Transport for Greater Manchester

New operator just the ticket for Metrolink
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date 15 July 2017
source Transport for Greater Manchester
type Press release

Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram system – the largest of its kind in the UK – has welcomed a new operator on board to run the iconic network.
KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM), a joint venture partnership of leading global public transport operator, Keolis, and infrastructure asset management specialist, Amey, has taken over the reins from former operator, Metrolink RATP Dev Ltd (MRDL).

The change in operator sees the appointment of Aline Frantzen as Managing Director for KAM. Aline joins the business following 17 successful years with Yarra Trams, the world’s largest light rail network in Melbourne, Australia, which is also operated by Keolis.

The new contract, to operate as well as maintain the system, will run for up to 10 years.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC), said: “Firstly, I’d like to place on record my thanks to MRDL for all their work and pay tribute to the staff who have played a crucial part in making the network what it is today – a fantastic, world-class light rail system.

“KeolisAmey Metrolink is a partnership between two international transport and infrastructure management specialists, with the experience and skills to operate Metrolink, create jobs, support the growth of the local economy and deliver innovative and pragmatic solutions that offer better passenger experiences.

“These are exciting times for Metrolink and the city-region and I warmly welcome KAM as the Metrolink operator. Together we will further realise the full potential and benefits of the unprecedented growth and investment we are overseeing in the network.”

Aline Frantzen, KAM Managing Director, said: “We are looking forward to working with TfGM, our partners and the community to implement our exciting plans for what is already a high-performing network. Our approach will be focused on collaboratively working to keep Greater Manchester moving and growing.”

Key features of the new contract include a major focus on improving operational reliability, and customer service and security – with an increased staff presence on the network, particularly in the evening and at weekends.

KAM is committed to sourcing a minimum of 40 per cent of supplier contracts within 25 miles of Greater Manchester and creating more than 300 jobs including drivers, apprenticeships and traineeships over the course of the contract.

Over 60 of those new jobs have already started, following the successful recruitment of additional Customer Service Representatives and Travel Safe Officers, as well as more drivers.
These changes come at an exciting time for Metrolink: 2017 has already seen the completion of the Second City Crossing (2CC), a crucial piece in a £2bn transformational expansion programme that has trebled the size of the original network. Work has also started on a new extension through Trafford Park – Europe’s largest industrial park – and on to the intu Trafford Centre.

It is also Metrolink’s silver jubilee year, with the first trams having taken to the tracks on 6 April 1992, when services ran between Bury and Manchester Victoria. Services to Altrincham followed soon after, before Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the network during a special ceremony on 17 July that year.

Fast-forward 25 years and the network has grown beyond all recognition, now serving 93 stops across seven different lines along almost 100km of track, with a fleet of 120 modern trams catering for more than 38 million journeys a year – and rising.

For more information on Metrolink services visit www.metrolink.co.uk, call Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000 or follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for live travel updates.

ENDS

Media contact: 0161 244 1055 or email mediarelations@tfgm.com

Notes to Editors

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the transport delivery arm for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and its Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC).

We co-ordinate public transport and other types of travel – like driving, cycling and walking – throughout the ten district areas of Greater Manchester, the UK’s largest regional economy outside London.

We work closely with bus, tram and train operators to help put the customer first and improve the journey experience. We also own Metrolink – the UK’s largest light rail network hosting more than 38 million passenger journeys every year – and plan for its future.

By investing in new, modern transport interchanges and smarter travel information we’re making it easier to get around on public transport. We also promote and invest in walking and cycling as a healthy and sustainable way to travel.

With our partners at Highways England and the ten local authorities we work to keep our roads safe and ease congestion.

We’re also planning for a more sustainable future. Through the Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan we aim to make our city-region a cleaner, greener and healthier place to live, work and play in.

For more information, visit www.tfgm.com.

About Keolis

Keolis has been in the UK for over 20 years and today it employs more than 13,000 people. During this time Keolis has introduced more new trains to its franchises than any other operator.

Keolis is the world’s largest tram operator and a market leader in the UK. It has been appointed to run three of the UK’s seven light rail networks, including its busiest (Dockland Light Railway), largest (Greater Manchester Metrolink) and the award-winning Nottingham Express Transit, where it is a member of the Tramlink consortium which has delivered a major expansion of the network, adding two new lines totalling an extra 17.5km.

Through its joint ventures, Keolis currently handles 650 million UK rail passenger journeys every year – equivalent to one in three train journeys made in Great Britain. Its franchises include London Midland, GTR, and the nation’s only high-speed rail network, HS1, in Kent.

Keolis is 70% owned by SNCF – France’s state-owned railway operator – and 30% owned by Canadian pension fund, Caisse de depot et de placement du Québec. Globally, Keolis operates in 16 countries across four continents.

New KAM Managing Director Aline Frantzen’s most recent role was as Executive Director, Service Delivery at Yarra Trams, where she was accountable for the planning and delivery of over 35,000 tram services each week, the maintenance of about 500 trams, as well as the Marketing and Customer Services function. Her focus was on ensuring the delivery of a safe, reliable, customer-focused and efficient service.

About Amey

Amey is a leading UK public and regulated services provider with over 21,000 employees.

Amey operates over 320 contracts, providing an unrivalled range of services including utilities, highways, waste management, rail, justice solutions, social housing and facilities management. Services are underpinned by our leading consulting and asset management capabilities, which allow us to offer stand-alone or integrated service solutions to a range of clients.

Amey is owned by Ferrovial. They are one of the world’s leading infrastructure management and investment companies. Ferrovial employs approximately 65,000 employees and operates in over 25 countries. Ferrovial’s activities focus on four business sectors: construction, airports, toll roads and services. Amey is part of the Services division.

Railhub Archive ::: 2017-07-15 GMP-001