Manchester’s tram service, Manchester Metrolink, won Light Rail Operator of the Year award in 2013. The network is now set to become the largest tram network in the UK. Chris Coleman, the managing director gave a presentation which reflected the energy behind those achievements. Chris’ career, which began with British Rail as a YTS trainee, illustrates the opportunities available in public transport.

Manchester Metrolink is operated under a management contract from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and delivered by Metrolink RATP Dev Limited (MRDL). RATP is responsible for most of the public transport in Paris and its surrounding Île-de-France region, including the Paris Métro, tram and bus services and part of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) network. In the Île-de-France region, RATP carries about 3 billion passengers per year. RATP Dev is their international arm with operations in twelve countries around the world.

The first tram service began in 1992. The subsequent expansion of Metrolink has been the result of the strategy of transport planners in Greater Manchester. Development has occurred in successive projects. When complete in 2016/17, Metrolink will be the largest light rail network in the United Kingdom, with 60 miles (97 km) of track and 93 stops, handling an estimated 60 million passenger journeys a year.

Customer service has developed along with the network and there are now plans for a smart ticket called “Get Me There !” which will operate in a similar way to the Oyster Card in London. Staff numbers have increased by 25% since MRDL took on the operation in 2011. There are now 250 drivers, 110 passenger service representatives and 130 engineering and technical staff.

Manchester Metrolink is a popular public transport service which illustrates the benefits of strategic transport planning, continuous investment and the adoption of operating ideas from around the world.

For more information on TfGM, please go to www.tfgm.com

For more information on RATP Dev please go to http://www.ratpdev.com/en