Metrolink Capacity Improvement Programme (MCIP)

About the Metrolink Capacity Improvement Programme

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 (2040 Strategy) focuses on how a more integrated and reliable transport system can help to tackle the critical long-term challenges facing the city-region, which includes anticipated population growth, productivity, air pollution, health, and social inclusion.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) launched a five-year Delivery Plan in parallel to the release of the 2040 Strategy, which provides an opportunity to ensure that the long-term challenges outlined in the overarching 2040 Strategy are being tackled effectively in the near term, by taking emerging trends and new priorities into account.

The plans are underpinned by TfGM’s transport vision of ‘world class connections that support long-term, sustainable economic growth and access to opportunity for all.’ The vision is supported by four key areas:

• Supporting sustainable economic growth;
• Improving quality of life for all;
• Protecting our environment; and
• Developing an innovative city-region.

The March 2018 meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), approved funding for the procurement of 27 new trams, works to facilitate a new expanded service pattern via tram depot and power system expansions, and the creation of greater access to that capacity in the form of improved car parking facilities. The Metrolink Capacity Improvement Programme (MCIP) was created to deliver this commitment and the benefits it will bring:

• Benefit 1: Increased capacity at key growth areas to support sustainable economic growth.
• Benefit 2: Increased number of people using public transport to contribute to the protection of the environment by reducing emissions.
• Benefit 3: Maintaining the attractiveness of Metrolink by providing greater access to the Metrolink network which supports future growth.
• Benefit 4: Contributing to the attractiveness of Greater Manchester to visit and invest, and a resilient, well connected, transport system.

Please see below for some of our current projects.