Greater Manchester has once again been recognised for its transport success.
At the Light Rail Awards on Wednesday 7 October, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) was named a winner in two categories and was also highly commended in a third.
The Metrolink Airport line was named Project of the Year in the projects over €50m category, and the Metrolink Wi-Fi programme, which provides free Wi-Fi on all trams across the tram network, won the Best Customer Initiative award.
The recently-completed transformation of the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop in Manchester city centre saw TfGM highly commended in the projects under €50m category.
A number of TfGM’s suppliers and partners were also recognised at the Light Rail Awards for their work with Metrolink, with operator RATP Dev highly commended in the Operator of the Year and Employee of the Year categories.
Contractors MPT won and Rowe Hankins was highly commended in the two Supplier of the Year categories, while Bombardier Transportation, which builds Metrolink’s distinctive M5000 trams, was highly commended for Manufacturer of the Year.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “It’s great to see TfGM’s work rewarded – not just for transformational projects like the Airport line, but also for customer initiatives like our free Wi-Fi programme.
“The Airport line, which we delivered more than a year ahead of schedule, provides a vital link between Manchester Airport, Wythenshawe and the city centre, improving access to employment and supporting regeneration and growth.
“Free Wi-Fi on our trams means customers can browse the internet, use social media or catch up with work emails, as well as accessing online journey planning tools and service information – it’s all part of making travel easier, more pleasant and even more productive.
“We’re delighted that these achievements here in Greater Manchester have been nationally recognised as leading examples of success in the transport industry.
“We’d also like to congratulate the partners who have helped us to deliver such important projects and services, and we’re pleased to see their contributions rewarded.”
TfGM’s Light Rail Awards wins come just a few weeks after its unprecedented success at National Rail Awards in September. TfGM won Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year for the Metrolink Airport line – the first time a light rail project has been awarded this accolade – and the Putting Passengers First award for its Disability Design Reference Group.
