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Government blamed for Metro costs

15/ 4/2005

A DAMNING report by MPs blames the Government for pushing up the cost of Metrolink's 'Big Bang' extension.

The influential Commons Transport Committee said the way ministers "dragged their feet" was part of the reason bills had increased.

It warned them not to "write off" trams which could offer "high-quality, accessible urban transport on busy routes".

The report added: "Light rail schemes in the UK take between five and 15 years but a similar scheme in Lyon, France, took only four years from inception to development.

"It has taken longer for phase three of the Metrolink to get nowhere."

The committee demanded the Government give approval within days to a £100m plans to modernise the tram network in Greater Manchester as a gesture of faith in the 'Big Bang' extension.

The report was hailed as a major breakthrough in the campaign to reinstate the 'Big Bang', cancelled by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling when costs reached £900m.

Roger Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said the report "put light rail back on track".

"The report backs up what we have been saying all along. Britain's new generation of trams have proved a massive hit with the public and crucially with the motorists, who have switched over in massive numbers. Metrolink is a prime example."

The report bluntly told Mr Darling that light rail "cannot simply be written off as too expensive.

"We believe the Government no longer whole-heartedly supports trams but we urge the Department for Transport to give a lead."

Published 7 April 2005