Metrolink's future is 'unclear' as government funding ends and passenger numbers fall
As the cost of living, fuel prices and the damage caused by air pollution spiral upwards, public transport needs now more than ever to be accessible, affordable and efficient for passengers. Even before the pandemic, this was a refrain repeated often by leaders in Greater Manchester.
It raises serious questions over the future of Manchester’s tram network, which is not only a vital mode of public transport for thousands of passengers, cutting car use, congestion, carbon emissions and in many cases, costs, it's also linked to the economic success of the city. Mr Jones said: "Metrolink has never been properly subsidised which is why fares are higher than we'd like. If the Government won't make up the deficit we have to find some money through council tax or somewhere. If one of the purposes of reducing fares on buses is to get more passengers then maybe we've got to do the same thing with trams
But the Government’s stance is that operators need to ‘develop effective and financially sustainable networks in light of changing travel patterns post-pandemic’. What this means in practical terms - and whether it might translate to a hit on services or passenger pockets in the longer-term - remains to be seen.
“We have already seen encouraging signs in passenger numbers, especially for leisure trips, and we must continue to offer frequent and reliable transport services as a sustainable alternative to car use in our growing region. With seven lines to 93 stops covering nearly 60 miles, Metrolink has become the largest light rail network in the UK. As part of a transport strategy up to 2040, new Metrolink lines are being considered, including a link-up to Manchester Airport's HS2 station - although this is currently another bone of contention between leaders in Greater Manchester and the Government.
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