Rail News – Early May 2025
Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Transport for Greater Manchester begins procurement of new multi-year Metrolink contract worth up to £1.6bn.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has started the procurement process for the next operating and maintenance contract for Metrolink, the UK’s largest light-rail network.
A key part of the Bee Network – Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport and active travel system – the city region’s trams serve 99 stops across eight lines and 103 km of track.
KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) has operated and maintained the network since July 2017. With that contract set to expire in 2027, TfGM has kickstarted the procurement process to find the next operator and maintainer of Metrolink, a contract estimated to be worth around £1.6 billion over a duration spanning a maximum of 11 years.
Extra trains and changes to the network will result in millions more seats for passengers, rail bosses have said.
Midlands Connect said the £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub, external project will see up to 300 extra trains in the region, including leading to 14.2m more seats for passengers using Birmingham Moor Street.
Under the plans, the Cross-Country line, which passes through Birmingham New Street, will see two extra trains in each direction per hour, bringing an additional 5.4m seats.
