The Government has agreed to fund Manchester’s Metrolink system to keep the trams running.
A Department for Transpor (DfT) spokesman said the assistance would “enable key routes to remain open for people travelling to hospitals, supermarkets or those who cannot work from home, such as NHS staff.”
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had warned that unless the Government stepped forward with aid the Metrolink system would grind to a halt. “We are losing millions of pounds every month trying to run public transport in these circumstances and if there’s no deal with government we would face a decision to mothball the Metrolink system.”
“On the Metrolink we get £6m a month, now we’re down to well below £1m. We can’t lose £5m a month. The Government needs to help us. We’re talking about a deal in days, not weeks.”
Following the DfT announcement last weekend, he said “we urgently need the detail of this funding, as well as the funding itself, so we can ensure these vital services can continue to run during the lockdown period.”
And he said he was already “looking closely at what services will look like once lockdown is lifted.”
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