User:Cnbrb/sandbox/metrolink

Transport across the Greater Manchester conurbation historically suffered from poor north–south connections due to the fact that Manchester's main railway stations, Piccadilly and Victoria,^[1][2] were built in the 1840s on peripheral locations outside Manchester City Centre. In the 1960s and 1970s, the public transport authority SELNEC evaluated a number of proposals to connect Manchester's northern and southern rail terminals, including several types of monorail systems^[3] and metro-style systems.^[4][5] A scheme was promoted to build an underground rail link across Manchester City Centre, known as the Picc-Vic tunnel, but this failed to attract the necessary government funding and the project was cancelled in 1977.^[6][7]

To address the problem of cross-city transit, Greater Manchester PTE (SELNEC's successor) proposed a new circular shuttle bus service between Piccadilly and Victoria stations.^[8] The new Centreline bus service was initially opposed by the Taxi Owners' Association, but was approved by the North Western Traffic Commissioner.^[9] Centreline was first operated using a fleet of Seddon Pennine IV midibuses, noted for their diminutive appearance.^[10] GMPTE also introduced an experimental battery-electric bus onto Centreline, the Lucas Electric Bus, which was based on the Seddon chassis and body. This was Greater Manchester's second electric bus, the first being SELNEC's experimental Silent Rider, but it was eventually taken out of service.^[11] Operated under the Greater Manchester Transport brand, Centreline came into operation on 1 July 1974. Passengers were charged a flat fare of 2p for each jounrney.^[12]

Centreline continued to provide inter-station transit links for several years. After bus deregulation, the service was operated by GM Buses. In 1992, the new Metrolink light rail system began operating across Manchester city centre, providing an electric tram link between the mainline stations, although Centreline continued to operate. In 2002, the Centreline name disappeared from Manchester streets as the service was rebranded as Metroshuttle.^[12]

Predecessors

Manchester's first tram age began in 1877 with the first horse-drawn trams of Manchester Suburban Tramways Company. Electric traction was introduced in 1901, and the municipal Manchester Corporation Tramways expanded across the city. By 1930, Manchester's tram network had grown to 163 miles (262 km) route miles, making it the third largest tram system in the United Kingdom. After World War II, electric trolleybuses and motor buses began to be favoured by local authorities as a cheaper transport alternative, and by 1949 the last Manchester tram line was closed. Trolleybuses were withdrawn from service in 1966.^[13]

Origins

Greater Manchester's railway network historically suffered from poor north–south connections due to the fact that Manchester's main railway stations, Piccadilly and Victoria,^[1][2] were built in the 1840s on peripheral locations outside Manchester City Centre.^[14][2] The central commercial district had no rail links, and over the years, a number of unsuccessful schemes were proposed to connect Manchester's rail termini.^[6] In the 1960s, transport design studies were undertaken to address the problems of increasing traffic congestion.^[5] A number of urban public transport schemes were evaluated for Manchester, including several types of monorail systems and metro-style systems.^{[15][5][16][17]}

While the monorail schemes were all abandoned, a scheme to create an underground tunnel link gained momentum. SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive — the body formed in 1968 to improve public transport for Manchester and its surrounding municipalities – promoted the Picc-Vic tunnel project. This was a proposal to link Piccadilly and Victoria stations via a tunnel under the city centre and enable train services to run across the Manchester conurbation.^[18][19] Greater Manchester County Council (GMC) inherited the project and presented it to the United Kingdom Government in 1974,^[20] but the council failed to secure the necessary funding^[21] and the project was abandoned in 1977.

Inter-station links were provided by the Centreline shuttle bus service for many years.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), the successor to SELNEC, continued to examine possible rail link solutions. Light rail emerged in the early 1980S as a cost-effective option that could make use of existing railway lines and run through the city centre at street level, eliminating the need for costly tunnelling works.^[8] A Rail Study Group, composed of officials from British Rail, GMC and GMPTE formally endorsed the Project Light Rail scheme in 1984.^[14] Initial abstract proposals, based on light rail systems in North America and continental Europe,^[22] illustrated a draft 62-mile (100 km) network consisting of three lines: Altrincham–Hadfield/Glossop, Bury–Marple/Rose Hill and Rochdale/East Didsbury. To promote the scheme, GMPTE held a public proof of concept demonstration in March 1987 using a Docklands Light Railway P86 train on a freight-only line adjacent to Debdale Park.^[23] The Project Light Rail proposals were presented to the UK Government for taxpayer funding;^[18] following route revisions in 1984 and 1987,^[18][24] funding was granted by HM Treasury with the strict condition that the system be constructed in phases.^[18] Additional taxpayer funding came from the European Regional Development Fund and bank lending.^[25]