This timeline lists significant events in the history of Greater Manchester's light rail network called the Manchester Metrolink.
1960s 1968
The Transport Act 1968 sets out terms under which passenger transport executives and passenger transport authorities are to be formed to co-ordinate and operate public transport in the United Kingdom's six largest conurbations outside London.
1969
SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive) is established on 1 November 1969 with reference to the Transport Act 1968 to improve public transport in Manchester and its surrounding municipalities.
1970s 1972
The Picc-Vic tunnel receives planning approval from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Local Government Act 1972 receives Royal Assent on 26 October 1972. The Act sets out provisions to reform local government in England by creating a system of two-tier metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties and districts across the country. Manchester and its surrounding municipalities are to be amalgamated as a metropolitan county.HMSO. Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70
1973
A government grant to fund the £86 million Picc-Vic tunnel is rejected amid a weak economic climate. The United Kingdom local elections of 12 April 1973 creates the Greater Manchester County Council (GMCC) as a shadow authority.
1974
The Greater Manchester County Council publishes its structure plan in January 1974, acknowledging its obligation to provide "an integrated and efficient system of public transport". Greater Manchester is formally established as a metropolitan county of England on 1 April 1974; SELNEC PTE becomes the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), a functional body of the Greater Manchester County Council tasked with operating and improving public transport in the region. Greater Manchester County Council submit a bid to the United Kingdom Government to acquire funding for the Picc-Vic tunnel.
1977
Unable to secure funding from the government, the Greater Manchester County Council abandons plans for the Picc-Vic tunnel on economic grounds.
1980s 1982
GMPTE conclude that an over-ground metropolitan light rail system to replace or complement the region's under-used heavy railways is the most economical solution to improving Greater Manchester's public transport network.
1983
As part of its proposals for light rail, GMPTE suggest that the Oldham Loop Line be re-routed and extended with on-street tramways through Oldham and Rochdale town centres. The Greater Manchester County Council purchases a disused section of the Cheshire Lines Committee railway between Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Didsbury for £1, hoping to stop development along the route and preserve it for use with a future light rail network.
1984
A Rail Study Group composed of officials from British Rail, Greater Manchester County Council and GMPTE, formally endorse a light rail system for Greater Manchester. Proposals are released for a network consisting of three lines between: Altrincham-Hadfield, Bury-Marple and Rochdale-East Didsbury.
1985
The Local Government Act 1985 receives Royal Assent on 16 July 1985, stating that "the Greater London Council; and the metropolitan county councils" shall cease to exist.
1986
The Greater Manchester County Council is abolished on 31 March 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985. GMPTE becomes a joint-board of the ten district councils of Greater Manchester. GMPTE propose that Greater Manchester's light rail system include a line to Salford Quays to complement the regeneration of the Manchester Docks.
1987
A trial and public demonstration on 9 February 1987 uses Docklands Light Railway rolling stock on the freight-only Fallowfield Loop line adjacent to Debdale Park in Gorton.
1988
Plans to create a light rail line through Oldham and Rochdale town centres are laid before the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The name Metrolink and a system-wide aquamarine, black and grey corporate branding and vehicle livery is revealed at a press launch in June 1988.
1989
On 27 September 1989, following a two-stage tender exercise, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority award a contract to the GMA Group (a consortium composed of AMEC, GM Buses, John Mowlem & Company and a General Electric Company subsidiary) who in turn form Greater Manchester Metro Limited to design, build, operate and maintain Phase 1 of Metrolink. Michael Portillo approves the Metrolink construction contract on behalf of the Department for Transport on 24 October 1989.
1990s 1990
The contract to design, build, maintain and operate Metrolink is formally signed on 6 June 1990. Legal authority to construct a Metrolink line to Salford Quays is acquired.
1991
The Bury Line between Manchester and Bury is closed in stages between 13 July 1991 and 17 August 1991. Its 1,200VDC third rail electrified line is adapted for a 750VDC overhead line operation.
1992
6 April 1992: Metrolink begins its first passenger service on a route between Victoria–Bury. 27 April 1992: Metrolink services expand beyond Victoria–G-Mex (now Deansgate-Castlefield) through a street-running section via Market Street and St Peter's Square. 15 June 1992: The G-Mex–Altrincham section of the Metrolink, called the Altrincham Line, joins the network. 17 July 1992: Elizabeth II declares Metrolink open at a ceremony in Manchester, stating that Metrolink would "improve communication" between northern and southern Greater Manchester. A plaque is shown on the northern end of St Peter's Square Platform C. 20 July 1992: A spur from Piccadilly Gardens to the like named tram stop and further to Manchester Piccadilly station is opened, creating a 'delta' junction where the spur began. Piccadilly tram stop was originally referred to as, or named Piccadilly Undercroft.
1994
A public consultation and public inquiry result in government endorsement of a Metrolink line to Salford Quays in 1994.
1995
In autumn 1995 a Metrolink line branching from the to-be-built Cornbrook tram stop to Eccles via Salford Quays is confirmed as Phase 2 of Metrolink.
1997
April 1997: Altram, a consortium of the Serco, Gio. Ansaldo & C. and John Laing is appointed to construct the Eccles line; Serco takes on responsibility to operate and maintain the whole network under contract. Serco Metrolink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Limited, take over the operations and maintenance of Metrolink on 26 May 1997. Construction of the Eccles Line officially begins on 17 July 1997.
1999
The Eccles Line is officially opened as far as Broadway tram stop on 6 December 1999 by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who praises Metrolink as "exactly the type of scheme needed to solve the transport problems of the metropolitan areas of the country".
2000s 2000
Services from Broadway to Eccles Interchange join the network on 21 July 2000, completing Phase 2.
2001
The Eccles Line is declared open by Anne, Princess Royal at a ceremony on 9 January 2001.
2003
March 2003: Serco Investments buy out its partners; Altram (Manchester) Limited becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco. 31 March 2003: A new Metrolink stop opens at Shudehill, serving Shudehill Interchange.
2004
31 August 2004: A derailment occurs at Shudehill.
2005
11 January 2005: A derailment occurs on London Road. April 2005: Work on Central Park tram stop and a bridge over the heavy Calder Valley Line commences. 8 November 2005: A near miss occurs between two track workers and a tram; the tram ran over track maintenance equipment.
2006
22 March 2006: T-68 tram #1011 bound for Altrincham (from Bury) exiting Victoria derails just before getting onto the street on Long Millgate at 08:03, as a result of a track defect. After the derailment, the tram travelled an extra before stopping. Damage occurred to of track was damaged, and services were suspended on the Bury Line. The track repairs took place at 17:00, and normal service resumed the following day. 20 May 2006: A person becomes trapped under a Metrolink vehicle, causing a three-hour delay on the system. 5 July 2006: It is announced that Metrolink will be extended to Droylsden, Rochdale and Chorlton - however plans to extend the line from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne, and a new line to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport are shelved, also including extending the line from Chorlton to Didsbury.
2007
17 January 2007: A derailment occurs at Pomona tram stop. July 2007: A ten-year contract to operate Metrolink was awarded to Stagecoach Metrolink, a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group. July 2007: GMPTE and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) submit a joint bid to the Transport Innovation Fund in order to procure a multi-million pound sum for public transport improvements linked to an anti-road traffic congestion strategy. July 2007: 1960s track on the Bury and Altrincham Lines is replaced at a cost of around £100million.
2008
29 June 2008: A derailment occurs at the junction of Princess and Mosley Street in central Manchester. 19 December 2008: A referendum on the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund is held in Greater Manchester, in which 79% of voters reject plans for public transport improvements linked to a peak-time weekday-only Greater Manchester congestion charge.
2009
May 2009: Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (formerly GMPTA) and AGMA agree to create the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, £1.5billion raised from a combination of a levy on council tax in Greater Manchester, government grants, contributions from the Manchester Airports Group, Metrolink fares and third-party funding for "major transport schemes" in the region. 3 October 2009: The last Oldham Loop Line train leaves Manchester Victoria at 23:28 (scheduled for 23:25) and closes for conversion from heavy rail to Metrolink. 21 December 2009: Following test runs in November, the first new M5000 tram enters service.
2010s 2010
8 March 2010: Phase 3b is approved with funding on a line-by-line basis. 30 July 2010: The £1.5billion Phase 3b funding is completed. 20 September 2010: The MediaCityUK spur off of the Eccles Line to MediaCityUK tram stop opens to passengers.Metrolink trams pull in to MediaCityUK station for first time Manchester Evening News 20 September 2010 G-Mex tram stop is renamed to Deansgate-Castlefield on the same day.
2011
March 2011: Construction work on Phase 3b begins. 1 April 2011: The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is established; GMPTE becomes Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and receives additional powers over transport in Greater Manchester. 5 June 2011: A pedestrian is struck by a Metrolink vehicle at Piccadilly Gardens. The pedestrian dies later in hospital. July 2011: Kingsway Business Park tram stop is authorised; Drake Street tram stop is abandoned on technical and economic grounds. 7 July 2011: The first part of the South Manchester Line is opened between Trafford Bar and St Werburgh's Road. 1 August 2011: RATP Group buys the operating concession from Stagecoach Group.
2012
13 June 2012: Services from Victoria to the temporary Oldham Mumps stop (on the former railway trackbed) commence. 25 November 2012: On the Airport Line, a bridge over the M56 motorway, north of Hollyhedge Road in Wythenshawe, is installed (overnight 24 and 25 November). 16 December 2012: Services on the Oldham and Rochdale Line from the temporary Oldham Mumps stop to Shaw and Crompton commence. 21 December 2012: A derailment occurs at Market Street, Manchester.
2013
6 February 2013: A heavy goods vehicle collides with a tram in Weaste.