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Campaign to rekindle 'big bang' tram plans

21/ 7/2004

THE Manchester Evening News and Manchester Online are campaigning for a massive expansion to the Metrolink tram network - and is demanding the government delivers the '520m it has promised.

The move comes after the announcement that Alistair Darling had blocked the "Big Bang" scheme to build three new lines to Oldham and Rochdale, South Manchester and Ashton.

But we will not lie down and accept the decision - it will support the Back On Track campaign to get the money promised.

A total of '200m has already been spent on preparatory works. We are calling for the government to hand over the remaining '320m. If they do this it will be possible to build one of the three lines. For another '200m a second line could be built. Only half of that would have to come from government, at a rate of just '7.5m a year. The rest would be raised locally.

The third line could be built for another '160m.

We are rekindling our campaign, supported by the public and transport leaders from all over the Greater Manchester, which led Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to pledge financial support in 2000.

Should the government keep its promise and provide the money to fund the Metrolink extensions? Have your say.

Click here to sign our Get Back On Track petition and join the campaign.

To text your support for the Get Back on Track campaign, simply text the word tram, followed by a space then your name and postcode to 83105. Each text costs 25p plus your standard message rate. The service is provided by Cellus.