RATP Group acquires Manchester Metrolink operator

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RATP Dev, subsidiary of the RATP Group, acquired the operator of Manchester’s Metrolink from Stagecoach on 1 August 2011.

Stagecoach Maetrolink Ltd is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Metrolink network under a 10 year contract with Transport for Greater Manchester, running to 2017.

“Metrolink is one of the UK’s most successful tram networks, so we are naturally delighted to join with the existing team to be able to bring our expertise and know-how to continue its further development,” commented Paul Matthews, CEO of RATP Dev UK.

“Metrolink is now embarking upon a significant phase of expansion which presents us with plenty of opportunities to assist in producing a world class tramway of which the City can be rightfully proud”.

The Manchester tram network, currently with 4 lines, carries around 21 million passengers each year.

Transport for Greater Manchester, the city’s transport authority has ambitious plans for further significant growth through line extensions and new lines.

4 COMMENTS

  1. No doubt, many people will be saying that the Parisian public transport operator RATP will definitely make a better job of running Metrolink than Stagecoach or, for that matter, any other domestic bus or train operator. Whilst that might turn out to be true, I would ask whether a British company would ever be allowed to run a public transport network in France? As the nationalistic French government bars foreign involvement in many of it’s industrial sectors (including transport), the answer is probably never!  Therefore Phillip Hammond and the DfT should think very carefully before even considering shortlisting SNCF for the West Coast franchise.

    • Why put up with a crap second class UK company, when a first class French company  could do the job, sounds like sour grapes to me

      • I merely would like to see a “level playing field”, whereby UK companies have the opportunity to apply for public transport concessions in France – of course, whether they would be successful is another thing!  Other European countries now have open access but France still maintains firmly closed doors. Finally, remember Connex, who were stripped of the South Eastern Trains in 2003 after making a right hash of the franchise – a French company, who were definitely not first class!!

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