...June 2004...News...June 2004...News This Page was last updated Sunday 27 June 2004 |
| All the news carried on these pages is done so in good faith and the source is always quoted, normally with hyperlinks. If you have a correction to give us on a news story or have any additional news that can be added do not hestiate to email us . We are grateful for those people who have given us permission to use their images and news on this page. |
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For all previous news pages click here to go to the new News Index page which provides links to news dating back to September 2002. Photos on this page: Blackpool Toastrack 166 in the workshops at Crich on 2 June 2004. (added 13 June 2004) Leeds 345 in the depot yard at Crich after its two decks were reunited on Tramathon day 20 June 2004. (added 27 June 2004) |
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News In Brief Blackpool: Jubilee 761 has returned to service in an all over advert for the new Wilkinson store in Cleveleys. Crich: Progress continues with Leeds 345 and it has now been put back together with the top deck now back with the lower deck. The tram has moved under its own power after the completion of installation of the Resistance Box and electrical connections. The big problem in the last month was the fitting of the staircases which was complicated by the fact originally they could not get them to fit! 3 trams (Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40 and Sheffield 510) have suffered dewirements but these have now been repaired whilst Leeds 180 (hit by Glasgow 812 in the depot suffering damage on the dash) and Oporto 273 (suspect motor needing attention) have also needed attention - 273 was not ready for the Tramathon. Finally Glyn Wilton (the former Photographic Archivist) has been confirmed at the new Curator of the Museum(27/6/04 - Contact from the TMS) DLR: Services will be unaffected by the RMT strike on London Underground on 29/30 June and a normal service will be in operation (27/6/04 - Docklands Light Railway) ------------------------------------------------- Birmingham: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the city have attacked the Conservative plans for an underground railway instead of Midland Metro extensions. They have decided that it would not be a feasibile project and have urged the Council to carry on with plans for Metro expansion. (20/6/04 - icBirmingham) Croydon: Tram services on the Beckenham Junction and Elmers End lines are subject to major disruption for the next few weekends when the line is hut from Sandilands on these branches. Buses are replacing trams from Beckenham Junction to East Croydon via Elmers End on Friday late night and all day Saturday and Sunday from this weekend (18 June - not 16 June at the Tramlink website states!) until 18 July (but not Saturday 17 July). Looking further in advance the Beckenham Junction line will be suspended completely for 28 days from 31 July with the Elmers End-Wimbledon servie being increased to every 8 minutes to compensate. (20/6/04 - Unofficial Croydon Tramlink) Seaton: New Tram number 11 has welcomed its first passenger unexpectedly despite the fact that it won’t be entering service until next year! The tram is currently in the paint shop and on a recent inspection it was discovered that a family of robins have made their nest in the hole where the tail light will be fitted! (20/6/04 - Seaton Tramway) ------------------------------------------------- Bristol: As we reported last week during the past week Bristol City councillors have officially shelved the Supertram plans in the city following fears the government would not back the scheme. (13/6/04 - BBC News Online) Manchester: The Manchester Evening News reported on Monday that Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham, was spotted waiting at the St Peters Square stop on Metrolink on Saturday just hours before her husband (David Beckham England Football Captain for those of you who don’t know) was due to lead out England in their game against Iceland. Were we really bothered that she takes the tram? Thought not. (13/6/04 - Manchester Online) Manchester: Metrolink services were suspended between Old Trafford and Altrincham today (13 June) due to engineering works. Buses were replacing trams on this section of the route with trams remaining in operation on the Eccles branch and from Bury-Piccadilly and Piccadilly-Old Trafford. (13/6/04 - Manchester Metrolink) Nottingham: Two trams broke down on Tuesday (8 June) afternoon causing disruption. The first tram broke down at Old Market Square at approximately 3pm whilst the second one failed at The High School stop around 1 hour later. Engineers are looking into reasons for the failures. (13/6/04 - This is Nottingham) Nottingham: The first person has been banned from travelling on the trams. James Healy was often abusive towards staff on the trams under the influence of alcohol. The Nottingham Tram Consortium decided enough was enough and decided to take legal action against him and now he faces arrest and maybe even jail if he goes near a tram again. (13/6/04 - This is Nottingham) ------------------------------------------------- Manchester: 1014 has been renamed The Greater Manchester Runner whilst sister 1016 has lost its Erotica GMex 2004 name. (6/6/04 - Gordon Ferguson) Midland Metro: 13 has been named Anthony Nolan named after the boy who died aged seven of a rare immune deficiency syndrome and whose mother formed the Anthony Nolan Trust to create a register of bone marrow donors. (6/6/04 - Peter Courtenay) ------------------------------------------------- DLR: The operator of the Docklands Light Railway, Serco Docklands has won the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards for 2004. They were awarded with the Gold Award at the Safety and Health Expo 2004 during last month. (5/6/04 - Docklands Light Railway) ------------------------------------------------- |
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Leeds 345 - the major restoration project at Crich - has now seen the top and bottom deck put back together. On Sunday 20 June (Tramathon day) the tram was rolled out into the depot yard for a brief display to show how the work is coming along. It was also displayed alongside fellow ex-Leeds resident 399. Photo: Tony Waddington |
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NET ENJOYS BEST MONTH YET Sunday 27 June 2004 Despite suffering continuing problems with the conductor ticket machines Nottingham Express Transit have announced that May was the best moth yet for passenger loadings. 541,200 passenger loadings were logged during May and this figure is without those journeys still not being recorded by the machines. Pat Armstrong, NET Project Leader, told the Nottingham Evening Post, that the trams success was being underestimated due to these teething problems with counting passenger loadings but that they would be undertaking a head count this month to attempt to get a more accurate assessment, this would also be repeated later in the year. At a meeting of the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee during last week is was also revealed that NET was enjoying 99% of timetable targets during the first 3 months and figures were also released for March, April and May (see above for May) passenger loadings. In the few weeks of March trams were operational 366,000 passengers were recorded whilst 498,000 people were seen to use it during April. Daily figures have now risen to 20,872 during the last week of May (up from 16,770 in the first week of operation). At the same meeting accidents involving trams were discussed and it was announced that there had been 12 traffic accidents with trams during the first 3 months of operation - all described as minor. Nottingham City Council’s NET Line One Development Manager said: “The vast majority have involved car drivers approaching the tram alignment from side accesses and apparently misjudging the position of the tram. Six of the incidents have occurred on Radford Road at the entrance to Asda and discussions are currently ongoing with the Highway Authority and Asda to assess what improvements can be made to this junction." Source: This is Nottingham YOUTH BADLY INJURED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY TRAM Sunday 27 June 2004 The first major accident involving a tram in Nottingham has left a 19 year old youth with serious injuries. The incident happened on Wednesday 16 June when Kris Burton was struck by a tram and knocked off his bike on a pedestrian crossing near to the Moor Bridge stop on the Hucknall route. His injuries are described as serious and include a broken back, broken leg and a broken collar bone and it is not yet known whether he will walk again. The Nottingham Evening Post ran the story last week and said that the tram was “travelling at up to 50mph” and also included comments from Mr Burton’s mother who claimed that NET had not yet been in contact with the family. Helen Goulding, the General Manager for NET said: “It is clearly regrettable that this incident has occurred and we will do everything we can to properly investigate the incident and to use the conclusions to improve the system, if necessary. We hope that the injured party makes a full and prompt recovery." Tram services were suspended for 2 hours between Moor Bridge and Hucknall and no passengers on board the tram were injured. Source: This is Nottingham MERSEYTRAM LINE 2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION LAUNCHED Sunday 27 June 2004 The public consultation into Line 2 of the Mersey Tram scheme was launched at a Business Breakfast for Key stakeholders at Whiston on 16 June. This was followed by another Business Breakfast in Liverpool City Centre 2 days later. At these breakfasts attendees were all presented with a brochure detailing the project and also the proposed route of Line 2 (a copy of the large brochure is available here - included is advice only to download it with a broadband connection due to its size of 3.6mb!) The next stage of the process is to send out information leaflets and questionnaires to households along the route so that Mersey Travel can find out the level of support for the project, to identify any concerns about the proposals and to help inform detail of the project. At the same time a competition was launched for Primary School children to design a uniform that Mersey Tram staff may wear. Source: Mersey Tram NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL GIVES CHILWELL NET ROUTE APPROVAL Sunday 27 June 2004 Nottingham City Councillors have given their approval to the proposed Nottingham Express Transit route to Chilwell. This follows the approval from the County Council last week. Now next month both Councils will meet up to discuss putting forward a TWA Application to the Secretary of State in August and this is likely to mean a Public Inquiry commencing next spring. Pat Armstrong, NET Project Leader, said: “This marks another stage in a long process and we will continue working towards getting approval later this year from both councils for our application to Government." The proposed route would start from Nottingham Station (linking with Line One) and then passing homes in The Meadows, parts of Lenton, Beeston and Chilwell. However the exact alignment of the route in certain areas is still under discussion and is unlikely to be decided on until after the Public Inquiry with many groups of people still not happy about parts of the route. But what is known is that the route will include a 1,400 space Park and Ride site at Toton. Source: This is Nottingham POLICE CAR COLLIDES WITH TRAM IN CROYDON Sunday 27 June 2004 A Police Car was involved in a collision with a tram at around 3pm opposite Lunar House in Wellesley Road on Thursday 17 June causing travel disruption. Details remain sketchy as to how the car came to collide with the tram but it is known that the Police were answering an emergency call with their sirens on and appeared to have turned across the path of the oncoming tram. However it should be noted that no definite cause of the accident has yet been found and that the Police are currently conducting an investigation into the accident. Two Police Officers in the car suffered minor injuries which required hospital treatment but they were soon released from hospital whilst the tram driver was treated at the scene for shock. Source: Croydon Guardian BLACKPOOL TO HEAR SOON OVER TRAM FUNDING Sunday 27 June 2004 Transport Minister Kim Howells has promised the Fylde Coast’s MPs that a decision over funding for upgrading Blackpool’s Tramway will come “sooner rather than later”. As British Trams Online has reported almost since we launched Blackpool put in a bid for funding as long ago as December 2002 and since then have been expecting the government to give a decision on the £231 million project. The 3 MPs for the area, Joan Humble (Labour, Blackpool North and Fleetwood), Gordon Marsden (Labour, Blackpool South?) and Michael Jack (Conservative, Fylde), challenged Kim Howells this week over his commitment for the scheme. Mr Howells gave the response that a final decision was expected sooner rather than later. Michael Jack said to the Blackpool Evening Gazette: “Mr Howells wasn't as forthcoming as we would have liked but he indicated an announcement would be sooner rather than later." Gordon Marsden added "I made the point that the Blackpool tramway scheme should not be judged in the same way as other speculative new schemes - ours has a proven track record and would not require the re-siting of infrastructure or utilities that often bumps up estimates and makes governments nervous." It is known that the Department for Transport are awaiting for their allocations under the Chancellor’s spending review and after that has been completed they should be able to make an announcement over not just Blackpool but other transport schemes in the UK. Source: Blackpool Today MAJOR ELECTRICAL FAULT CAUSES METROLINK CHAOS Sunday 20 June 2004 The week started so well for Manchester Metrolink with no reported trams being withdrawn from service due to faults…that was until Wednesday afternoon. The problems started when a double tram got a pantograph entangled with the overhead wires near to the Stretford station and engineers had to be called to try and untangle the panto and overhead. Whilst this was happening Serco Metrolink had no option but to suspend all services on the Altrincham branch from the G-Mex to Altrincham. Later on in the evening Metrolink started to put on extra services from Trafford Bar to Altrincham and from Old Trafford into the city to try and make up for the disruption and First North Western accepted all Metrolink tickets as far as Altrincham from the city centre. Serco Metrolink also suggested people tried to use alternative forms of transport for Thursday morning as problems were continuing. Engineers continued to work through the night on the problem and it wasn’t until 1630 on Thursday afternoon (over 24 hours since the incident) that some services were running through to Altrincham from the city centre with the full service being reformed by 1800. As usual when incidents such as this happen there was some confusion especially at Old Trafford where passengers had to change from tram to bus and were told to wait at the wrong place with lines of empty buses waiting on the other side of the station. The Manchester Evening News spoke to somebody on board the tram, Jason Tynan, who said: “I heard a really loud bang and looked up and saw something flying by from the roof, I saw metal and the cable. I was told that the boom that connects the tram to the cable had come off. We had to wait on the tram for 40 minutes, there was a burning electrics smell and it was really worrying. I kept thinking that we could have come off the rails.” Maybe next week will see a successful week without any major delays on Metrolink. Source: Manchester Metrolink & Manchester Online NEW PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM FOR STAGECOACH SUPERTRAM Sunday 20 June 2004 All the trams on the Stagecoach Supertram in Sheffield have been fitted with a new automated public address system. The idea is a joint venture between the SYPTE, City Council and Stagecoach Supertram to provide a consistency in announcements for all passengers. Julia Shaw, Commercial Manager for Stagecoach Supertram said: “We've been working together on this for some time. It is a user-friendly system that gives our passengers plenty of time to get ready for their stop. Previously our drivers would use the manual public address system, but from time-to-time their safety related duties have to take precedence over making public announcements." The announcements are made by 3 members of staff to give it a truly local feel with each member of staff’s voice being used on one of the routes so passengers should get to know straight away if they are on the correct tram. Source: SYPTE CROYDON TRAMLINK UPDATE Sunday 20 June 2004 The first thing to report from Croydon is the arrival on Friday 11 June of a rail grinding machine from Germany via the Midland Metro. The arrival of this rail grinder is the first time since opening that there has been any grinding of the rails in Croydon since it opened and is part of the planned maintenance of the system. Firstly the grinder went on some gauging trial runs to check that it would actually work on Tramlink and was then used in anger for the first time on Saturday (12 June) on the Westbound track from Wandle Park to Therapia Lane with an engineering possession commencing at 8.30pm. Tram services continued to operate using the eastbound track and single line working with the Depot East crossover in use. However it was reported that things did not go quite according to plan as delays were experienced to the service whilst trams were waiting to use the single track section. Full details, including photos, of the grinding process and where and when the grinder was due to be used can be found here. On the tram front 2539 has been in the wars with a damaged lifeguard after it struck a channel support section that had become unattached from the approach foot crossing at Woodside. The tram was laid up in Platform 3 at East Croydon for 3 hours on the evening of 27 May whilst investigations took place. Elsewhere on the tram fleet they have all now been fitted with the louder horns, 2545 is the only tram awaiting the fitment of opening hopper windows and work has continued on fitting the new CCTV system to the rest of the tram fleet. Finally there was a RTA on Friday 11 June when 2535 was struck by a vehicle along Addiscombe Road at the junction with Park Hill Road. It is reported that the vehicle pulled out without looking. For all the latest Croydon Tramlink news see the Unofficial Croydon Tramlink website. Source: Croydon Tramlink BLACKPOOL TRAMWAY UPDATE Sunday 20 June 2004 Jubilee Car 761 has entered the Paint Shop and has been painted all over cream as preparation for an all over advert for Wilkinsons in Cleveleys. The tram has been stripped of all the contravision it was carrying for The News of the World. Elsewhere in painting news Railcoaches 678 (Radio Wave) and 680 and Twin Car 675+685 are still awaiting space in the Paint Shop whilst Balloon 720 has now had the last of the signwriting completed for its Eclipse all over advert. Major work is still ongoing with Balloons 713 (major overhaul - modern configuration inside although still likely to retain a streamlined appearance to a certain degree), 702 (underframe attention and new overhauled trucks) and Coronation 660. 660 is still in the Body Shop and has recently has anti corrosion treatment of its internal stress panels and has also receiving attention to its trucks to repair certain parts of it. The workshops have also seen Frigate 736 moved to the fitting shop for attention to its trucks and motors after its paint job was completed. Finally on the actual tram front Boat 600 and Balloons 700, 703, 706 and 712 have all had traditional white on black destination blinds fitted and had their original (pre-1968 renumbering) numbers added above the centre entrances, these were funded by private donation. On the permanent way front the tramway was shut for 3 days northbound from Thornton Gate at the end of May for Birse to complete the work by using their heavy rail tamping machine to hopefully mean the speed restrictions are lifted. Finally for this month the Fylde Tramway News carries the latest details on the Blackpool Tramcar Preservation Fund with news that the next project will be Standard 143 (Engineering Car 753) which will be put into original condition (open balcony and open driver vestibule - making it the only Standard in this condition today). Don't forget the only way to get the latest news in depth every month on the Blackpool Tramway is by becoming a member of the Fylde Tramway Society - see see and here. You can also attend monthly meetings and regular tours of the system. Source: Fylde Tramway News |
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As previously mentioned Blackpool Toastrack 166 has been moved to the Workshops at Crich for an overhaul to return it to service after several use out of action. The tram is seen in the Workshops on 2 June 2004 - note the animals hanging around it! Photo: Gareth Prior |
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FURTHER PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED ON METROLINK Sunday 13 June 2004 Unfortunately this week has seen further delays on the Manchester Metrolink network with tram failures the main cause. At the moment few days go by without a ‘Metrolink Service Disruption’ e-mail (you can subscribe to these by going to the Metrolink website - click here) dropping into my inbox saying that delays are being experience due to a vehicle failure. The past weeks problems started on Monday (7 June) with a vehicle receiving damage meaning the Bury-Altrincham service suffered delays during the morning. Then in the evening more severe problems were experienced when there was a second tram failure for the day, this time at the GMex, and unfortunately this caused delays of up to 20 minutes across the whole Metrolink system. As if those problems were not enough for one week, worse was to come on the following day, Tuesday 8 June, which started just before 2pm when another tram failed at Exchange Quays which again meant that there were possible delays to the entire network of 20 minutes. As if this wasn’t enough at around the same time there was a signalling equipment failure meaning delays were being experienced across the whole system of up to 30 minutes. A decision was made to abandon services on the Piccadilly Garden-Piccadilly Station section of Metrolink whilst the technicians attempted to rectify the problems and the control room ’reformed the service’. It would be nice to report that the remainder of the week went smoothly but it didn’t as on Wednesday (9 June) another tram had to be taken out of service due to a failure causing slight delays on the Bury/Altrincham line whilst on Thursday (10 June) one tram was withdrawn from use because of vandalism and later on in the day another tram failed. Of course these problems being experienced on Metrolink were picked up by the Manchester Evening News on Thursday and they reported that delays were as much as 90 minutes at one time on the Tuesday. The problems were worse than the Metrolink e-mails mentioned as 6 trams failed in a small period of time at Piccadilly, Exchange Quays (as mentioned above), the Altrincham line and Victoria station. The delays were started on Tuesday by the failure of the automatic communication system between the drivers and the control room which meant that each tram had to be talked to individually. Serco Metrolink were also investigating to see whether air compressors on two of the trams could not cope with the high track temperatures. The Managing Director of Serco Metrolink, Phil Smith was quoted in the Manchester Evening News as saying: “We are currently mid-way through a vehicle refurbishment programme, which includes work on the vehicle compressors. The irony is that this programme contributed to the shortfall in vehicles. However, my immediate concern yesterday was that we operated the Metrolink system in total safety. This sadly meant that services were significantly disrupted.” Source: Manchester Metrolink & Manchester Online NEW BOSS FOR NOTTINGHAM Sunday 13 June 2004 Nottingham Express Transit has a new General Manager in 33 year old Helen Goulding. She becomes the first woman to run a tram system in the UK and is also one of youngest and replaces Andy Wood who is to move up to Edinburgh to run the development of the tram network due to be built up there soon. Speaking to the Nottingham Evening Post she said: “The system has proved very reliable and we've managed to keep the people we've attracted on to it. In this business we only tend to get one go. If people try the tram and you let them down then they don't tend to try it again." She is vastly experienced in UK light rail lines as she began 13 years ago as a Revenue Protection Inspector on Manchester Metrolink before moving to Midland Metro where she rose to Assistant Operations Manager. When Nottingham Express Transit opened she had moved across the Midlands to become the Operations Manager and will now take over running the whole network. Source: This is Nottingham MANCHESTER NOISE COMPLAINT TO BE TAKEN TO WESTMINSTER Sunday 13 June 2004 A few weeks ago we mentioned that the UK’s noisiest home had been revealed as being one next to the Metrolink system in Manchester now the home which received that award last year (also in Manchester) is to take her case to Westminster. The complainant has triple glazed windows, custom made £80 ear plugs and foam pads on the legs of her bed to stop it from shaking it when trams pass. Maria Fuller says that more can be done by Metrolink to reduce the noise and has met with Bury South MP Ivan Lewis in London to raise her complaint officially with the government. She told the Manchester Evening News: “It has been absolute hell. We are lucky if we get four hours sleep a night. Every three minutes the vibrations are unbearable. We can't watch television properly and we have to record everything." The Greater Manchester PTE responded by saying that they were currently in the process of appointing a new operator for the system and that they would then look at the ways of renewing the tracks on the current system as well as building Phase 3 of Metrolink. Source: Manchester Online BRISTOL'S TRAM DREAMS ARE FINALLY OVER Sunday 6 June 2004 The Supertram scheme planned for Bristol will be finally and formally ended on Tuesday (8 June) with the City Council Cabinet will be asked to end their promotion of it. The tram was planned to have run in the north of the city linking Parkway station with the city centre but it has been decided that it would be highly unlikely to get permission from the government. Council leader Barbara Janke told BBC News Online: “Of course it would be sad to see the end of the ambitious scheme to deliver a tram link in the north of the city. However, we need to be realistic and honest with people about its viability in the light of recent government statements and our own financial situation.” And now the next stage for Bristol’s transport in the future is to continue collaborating with neighbouring authorities on a new Greater Bristol Transportation study. Source: BBC News Online METROLINK CLAIMS ON FARE DODGING Sunday 6 June 2004 A passenger on Manchester Metrolink has claimed that the latest round of action on fare dodging is also causing trouble for genuine travellers. Music journalist Alex McCann has told the Manchester Evening News that the tough measures involving the use of inspectors ejecting those without tickets has seen him humiliated even though he had the correct change for the journey. He claims he attempted to buy his ticket from two different machines on the Navigation Road stop and that they both rejected his money. Following on from this he tried to board the next two trams but was ejected by inspectors for not having a ticket and this left him feeling humiliated. Responding to these claims a Serco Metrolink spokesman said: “We appreciate Mr McCann's patience in persevering to buy a ticket" and they also added that they had been forced to make the machines highly sensitive after finding fake coins has slipped through in the past. It has also been revealed that extra officers are to travel on services soon to stamp out fare dodging and anti social behaviour. Source: Manchester Online ACCIDENT HITS NET Sunday 6 June 2004 Services on Nottingham Express Transit were disrupted on Tuesday 25 May when a tram collided with a Vauxhall Astra. The incident happened in Goldsmith Street at the junction with Peel Street and Clarendon Street. There was minor damage reported to the car and no one was injured in the incident. A NET Spokesman told the Nottingham Evening Post: “All the systems were working properly and the services were operating again as soon as possible." Source: This is Nottingham FURTHER PROBLEMS ON MANCHESTER METROLINK Sunday 6 June 2004 Manchester Metrolink currently seem to be going through a bit of a rough patch with almost daily problems with a lack of trams available for service. For example British Trams Online regular contributor Gordon Ferguson had an eventful journey to work on Friday (4 June). The 0754 ex Bury to Altrincham failed at Heaton Park with no traction (1019) and our intrepid contributor was on the next service the 0800 ex Bury to Piccadilly (1007). It was stopped at a red signal at Prestwich for about 5 minutes before the driver advised us of the problem. He was eventually authorised to pass the red signal (with emergency stop) and proceeded to Heaton Park to couple up to rear of 1019, forming a double unit. Meanwhile an engineer arrived on a tram going the opposite way. The pair of trams eventually set off from Heaton Park as a double unit on reduced power, and became a Piccadilly service - fully loaded with maximum standees. Gordon does say that although he arrived slightly late at work they were kept informed on what was going on throughout the delays. Source: Gordon Ferguson WILL THE METROLINK 'BIG BANG' GET KICKED INTO TOUCH? Saturday 4 June 2004 The major expansion of Manchester’s Metrolink system is apparently hanging in the balance because of the usual problem of soaring costs. When plans were first revealed for the ‘Big Bang’ the cost was estimated at being approximately £550 million but since that time costs have soared so far that it may now cost £1 billion to construct. This means that the government may not be as keen to give funding for the project, with their original plans to give £250 million looking like nowhere near enough for construction to even start. The future of the scheme now looks like being settled in July when the Treasury reveal their annual spending review although Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated that the government are strongly committed to Metrolink’s ‘Big Bang’. The Chairman of the Greater Manchester PTE, Councillor Roger Jones has told the Manchester Evening News that he does not think that they would be able to remove any parts of the proposals from the scheme as it is just one contract. He said: “It wouldn't be economic if we started to jiggle about with it and it is one contract, one job. If they won't give us the extra money, I don't think we could go ahead. We can't cut it into pieces and expect the bidders to go with it. But we have to be optimistic and I think we will get the money and it will all go ahead." The Director General of the GMPTE Chris Mulligan and the City Council Chief Executive Sir Howard Bernstein have both written to Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport, urging him to announce whether the Greater Manchester Tramways Ltd or the Manchester Tram Company has won the DBOM contract for Phase 3. Source: Manchester Online BIDDERS FOR DLR WOOLWICH EXTENSION ANNOUNCED Saturday 4 June 2004 During April Docklands Light Railways Ltd announced that it has completed the pre-qualification stage in the competition to appoint a Concessionaire to design, finance, build, maintain and make available the Woolwich extension. There are four bidders in the running and they are: - Amec/RBS Joint Venture - AMEC/The Royal Bank of Scotland - MVBB Consortium - Morgan Est/Vinci Concessions/Bachy Soletanche/Barclays - WA Rail Link - Mitsui, Mowlem, Nishimatsu - Woolwich City Link - Hochtief (UK)/HSBC/Innisfree These 4 groups of bidders are now expected to return their tenders in early September this year, with a decision made in Spring 2005 and trains operating as from the end of 2008. The extension is due to run for just 2.5km underneath the Thames from North Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal. Source: Docklands Light Railway NOISE FEARS REVEALED ON MERSEYSIDE Saturday 4 June 2004 After all the fuss in Nottingham with the noise created by trams and also with the countries noisiest house apparently being right by Manchester Metrolink some householders in Liverpool are now expressing their fears for noise levels. One Kirkby couple fear they could be in a bad position as Line 1 is scheduled to run just 8m (metres and not miles one presumes!) away from the front of the house and 4.3m from the end of their front yard. They raised their objections at the recent Public Inquiry but are concerned that they have recently re-mortaged their home and many now never be able to sell their home. A spokesman from Merseytravel told the Liverpool Echo: “We believe there will actually be less noise because traffic on the road will be reduced. Our research suggests the family won't even notice the noise. It certainly cannot be compared to the house in Manchester.” Source: icLiverpool |