BRITAIN'S FIRST NEW GENERATION TRAMWAY

The author describes the historical background of light rail travel in Britain from its abandonment some 30 years ago to its recent regeneration, giving details of the newly opened Metrolink in Manchester. In general, buses were replacing tramways in the late 1940s because of their greater flexibility but bus travel steadily declined as car ownership increased in the 1960s. By the mid 1960s, investigations were being conducted to investigate means of improving the main public transport arteries in the Greater Manchester conurbation, but it was not until 1983 that a feasibility study recommended a light rail system with surface level links between mainline rail stations across the regional centre. Part of the line would be on existing British Rail lines and part on the street. Street running was to be in reserved track and also on alignments shared by buses or other traffic. Construction began in 1989 on the first phase of the network and a new company was set up to design, build, operate and maintain the system. Close co-operation was needed between the promoter and highway authority for the street sections of the railway line. Details are given of the 26 vehicles, 23 of which are required for peak services. Gently sloping platforms have been used for on street stations to give access to the first and fourth doors of vehicles; high level rail platforms give access to second and third doors.