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Tram decision expected

29/ 6/2006

THE future of the Metrolink extension will be decided within weeks.

Transport minister Dr Stephen Ladyman said: "The regions have given us their advice on their priorities and the new secretary of state, Douglas Alexander, and I are considering them. We will make an announcement before the parliamentary recess on July 25."

Plans to build extensions to Tameside, Oldham and Rochdale and Manchester Airport were put on hold more than two years ago when the then transport secretary, Alistair Darling, pulled the plug on a promised £520m for the lines because the likely cost had risen closer to £1bn.

Since then, the government has released £58m of the £520m to pay for eight new trams and improvements to tracks and stations. The total cost of the work is £102m and the rest will come from local funds. But there have been repeated hints from the government that the original sum promised by deputy Prime Minister John Prescott would end up back on the table.

Last March, Tony Blair said the extensions would be in Labour's five-year plan if it won the election.

Just last week, transport secretary Douglas Alexander told the Commons the money was still on the table.

Councillor Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "Our officials have been meeting their officials and there is no more we can do.

"I will be highly disappointed if we don't get a decision within a fortnight."

As soon as the government says yes, work to build all three lines and maintain the network will go out to tender again.

But that process will take 18 months and work will not start until 2008.

By then, cash from the government's Transport Innovation Fund will be available to bid for.