HomeLight RailKeolisAmey becomes Metrolink operator

KeolisAmey becomes Metrolink operator

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A joint venture between Keolis and Amey has become the new operator of Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram system.

KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) takes over from RATP Dev, a subsidiary of the French state-owned RATP Group, with immediate effect with a contract to operate and maintain the system for up to 10 years.

The new contract focuses on improving operational reliability as well as customer service and security with an increased staff presence.

KAM has also committed to sourcing at least 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.

Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of the transport for Greater Manchester committee, said, ‘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.

‘Together we will further realise the full potential and benefits of the unprecedented growth and investment we are overseeing in the network.’

Aline Frantzen has been appointed the managing director of KAM, having previously worked with Yarra Trams, the world’s largest light rail network in Melbourne, Australia, which is operated by Keolis.

She said, ‘We are looking forward to working with Transport for Greater Manchester, our partners and the community to implement our exciting plans for what is already a high-performing network.’

Keolis is a French global public transport operator and Amey an infrastructure asset management specialist.

Metrolink was launched in 1992. It now serves 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.


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