Metrolink customers will be able to make a new kind of connection in future as part of a £1.7 million deal to roll out free wifi on every tram.
By spring next year all ninety four trams will have the technology on board, as well as the 20 buses running the free city centre Metroshuttle service linking the main rail stations, car parks, shopping areas and businesses in Manchester city centre.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which owns the Metrolink network and Metroshuttle’s low-carbon buses – has joined forces with Manchester and Salford City Councils and the government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to fund the innovative scheme.
Metrolink is on track to be the first light railway in England to becoming fully wifi capable. This helps Greater Manchester move a step closer to its ambition of being a top 20 worldwide digital city region by 2020*.
Wifi has already been trialled on Metrolink, with positive feedback from customers who used it. It is hoped the rollout will make the trams and Metroshuttle buses a more attractive journey choice, supporting TfGM’s commitment to sustainable travel.
Metrolink trams will start to be fitted out with the latest wifi kit from early January by mobile internet connectivity specialist Icomera and extra funding has been secured to ensure any new trams brought into service in the next two years will also be fitted with wifi capability.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee said: “This is great news and will benefit the millions of people who travel on Metrolink’s trams and Metroshuttle’s buses each year.
“We live in a digital age and people want to make the best use of their travelling time – quick and simple access to digital technology is key to this.
